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The Ballyvourney Bus

January 30, 2010
12:04 PM

I notice that CIE (or what ever they call themselves today) have decided to cut some bus routes to economise and, as my eye glanced down the list I saw that one of the casualties was the Ballyvourney bus.

In the late sixties I was a student in UCC and had (and still have) a great friend, Jim Flanagan, who came from Ballyvourney, a tiny village about 10 miles out on the Kilarney road from Macroom.

Travelling to ‘Vourney was simplicity itself, you just got the bus from Cork and the terminus was directly outside the shop where Jim lived with his family.
Now this bus was way more than just a method of going from Cork to ‘Vourney.
The driver was a fellow called Dennis who, as he lived in the village himself knew every single passenger by name.

Anyone who wanted something special from the metropolis just had to organise it to be delivered to Dennis in the Bus office in Cork and it would arrive down that evening.
The bus was also timed to bring and collect the local secondary children from their school in Macroom.

If a child was not at the appropiate bend of the road Dennis would patiently wait the bus until a flustered child, breakfast in hand, tumbled down the road.
If by chance the student was poorly it was common to find a mother standing in his place and she then would give his excuses to Dennis “Ah I couldn’t leave him out this morning Dennis, sure he’s smothered with a cold.” and then Dennis could proceed.

Bus services were so much more than paid conveyances at that time in rural Ireland.
I wonder how the people of Ballyvourney will replace Dennis now that CIE have axed him.

Comments

  1. Jill

    on January 30, 2010

    I went to UCC by bus from Macroom. ‘Dennis the Bus’ used to stop at the front door. A handsome man, he looked a bit like Gregory Peck.

  2. Martin

    on January 30, 2010

    You are right ! He was a handsome man, I had forgotten. And suddenly I am wondering if those ladies by the roadside weren’t looking for a little lift from the flash of Dennis’s Peckian smile…..

  3. Jim Flanagan

    on February 1, 2010

    Martin,
    Thanks for that stroll down memory lane. My recollection of the bus ride, other than that it took forever as it wound its way through Crookstown and Macroom, was Dennis’ suggestion on Fridays that one eat herrings for supper. The saltiness would work up a decent thirst to be quenched at The Mills later that evening.

  4. Martin

    on February 1, 2010

    Now working up a thirst is a problem which I never have had.

  5. alvin mc glone

    on July 14, 2011

    hi, am from monaghan and im making my way down to ballyvourney to case the plase for my wedding day, i just wanted to say that i enjoyed reading your post apart from the part where poor Dennis is getting the axe.

  6. jill

    on January 27, 2013

    Have you seen the documentary ‘Bealach na mBusanna’? It’s on TG4 player.

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