Search for suitable site stalls plans for new bus shelter in busy Clare village

Despite €500,000 being allocated to County Clare over the last two years to fund new bus shelters, only two currently exist in west Clare.

Due to increased numbers of people availing of public transportation across the county, calls have been made at the November meeting of the West Clare Municipal District (MD), for a new bus shelter in Kilmihil.

The motion which was brought forward by Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Shannon, who called on the council to "secure a location for a new bus shelter in Kilmihil village due to increased demand and enhanced services".

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Cllr Shannon highlighted how there are now eight bus routes that pass through the village, two from Local Link and six Bus Eireann stops.

Despite this "serious uptake" in the use of public transport in West Clare, he noted how currently the only two bus shelters in the region are in Kilkee and Quilty.

He added that he is "pleasantly surprised with the Local Link occupancy" and due to this significant number of people availing of the service daily with "relatively high numbers in the morning and evening" he thinks a bus shelter is warranted for the community.

Cllr Shannon further stated that the council should have a "rapid progression of the rollout of these especially on the network" and should create "a plan for 2026 that we [the M.D] could have six or eight [bus shelters] throughout West Clare".

In a written response Alan Kennelly, Senior Executive Engineer for West Clare MD, said the council has recently met with TFI Local Link to discuss additional bus stop shelters and poles in the area.

He noted that while a new shelter could be provided through the Section 38 process, resident support is crucial, citing last year’s discontinued low-cost safety scheme in Kilmihil as an example.

Councillor Ian Lynch backed the motion, saying he “wholeheartedly agree[s] that Kilmihil needs one and the county throughout,” but stressed that finding a suitable location is often the challenge.

He noted that the Kilkee bus shelter was built after a proposed shelter in Kilrush ran into difficulties even though funding was secured from Transport Infrastructure Ireland. “We couldn’t locate one [a suitable site] in Kilrush, we thought we had several options but it just hasn’t been workable for the bus companies or the local businesses there.”

Cllr Lynch added that careful consultation is needed, suggesting that any proposal in Kilmihil should involve discussion with the relevant authorities to ensure a practical solution, noting that site selection can be surprisingly tricky given the requirements of both the local communities and bus companies.

Mr Kennelly responding to Cllr Lynch's comments said the council has recently met with TFI (Local Link) to discuss bus stop locations in Kilrush.

He explained that the plan aims to provide a central, designated stop for TFI Local Link, and Bus Éireann, noting that current stops on Frances Street and outside Patrick Bourke’s are not formally marked: “At the minute we have sort of two… bus stops… the actual bus stop is on the square – they pull up outside Patrick Bourke’s but the bus stop is in front of Crotty's, so we need a dedicated bus stop.”

Mr Kennelly added that installing a bus shelter is a substantial piece of infrastructure, often requiring 20 to 25 metres of road for pull-in and pull-out areas, which can conflict with parking for commercial premises and residents.

He confirmed that funding from TFI and Bus Éireann is available, but locations have not yet been identified: “We have spoken to TFI and the Local Link and their input is to get bus stops rather than a bus shelter… if there is a place where we could bring it back, that is the ask of us at the minute.”

Fianna Fáil councillor Rita McInerney backed the motion, highlighting that Kilmihil faces wider transport and safety challenges.

She noted the village’s busy main road and issues with pedestrian crossings and parking, particularly during events, and said these factors make a bus shelter “increasingly important" however another councillor expressed that "the trade-off is loss of parking" for the village to receive a bus shelter.