Anthony McIntyre ⚑ Irish roads have not been kind to those travelling in Louth and Meath in the past fortnight.
Five young people in the same vehicle all died in a crash close to Dundalk. Nine days later on a stretch of road at Gormanstown between Drogheda and Balbriggan, two more people lost their lives, both behind the wheel of the vehicles they were driving at the moment of impact.
On occasion I have grumped on this blog - and been slagged off about it by Steve R - about the service delivery of Bus Eireann not being up to scratch. But the death of one of the company's drivers doing a day's work is a cause for sadness. Paul Conway, a father of seven, was crushed to death after colliding with a lorry driven by Wesley O'Reilly, a father of three. A car was also involved, with both occupants sustaining serious injuries. Many of the passengers on the bus were also hurt.
The cause of the accident or culpability for it, if any, will emerge in time. For now, the very real human impact resides in ten children and two partners left without a spouse and father a month short of Christmas. Presents for both men if not actually purchased will have been planned. Such a gap will not be filled by Christmas festivity in those homes, and will in all likelihood be palpably larger due to the season in it, the riderless horse more noticeable because it is not what it should be; the empty chair at the table crying out to be filled.
I was travelling on a Dublin bus myself out to Clontarf Hospital to visit a friend when I scrolled across news of the accident on my phone, immediately phoning my son to tell him. He too was travelling on a bus to a college project. We are both frequent users of public transport, making it so easy to identify with the real people who deliver the service.
I have travelled on the 101 possibly a thousand times, either to or from Dublin, getting to know many of the drivers by sight or to exchange pleasantries with. Even though I now more frequently travel by train - the free travel pass for people in my age range making rail a first choice - I still occasionally take the 101 and have probably met Paul Conway on my travels. I have always found the drivers considerate and polite, helpful when asked, never jobsworths. My frustrated gripes with the company were just that, not about the drivers.
Bus drivers on our public transport system, regardless of colour, creed, sex or nationality, render a valuable public service. It was a job to Paul Conway which helped keep the wolves at bay and away from his door. He and his colleagues routinely getting us to work on time helped keep the same wolves away from our own doors. Our appreciation for their endeavour can never be expressed strongly enough. The 101 route will forever be a driver short.
I was travelling on a Dublin bus myself out to Clontarf Hospital to visit a friend when I scrolled across news of the accident on my phone, immediately phoning my son to tell him. He too was travelling on a bus to a college project. We are both frequent users of public transport, making it so easy to identify with the real people who deliver the service.
I have travelled on the 101 possibly a thousand times, either to or from Dublin, getting to know many of the drivers by sight or to exchange pleasantries with. Even though I now more frequently travel by train - the free travel pass for people in my age range making rail a first choice - I still occasionally take the 101 and have probably met Paul Conway on my travels. I have always found the drivers considerate and polite, helpful when asked, never jobsworths. My frustrated gripes with the company were just that, not about the drivers.
Bus drivers on our public transport system, regardless of colour, creed, sex or nationality, render a valuable public service. It was a job to Paul Conway which helped keep the wolves at bay and away from his door. He and his colleagues routinely getting us to work on time helped keep the same wolves away from our own doors. Our appreciation for their endeavour can never be expressed strongly enough. The 101 route will forever be a driver short.
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Horrendous stuff and my condolences to all the families. When I was back recently I was amazed at how many more vehicles there are on the roads compared to when I emigrated 20 odd years ago. Road etiquette hadn't improved either. If everyone would slow down a little tragedies like this would be curtailed, though not laying blame at anyone's feet.
ReplyDeleteI went around a few South Belfast streets and can see why there's constant complaints about bins not being picked up and concerns about Fire Brigade access. Every house had at least one car on the kerb outside and the roads were never big enough for that. Belfast terraced houses cheek by jowl built small for cost and also to keep heat in never had in mind that households would own a car never mind 2.
I did use the buses to get about, good to see there are a lot more routes. Drivers did a good job too, and that was in the Dub and Belfast.
I don't notice the increase in traffic Steve because when you live in a place it is gradual. You would see it having been away for so long. So sad for the families of the two guys who lost their lives. Hopefully, the two women in the car pull through.
DeleteYou'd know Deramore avenue off the Ormeau, they made a bus lane on both sides on the Ormeau just there. People just blatantly park in said bus lanes without a fart of care. If they tried that down here their cars would be towed in about 10 minutes and cost them about 200 quid to get it back and this would increase per day. The sheer indifference is what got me.
DeleteAnthony,
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't you ever learn how to drive?---Maybe you can. I simply don't trust myself being in control of a steering wheel; I would kill myself or someone else (or both). So I never learnt.
I can drive Frankie although I never had a licence. The main reason I don't is that I have this tendency to fall asleep instantly without any warning. Even in the middle of a conversation. So I could fall asleep at the wheel. That leaves me a bit like yourself, fearful of what could happen. If I fall asleep on a train or bus, which I do all the time, nobody is at risk. Public transport is also the only time I get to read a book and If I drove I would never read.
DeleteFrankie you are missing out on all the stress and frustration, not to mention being robbed blind on fuel, taxes and insurance!
Delete