Leitrim community hold public meeting in push for new local link service

A public meeting was held in Newtownmanor Hall last night to discuss the need for a Local Link bus route from the townland to Sligo town.

Around 90 people attended the meeting, which was aimed at building awareness amongst residents and gauging the demand for a bus route to Sligo.

Senator Nessa Cosgrove, Leitrim Cllr. James Gilmartin from Manorhamilton district and Sligo Cllr. Thomas Walsh was in attendance along with John Carr, the region's representative for TDI, who operate local link services.

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Cllr. Gilmartin praised the meeting and highlighted his belief that the area could benefit from the bus. “It works so well in other places but it is just about getting enough community support,” he said.

This is the first public meeting of the campaign to get a bus from the area to Sligo town. Organiser Niamh O’Brien says the next step is putting together a working committee, building support of councils and local representatives, and finding out about feasibility.

O’Brien, who chairs Newtownmanor’s Community Development Company, says the bus route would be a net positive for the area as it would reduce the costs of people in the area who have to go to Sligo town, while also reducing the traffic congestion coming into Sligo town from Leitrim.

“We all know how successful the Local Link has been in places like Grange, Coolooney and all our friends are raving about it and how handy it is and we are paying 40 quid in and 40 quid in taxis just to get in to meet them.”

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It would particularly help parents who are driving their teenagers into work, socialise and play sports in Sligo town, she says. “Parents are on the road all the time.”

“A lot of houses around have with teens are in their early 20, who are still living at home because they can’t [get] accommodation, have 3 or 4 or 5 cars outside.”

Transport to social outlets for people of all ages is also a key area of interest from the bus route, as loneliness remains a massive issue for people living in rural areas. 

She explains: “We did a petition asking about key areas interest very social aspect came in strong, obviously being in rural we don’t have that on our door step so it Drumahair, Manorhamilton, Sligo, so we need to be able to get in and out.”