I have had an interest in transport in Ireland for several years now, with a particular interest in photography. Having used Flickr for many years, I decided to make the move to SmugMug as a more sustainable, long-term home for my photos.
I try to cover most of Ireland, but updates come most regularly from Dublin and Armagh.
2021 saw features from Ballymena, Cork, Donegal, Limerick, Navan, Newry & Ratoath in addition to other photos from Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Tyrone & Wicklow.
There are a number of different ways of accessing the site:
- Photos can be viewed by year, and then by month.
- Certain photo/route features are available - this may cover the introduction of a new route or pay homage to a particular class of vehicle.
- My 'Year in Review' is available from 2015 onwards, a documentation of notable events from previous years in a short album.
I hope you enjoy the content on this website, comments are always appreciated!
Bus Éireann LC212
Bus Éireann LC212 with a 101 from Drogheda to Dublin. LC212 is currently on loan from Broadstone to Drogheda.
Dublin Airport | 19.03.2022 | Copyright © Mark Long
Bus Éireann VWD405
I managed to get a trip to Cork in before the end of the year, my first since 2019! Whilst Cork has not received PADs like Galway and Limerick, it has received a large number of VWDs cascasded from both of those depots. As this happens, the unique SLs are in the process of withdrawal and rumour has it their 2008 VWDs are also on borrowed time.
In this first shot, VWD405, a transfer from Galway earlier in the year, is captured here at Parnell Place Station having worked a 214 from Knockraha. The 214 was merged with the 221 from January 2021, becoming a new cross-city 214 route.
VWD405 is a Volvo B5TL with Wright Gemini 3 bodywork, new to Bus Éireann Galway in 2018.
Cork City | 20.12.2021 | Copyright © Mark Long
A Year In Review 2022 : Photo 1
A Happy New Year to all that occasionally browse these pages! 2022 was to be the year that life got back to relative normality after the restricted years of 2020 and 2021. Whilst that was the case, the year brought with it it's own set of unique challenges.
In bus world, the year was characterised by investment in new fleets and technologies but hindered by a lack of drivers to drive them. Translink took new Wright Electroliners for Metro, Hawks for Ulsterbus and Sunsundeguis for Goldline. Bus Éireann took new LFs and VBs with the new EAs appearing in Athlone towards the end of December for training. DublinBus took more PAs and awarded a tender to Wright for the provision of battery-electric double deckers in 2023.
South of the border service expansion in the PSO sector was enhanced with the launch of Connecting Ireland and the roll out of BusConnects in Dublin.
In this shot, Pennyburn based 1252 is captured leaving Dungannon on a 273 displaying festive wishes for the new year. Translink took a further 12 twin-axle SC5s during the course of 2022 bringing the total number in the fleet to 92 and rounding out the second batch of 62. In addition to these, 6 additional tri-axles were taken along with 6 SB3s.
Copyright © Mark Long