AN IRISH JOURNEY – PART 4

In the concluding part of this feature series, BOB HIND completes his circumnavigation of the island of Ireland by bus, and summarises his thoughts on the experience.

[Photos in chronological order - feel free to skip a weaker image if not needed] An Alexander Dennis Enviro200 on Local Link Donegal 271 leaving Dungloe for Crolley.
BOB HIND

Day 8

“We’ll see when we get there”

I wake up in Dungloe to heavy rain and this is the morning of my ‘dodgy’ connection. I want to continue travelling around this coastal part of Donegal and Patrick Gallagher Coaches has an ideal morning service to take me round the coast to Derry. The only problem is that it starts in Crolley, seven miles away from where I am now standing.

Derry Local Link service 271 runs from Dungloe to Crolley at 07:30 which would, on paper, get me there five minutes before Gallagher’s coach leaves. I have tried, in my planning, to get some assurance that Gallagher will wait for Local Link, but without success.

My anxiety is heightened when 271 arrives seven minutes late. The driver, who I am sure is trying to be positive, answers my question on whether I will make the connection with “we’ll see when we get there.”

Want to read more?

This is a premium article and requires an active subscription.

Existing subscriber? Sign in now

No subscription?

Pick one of our introductory offers