Over a thousand people availed of a free daily mini-bus service that was trialled in a less explored area of Kilkenny.
The summer offering of the Lingaun Loop allowed locals and visitors to delve deep into the county’s south western sites.
Today sees its last outings with many expected to gather as it pulls up at its last stop in Tullahought at 5pm.
Independent transport consultant Brendan Finn has been carrying out research on behalf of those behind the project, Kilkenny Leader Partnership and Local Link, and he sums up the key findings;
“three quarters of the people using the service are local, so that shows there’s actually a real need, that’s serving a need, that hasn’t been met until now.”
“The service has been very popular with groups both from within the area and from further afield and they’ve been using it for social outings. It’s very handy that they can get to a place where they can then stop, have a cuppa and get back on the bus and travel some more.”
“We also found that visitors from outside of Ireland, both those with Irish heritage and those who don’t. They’ve used the service to see the countryside. For some it’s reconnecting with a place that maybe an ancestor had come from and some was just to appreciate what they see of the way of life as they travel around the area.”
