Call for extra Bus Éireann services for Cork-Tipp match on  Sunday week

The County Mayor has said it was disappointing that Bus Éireann will not be providing any additional bus services on All-Ireland Sunday, and has urged the State-owned bus company to reconsider.

The All-Ireland senior hurling final between Cork and Tipperary will take place in Croke Park on Sunday, July 20, and transport has already become an issue of some concern for fans.

With all scheduled All-Ireland Sunday Cork trains to and from Dublin in time for the match completely booked out, Iarnród Éireann has warned that while it will be announcing extra services, it expects those trains to be snapped up immediately.

A Bus Éireann spokesperson told The Echo it would not laying on additional buses on the day.

“Our Route 245X service to Dublin will operate as scheduled, with departures from Cork at 08:00 and 12:00,” a spokesperson said.

“Due to existing operational requirements, including recent enhancements to our PSO network, all available drivers and vehicles are committed to maintaining scheduled services across Cork city and county.

“We currently do not have additional resources above those that are required to deliver the scheduled timetable service.” 

Independent county councillor Mary Linehan-Foley, who last month became Mayor of the County of Cork for the second time, said it was unfortunate that more public transport options would not be available.

“At the end of the day, it is disappointing, because we are encouraged to take public transport and try and take cars off the roads, and this is not something that we’re asking for free, people would be paying their way,” Ms Linehan-Foley said.

“It is disappointing, and maybe in future if it does happen again, they could plan a bit ahead and make sure that there are more buses laid out.” She said that, while she was not a transport manager, she would appeal to Bus Éireann to reconsider.

“If Bus Éireann could put on more buses, that would be great, because everybody and their mother will be wanting to go to the match.” 

The Bus Éireann spokesperson added that the company intended to operate its full scheduled timetables on all routes in Cork on All-Ireland Sunday.

“We will be reminding customers that there will be increased demand for all these services due to various events that will be happening in the city, and that capacity on these services will be limited,” they said.