Provincial Past

Csalem

1997 sees Bus Eireann KC 125 in Cork. This bus was delivered new to CIE in 1984 and was withdrawn some time after 1999. The bus is on route 10 (or 210). This connected Glasheen with Mahon. It ceased to operate in 2012 when it was replaced by extended routes 215 and 216.

07/10/1997

https://flic.kr/p/2nQz7Uw

Csalem

1984 finds a sad looking C 79 at Dundalk Garage. This bus was delivered new to CIE in 1965. Initially it was based in Donnybrook Garage, before moving to Summerhill Garage in 1973. In both instances it was operating services within the Dublin city network. It was withdrawn in 1984 and scrapped at Dundalk.

The bus garage in Dundalk is on some of the old railway land where the GNR(I) used to maintain a works. 

12/10/1984

https://flic.kr/p/2nS2pmv

Csalem

1982 sees D 701 in Limerick on route 3 to Rathbane. This bus was new to CIE in 1975. In 1985 it migrated to Dublin and was withdrawn by Dublin Bus in 1994.

Bus Eireann still serve Rathbane with route 303 which runs from Pineview to O'Malley Park. 

23/10/1982

https://flic.kr/p/2nTuryA

Csalem

1999 sees Bus Eireann KC 101 in Galway. This bus was new to CIE in 1984 and was withdrawn in the early-2000s, after spending its last few years as a school bus. The bus is on route 4 to Merlin Park. Currently Merlin Park is served by route 402. The bus is in an all-over ad for Esso. 26/10/1999

https://flic.kr/p/2nUWaDe

Csalem

2007 sees AD 70 at the bus station in Dundalk. This bus (also the last member of the AD fleet) was delivered new to Dublin Bus in 1994 and was withdrawn in 2006. Then in the first half od 2007 it entered service with Bus Eireann in Dundalk (though retained Dublin Bus livery and branding). Most ADs that transferred to Bus Eireann were used on school duties, though some did turn up on scheduled services like AD 70 here. The final examples were withdrawn in the 2010s. 

13/11/2007

https://flic.kr/p/2nXRyyv

Csalem

2001 sees DPC 16 at the station in Galway. This Plaxton Pointer was delivered new to Bus Eireann in 2000. It was withdrawn by 2012 when it was put up for sale. Bus Eireann operated 32 of these buses, and a further 11 short-wheelbase versions. 

Routes 5E operated between Rahoon and Ballybane. It and the 5W became the 405 in 2012.

26/11/2001

https://flic.kr/p/2o1uuft

Csalem

1984 sees PL 22 at the station in Wexford. This Plaxton bodied , Leyland chassis, coach was new to CIE in 1969 and was withdrawn in 1985. It was one of forty such coaches to be delivered to CIE. The PL designation was used on two other coach types subsequently by Bus EIreann.

Beside the bus is a CIE Bedford truck, number BKL 82.

30/11/1984

https://flic.kr/p/2o2S5Am

Csalem

1996 finds SS 715 at the depot in Westport. This one of around 800 school buses ordered by the Irish government, after secondary level education was made free in 1967. This bus was new to CIE in 1973 (SS 1 was new in 1967 and SS 800 arrived in 1979). It was withdrawn by Bus Eireann in 2001 and sold for scrap. For many years these buses were a common sight throughout Ireland, even in the most rural or isolated areas. 

05/12/1996

https://flic.kr/p/2o4dPBb

cml387

It showed a big commitment in education by the government then to supply a fully free bus service for all secondary school student swho needed it.

They were pretty spartan but perfectly fine for a short journey. I used to like the seat up at the very front across from the driver. The naughty boys and girls favoured the back😊

Csalem

Christmas Eve 1986 sees KR 50 at the bus station in Cork. This bus was new to CIE in 1985. Around 2000 it joined the Bus Eireann school fleet and was withdrawn by 2007. 

The destination on the bus is Ballyvourney, a village in West Cork on the main road to Killarney. It is still served by Bus Eireann, but only by Expressway route 40. 

24/12/1986

https://flic.kr/p/2o6K626

Csalem

1982 finds C 251 at the bus station in Cork. This bus was new to CIE in 1966 and was withdrawn in 1985. It spent all its life in Cork.  

The ad on the side of the bus is for Unidare Pumps. This was a company based in Finglas in Dublin but was dissolved in the early-2000s.

30/12/1982

https://flic.kr/p/2o7WFbx

Csalem

2010 sees Bus Eireann DPC 101 in Balbriggan operating town route 104. This bus was new in 2002 and initially operated routes in Waterford city. Around 2008 it moved up to Dublin but by March 2010 it had been withdrawn. It was then sold on to an operator in the United Kingdom.

The town service in Balbriggan began in 2005, initially operating a counter-clockwise route from the railway station via the Moylaragh housing development, the Harry Reynolds Road and Dublin Street. In the timetable it was known as the 101T, but in 2006 gained 104 after the route between Blanchardstown and Ashbourne ceased to operate and freed up the route number. In 2011 the route was split in two with a northern loop and a southern loop, and in 2017 it became the B1.  

08/01/2010

https://flic.kr/p/2o9mbae

Vic_08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120056262#Comment_120056262

You are wrong about the Ashbourne - Blanchardstown 104, this did not cease running in 2006. It remained until Feb 2010, 2 odd months after your picture was taken. It was replaced when the 105 was diverted to serve Blanchardstown Shopping Centre (and Ashbourne every other hour)

Both routes were sort of 104 at the same time. 104 was the public number for the Ashbourne - Blanch but that was 104a in the duty/fares database wile the Balbriggan was 104 in the fare but had no real public number, it was just the town service.

As you have pictured it was not unusual for 104 to be displayed on the Balbriggan town route because of that.

Losty Dublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120056262#Comment_120056262

Was the 101T the only Bus Éireann service to run wholly within Dublin?

Csalem

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120071474#Comment_120071474

Believe so.

Csalem

1998 sees Bus Eireann BG 33 parked between duties at Mullingar station. This Bristol RE was new to Citybus in Belfast in 1978. It was one of forty-six REs bought by Bus Eireann from Ulsterbus and Citybus between 1991 and 1993 for school bus duties. It was withdrawn and scrapped in 2001. 

In the background are some buses Bus Eireann purchased from Singapore to also do school bus duties. 19/01/1998

https://flic.kr/p/2obQxzY

Csalem

1986 finds SS 355 parked at the station in Longford. This bus was one of 800 school buses delivered to CIE between 1967 and 1979. SS 355 was new to CIE in 1969 and was withdrawn by Bus Eireann in the 1990s. 

23/01/1986

https://flic.kr/p/2od3mzg

Csalem

1996 finds Bus Eireann KR 53 at the bus station in Drogheda. This bus was new to CIE in 1985, and was initially based in Kerry. It was withdrawn in the early-2000s.

30/01/1996

https://flic.kr/p/2oehTkM

Csalem

2008 finds DPC 109 at the bus station in Sligo on route 478 to Cartron. This was one of eleven short Dennis Dart / Plaxton Pointer buses delivered to Bus Eireann in 2002. Initially based in Waterford, the bus moved to Sligo around 2007 but was withdrawn in 2009. It was then sold on (around 2010) to another operator in the United Kingdom.

Routes 478 and 478A were the local routes in and around Sligo town and were replaced in late-2014 by new routes S1 and S2.

The bus station in Sligo is below the railway station.

13/02/2008

https://flic.kr/p/2ogJsSj

Csalem

1997 finds VW 9 on Henry Street in Limerick with a service to Clareview. VW 9 was one of nine Volvo Wrights Endurance buses delivered to Bus Eireann in Limerick in 1997. In late-2000 it moved to Cork and was withdrawn in 2010. It was sold on to another Irish operator, and was in service up until at least 2021. The VW was the start of Bus Eireann's long standing relationship with Wrights for city / town single deckers, with the VWL and VWM following, as well as the DWR and DWM. The last VWL was delivered in 2012. TFI continued this tradition on with StreetLites arriving between 2017 and 2019.  

Clareview in Limerick is still served by Bus Eireann city route 302. 

Spaights Shopping Centre is now Dunnes Stores, and the 302 still departs from outside. 

20/02/1997

https://flic.kr/p/2ohUBXJ

Csalem

1989 finds Bus Eireann KR 48 at the station in Ennis. This bus was new to CIE in 1985. It was withdrawn by Bus Eireann in the early-2000s, spending its final few years as a school bus based out of Longford.  

Bus Eireann route 333 still connects Doonbeg with Ennis.

04/03/1989

https://flic.kr/p/2ojc2ek

Csalem

1983 finds C 135 parked between duties in Killaloe, County Clare. This bus was new to CIE in Limerick in 1965. In 1986 in became a school bus and in 1993 it was withdrawn by Bus Eireann. The bus is carrying branding on the side for Expressway.

Bus EIreann still serve Killaloe with routes 323 and 345. 

23/03/1983

https://flic.kr/p/2ooeUyh

Csalem

1993 finds M 167 at the bus station in Drogheda. This bus was new to CIE in 1972. In 1976 its original Leyland engine was replaced by a Cummins one (one of two M Class buses to have this modification done), and the bus was renamed to MC 167. In 1996 it joined the schools fleet and in 2001 it was withdrawn by Bus Eireann, though was saved for preservation. The bus is still carrying Expressway branding in this photo, but had lost it by the following year. 

31/03/1993

https://flic.kr/p/2optnAv

Csalem

1993 finds Bus Eireann KR 179 at the bus station in Parnell Place in Cork. This bus was new to CIE in 1985. Around 1998 it transferred to the schools fleet at Ballina. It was withdrawn in the early-2000s.

The bus is displaying "Little Island" as a destination. I am unsure what service this was as I can find no record of one existing. Little Island is located to the east of Cork city, and is home to a number of industrial estates.

03/04/1993

https://flic.kr/p/2oqVaLh

Straight Talker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/113344651#Comment_113344651

I never knew KD's were in service in Galway at one stage. Unlike Cork Galway of course used KR's along with the KC's on it's city routes. In Cork KR's were only used on rural routes i think.

Straight Talker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/115730311#Comment_115730311

I'd have to disagree there, i loved the design of them. I think a german company built the original prototype KC, KD, KR and KE bus. That's what made them unique in design, in comparison to the buses in service in UK towns and cities in that period.

Straight Talker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120449229#Comment_120449229

I just want to make another point about the KR's, but one was used on a Cork to Galway expressway service in the very early 90's (circa 1992/1993), i should know i was on the bus! It was a fair old journey for a KR but it made it to Galway all the same! I think of all those GAC/Bombardier, the KR's were the most durable in build quality.

Csalem

2008 sees Bus Eireann VC 56 parked between duties on route 126 at the railway station in Kildare town. This bus was new to Bus Eireann in 1996, and spent most of its career in Dundalk, making this trip to Kildare an unusual one. In 2009 it joined the school fleet, and moved to Cavan. It was withdrawn in 2016. 

Go-Ahead Ireland took over the operation of route 126 (Dublin - Naas - Newbridge - Kildare) in 2019.  

23/04/2008

https://flic.kr/p/2otUw4x

Csalem

1996 finds 772 URB not in Ireland at all, but instead at Holyhead in Wales. Although the bus is in Bus Eireann livery, it is in fact owned by KMP of Llanberis. It was used on Bus Eireann Supabus services (which evolved into Eurolines). Passengers would board a bus in Dublin and be driven to the ferry. At Holyhead they would be greeted by one of these buses that took passengers onwards to their destinations at cities like Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham and London. Alternatively, some of the UK-based buses did do the full journey to Dublin.

772 URB is a registration that has had a long life in the UK. KMP used it on a previous coach in the 1980s, and another one in the 1990s. More recently Go Goodwins have used it on at least six different buses.  

29/04/1996

https://flic.kr/p/2ovxgqD

Csalem

1989 finds Bus Eireann EVH 1 opposite the bus station in Cavan. This bus was one of fifteen VanHool Alizee's ordered by CIE in 1986. These and the 35 similar CVH Class were the last coaches ordered by CIE before Bus Eireann came into being. This bus was withdrawn in the 1990s. 

Expressway still connects Dublin with Cavan through route 30 which runs to / from Donegal.

10/05/1989

https://flic.kr/p/2oyPqeC

Csalem

1987 finds KD 180 at the bus station in Cork with a service to Fountainstown. This bus was new to CIE in June 1982, and spent all its working life in Cork. It was withdrawn in the late-1990s, and spent its latter years in a variety of all-over ads.

Fountainstown is still served today by route 220X.  

19/05/1987

https://flic.kr/p/2oAz63E

Csalem

1987 sees M 45 at Carraroe, in west County Galway. This bus was delivered new to CIE in 1971, the same year it started to operate out of Galway depot. It became a school bus in 1991 (staying in Galway depot) and was withdrawn by Bus Eireann in 1999. In 2000 the bus entered preservation and still survives to this day. 

Bus Eireann still serves Carraroe with route 424. 

31/05/1987

https://flic.kr/p/2oDCF4d

Csalem

1986 sees M 164 loading up at the railway station in Kilkenny with an Expressway service. This bus was new to CIE in 1972. It was re-engined from Leyland to General Motors in 1980. It became a school bus under Bus Eireann in 1989 and was withdrawn in 1997. 

07/06/1986

https://flic.kr/p/2oFgJo8

Csalem

2008 finds Bus Eireann ME 210 on Balbriggan town route 104. The town service in Balbriggan began in 2005, initially operating a counter-clockwise route from the railway station via the Moylaragh housing development, the Harry Reynolds Road and Dublin Street. In the timetable it was known as the 101T, but in 2006 it became route 104 after that number was freed up. In 2011 the route was split in two with a northern loop and a southern loop, and in 2017 it became the B1.  

ME 210 was new to Bus Eireann in Waterford in 1997. By 1999 it had relocated up to Dublin and was used on the new Navan town service that started that year (the branding for which is still on the bus in this photograph). It was withdrawn around 2009 in Dublin, was stored for a few years in Limerick and finally scrapped in 2014.  

12/06/2008

https://flic.kr/p/2oGM8d7

Csalem

2007 sees Bus Eireann DWR 008 at the bus station in Letterkenny on route 491 to Ballybofey. This bus was new to Bus Eireann in 2001. It was withdrawn around October 2008 and spent time in storage at Broadstone in Dublin and in Sligo town. It was possibly scrapped in the United Kingdom in 2011.

Route 491 still connects Letterkenny with Ballybofey, twice a day (except on Sundays).

The bus is festooned with branding and signage. It has school bus logos on the front and side. On the side it has signage for the Eurolines services to Britain and Europe, the 9 return services a day from Letterkenny to Dublin Airport and the Bus Eireann Nightrider service on route 491N (which ran between December 2006 and May 2009).  

25/06/2007

https://flic.kr/p/2oKLHX9

Csalem

1996 finds Bus Eireann TE 14 in Westport. This bus new to Bus EIreann in 1988, and throught the 1990s operated services on the Expressway network while based in the west. It was withdrawn in the early-2000s, spending its final years in the school fleet, based out of Ballina.

Route 52 for many years connected Westport with Galway, providing connections into route 51 (to Limerick and Cork). In more recent times route 456 has connected the two places, with the 52 solely serving Ballina from Galway.  

10/07/1996

https://flic.kr/p/2oNCLta

Csalem

1998 finds VC 109 at the bus station in Drogheda on route 100. This bus was new to Bus Eireann in 1997 and was initially based out of Dundalk / Drogheda. Around 2003 or 2004 it moved south to Kerry. It spent its final few years in the school bus fleet, based out of Tralee. It was withdrawn and went for scrap around 2018. 

Route 100 currently runs between Drogheda and Dundalk, but for many years was the route number for services between Dublin, Drogheda and Dundalk, along with route number 101. 

The "Louth 98" branding on the front presumably refers to the Leinster Senior Championship, were Louth made it to semi-finals and were beaten by Meath. 

25/07/1998

https://flic.kr/p/2oRteZL

Csalem

1982 finds KD 194 at Shannon Airport. This bus was new to CIE in June 1982, having being built at the Bombardier factory near Shannon airport. The bus spent most of its career working in Limerick, though spent a few summers in Waterford to operate the Tramore route. It was finally withdrawn in the late-1990s.

Bus Eireann route 343 still operates between Limerick, Shannon Airport and Ennis. 

31/07/1982

https://flic.kr/p/2oSXiwb

Csalem

2002 finds Bus Eireann ML 109 at the shopping centre in Navan. It is operating a service on town route A. The three town routes (A,B and C) started in 1999, and were replaced by new routes N1 and N2 in 2020.  

ML 109 was new to Bus Eireann in Limerick in 1997. It left the Navan town service around 2005, and ended its days on school duty in County Cork. Navan, 17/08/2002

https://flic.kr/p/2oVHAMp

Csalem

1986 finds M 80 at the bus station in Limerick with a service to Foynes. This bus was new to CIE in 1971, and re-engined in 1980. In 1988 in joined the Bus EIreann school fleet and was withdrawn in 1998 and may have passed on to preservation.

Bus Eireann still serve Foynes from Limerick today with route 314.  

21/08/1986

https://flic.kr/p/2oX7X7n

Vic_08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121008663#Comment_121008663

The old reverse-in bays at Limerick, they were fun.

And by fun I mean really horribly dangerous, often with queues of passengers and luggage on narrow low paths both sides of the buses with people constantly wandering across the road all as the bus is reversed at an angle into the bays with the added bonus of people standing directly behind the bays with a brick wall directly behind them.

Csalem

1992 finds KC 96 in Waterford on route 5 to the Clock Tower and Hill View. This bus was new to CIE in Cork in 1984, before later moving to Waterford. It was withdrawn by Bus Eireann by 2002. 

Hill View is now served by route W5, and Avondale by route W3. 08/09/1992

https://flic.kr/p/2oZYP8X

Csalem

1987 finds C 154 parked in Crossmolina, County Mayo. This bus was new to CIE in 1966, and became a school bus in 1985. It was withdrawn by Bus Eireann in the 1990s and was sold into preservation in 1996. 

10/09/1987

https://flic.kr/p/2p2k3x5

Csalem

1982 finds C 148 in Sligo with a service to Strandhill. This bus was new to CIE in 1966, and was withdrawn in 1985.

Bus Eireann still serve Strandhill today with route S2 which runs from Rosses Point. Prior to that route starting in 2014, Strandhill was served by route 472 and Rosses Point by route 473.  

25/09/1982

https://flic.kr/p/2p5eSfQ

Csalem

1982 sees WVH 23 at Ballyshannon. This bus started life in 1964 as WT 23, a Leyland Worldmaster. In 1971 its original body was removed and VanHool built new bodies on the Leyland chassis. It was withdrawn in 1985.

Bus Eireann routes 64 and 480 still connect Ballyshannon with Bundoran on a daily basis, while routes 483 and 495 connect them on a less frequent basis. 

02/10/1982

https://flic.kr/p/2p6CkeU

westgolf

Did some of these worldmasters see service as tour coaches ?

Csalem

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121190491#Comment_121190491

Presume so as the bus in photo is in CIE Coach Tours livery.

westgolf

Didn't spot the tours nameboard on the side.

Csalem

1996 finds KR 169 at Wexford. This GAC bus was new to CIE in 1985. It was withdrawn by Bus Eireann around 2007. 

The bus has a paper destination of Gorey in the windshield. Bus Eireann still connect the two towns with Expressway route 2 to Dublin Airport, as does Wexford Bus route 740 which also goes to Dublin Airport.  

19/10/1996

https://flic.kr/p/2p9zZHf

Csalem

1982 finds D 488 in Limerick on route 1 to Shannon Banks. This Leyland Atlantean was new to CIE in 1973. In 1985 the bus moved to Dublin, and it was withdrawn in 1986. 

Bus Eireann still serve Shannon Banks with route 301. 

23/10/1982

https://flic.kr/p/2pbcWtT