New West Cork bus service arrives in city for first time
Running from Skibb seven days a week - this should help bring Cork closer together.
It's been a long time coming - but the first private bus service linking West Cork and the city in over eight decades arrived this morning.
The family-run West Cork Connects service is now running seven days a week starting at Skibbereen and ending on Patrick's Quay.
Run by well-known bus service provider Damien Long, the new service had been due to start in late December but there were some delays and due to demand they decided to add an extra service - which was approved by the National Transport Authority.
The service will run seven days a week starting at Skibbereen at 6:15am from Monday to Friday and 7:15am on Saturday and Sunday.
The last service from the city will leave Patrick's Quay at 5:30pm on weekdays and weekends - taking an hour and 40 minutes to make it all the way to Skibbereen.
READ MORE: The cutest thatched cottage in Cork is by the sea and up for saleREAD MORE: The strange reason Cork Airport flights faced delays todayIn terms of fares, it will cost you €18 for a adult return from Skibbereen to the city or €14 for a student - if you are travelling from Clonakilty it will be €14 return for an adult and €11 for a student.
And it won't just be connecting Skibb with the city. It will run through all of the towns and villages in between, including Rosscarbery, Leap, Clon, Bandon, Lisavaird and Innishannon, with stops at CUH and the Western Road for UCC students.
The first bus arrived on Patrick's Quay this morning and was very busy.
"The first private bus service from skibbereen to cork was set up during WW1 it was called Carberry Coaches, it was run by the Kindred family and sold to the Great southern Railway company in 1937," says West Cork Connects operator Damien Long.
"Now, 83 years later, a private bus service will once again run from skibbereen to Cork daily."
As well as regular services - there will also be special buses for events such as big GAA games in Cork and late-night return services for major music events such as Live At The Marquee this summer.