Bus Éireann, Ireland’s national bus company, has celebrated its employees’ achievements in 2022 at the regional annual GEM (‘Go the Extra Mile’ ) Awards, which recognise excellent customer service, community impact, performance and forward-thinking.
Awards were issued in a number of different categories including Driver of the Year, Executive of the Year, Clerical Employee of the Year and Supervisor of the Year.
Bus Éireann’s Galway team was celebrated, with Maria Byrne from Orranmore named Executive of the Year, Eddie Kelly from Athenry was named Supervisor of the Year and Eoin Galvin from Knockcroghery named Clerical Employee of the Year for the Western Region.
Maria Byrne was commended for her dedicated professionalism in her role, always ‘going that extra mile’. Eddie Kelly was praised for his forward-thinking and his collaborative abilities with colleagues, while Eoin Galvin was recognised for his enthusiasm and excellent performance in a new role.
‘’I am immensely proud of our team of committed and dedicated employees in the Western Region who ‘go the extra mile’ for our customers every day,” said Brian Connolly, Bus Éireann Senior Operations Manager, West. “I would especially like to recognise Eddie Kelly who has been awarded Supervisor of the Year specifically for his demonstration of Bus Éireann’s core values. We recognise his ongoing commitment to colleagues and customers alike.
“The GEM Awards celebrate the exceptional contributions of Bus Éireann employees for our passengers, our services and for their colleagues. I want to congratulate all of those who have won and who have been nominated for GEM Awards in 2022.’’
The Bus Éireann regional awards will take place across the country in October and the winners of each region will go forward to the National GEM awards on the 8 December in Dublin.
According to a KPMG report last year, Bus Éireann contributes €17 million to the Galway economy, employing 260 people who live in County Galway, facilitating over 5.6 million passenger journeys on the Galway city bus service in 2019 and transporting 10,372 primary and post-primary students on school transport in Galway each school day.
