TFI Local Link Limerick Clare has today announced the expansion of its services in Clare, including the first rural regular services that will run five to seven days a week. Launching on Monday, March 1, the new Local Link route 337 will showcase the Shannon Estuary Way and will serve Labasheeda, Kildysart, Ballynacally, Kilmurry McMahon, Knock, Killimer, the ferry terminal, and world famous fishing sites three times a day from Monday to Saturday with a reduced timetable on Sundays.
Local Link will provide access to these areas for staycations and tourists as well as facilitating local resident’s transportation needs, providing connectivity between Kilrush and Ennis. The need for the expansion of Local Link services was voiced by the local communities, community groups, Clare County Council and Elected Representatives during a period of public consultation in February 2020.
Working with the NTA’s Connecting Ireland Team, Local Link Limerick Clare focused on merging the Bus Éireann rural services in Clare that were reconfigured under the July Stimulus, and enhancing the services to meet the needs identified by those who took part in the public consultation.
The new 337 service is in addition to the existing services provided by Local Link in the Kilrush area, which has been expanded to enhance connectivity for the Wild Atlantic Way and local residents in those areas. The 339 Kilrush to Loop Head will provide daily access to Loop Head, Monday to Friday. The 335 Ennis to Kilrush via Quilty and Doonbeg has an expanded service to Doonbeg, Monday to Friday.
Additionally, the C12 route has been reconfigured to encompass Kilmaley, Connolly, The Hand, Coore Cross, Doonogan, Mullagh, Crosses of Annagh to Ennis which will now run on a Friday and a Saturday to accommodate passengers in those areas.
Local Link Limerick Clare will work with C & C Executive Travel & Bernard Kavanagh’s who will provide connectivity and sustainability for these communities in Clare using low floor accessible buses.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.