Sinn Féin Councillor for Athenry-Oranmore Louis O’Hara received confirmation on Wednesday from the NTA that new bus services are to be provided from Athenry to Galway City following the discontinuation of the previous privately operated service last month.
Farrell’s of Athenry ended their service on September 13, which had seven daily services between the locations. This left Athenry commuters with no bus option to get into the city, forcing many to take the train, which in turn placed increased pressure on rail services from Athenry to the city, which local councillors were already calling to be expanded.
The General Election candidate for Galway East said that his understanding based on the NTA’s response was that three return trips from Athenry to Galway will be provided each day and the NTA are working with Local Link to develop a timetable.
Speaking about the news Cllr O’Hara said, “Since the discontinuation of the privately operated bus service from Athenry to Galway City almost a month ago I have been pressing the NTA to provide for new services from Athenry to Galway. I received a response today from the NTA confirming that new services will be provided and my understanding is that they will provide for three return trips from Athenry to Galway each day. They are currently working with Local Link to develop a timetable for that service.”
Cllr O’Hara was not fully satisfied with the new service but viewed it as a ‘positive first step’ for the new service along the route, saying, “While I had hoped that more services would be provided for, I view this as a positive first step. I hope that people in Athenry use this service when up and running to give us an opportunity to argue for more regular services that may be needed.”
Cllr O’Hara also demanded an earlier bus for workers beginning work in the city at an early time, continuing, “It is also very important that the new timetable suits workers and students who relied on the previous bus service and that it stops at the universities and near to the industrial estates as the previous service did. In particular there needs to be a 7am service for workers who begin work early in Galway city each day, as existed previously, given that the first train towards Galway does not leave Athenry until 7.50am. I will be making these needs clear to the NTA and also intend to raise it with them when they attend the next meeting of Galway County Council in mid-October.”
