Bus Éireann’s Cork staff take home nine regional GEM awards

BUS Éireann has celebrated its employees’ achievements in 2023 at the regional Go The Extra Mile (GEM) Awards.

The annual award ceremony recognises excellent customer service, community impact, performance, and forward-thinking.

Awards were issued in a number of different categories including Apprentice of the Year, Depot of the Year, and Executive of the Year, as well as Driver and Community Awards.

Bus Éireann’s Cork staff took home nine awards in total, including the prestigious Depot of the Year Award for the Southern region.

Cork’s Capwell depot was recognised as Depot of the Year for its excellent collaboration and dedication to excellent customer service.

Apprentice of the Year was awarded to Ken Sheehan and RP Driver of the Year was David Williams.

John Hurley, who is from Cork but works in Limerick, won School Bus Driver of the Year.

Richard O’Callaghan won Executive of the Year, Paul O’Donovan won the Going Green Energy Award, Marc Hartigan won the Wellbeing Award, Kenzie Adams was joint winner of the Community Award, and Liz O’Donovan won the Diversity & Inclusion Award.

The Bus Éireann regional awards will take place across the country this month, with the winners of each of the regions going forward to the national awards.

The National GEM awards will be held on December 8 in Dublin. Last year, Cork won several awards at the national competition, including two for Hero of the Year, John Sexton, who drove a bus full of supplies for Ukrainians to the border, and Alison Healy for her compassion when a passenger with dementia was separated from her family.