New bus service connecting Kinsale and Cork to start next week

The new service will see stops at Belgooly, Riverstick, Five Mile Bridge, Cork University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital and Patrick's Quay in Cork City

The Kinsale Connect or the 228 service provided by West Cork Connect will be the second bus service serving the harbour town and the city 

A new bus service linking Cork City and Kinsale is set to start next week following months of "people being left at bus stops" due to full or overbooked buses.

West Cork Connect's 228 route — dubbed The Kinsale Connect — will be the second bus service connecting the harbour town and the city centre.

Bus Éireann already services the town and it increased its passenger capacity by 50% on its Kinsale to Cork City route through the introduction of double-deck coaches in November 2022.

A West Cork Connect service for Kinsale was announced last year and was due to start in January this year. However, this start date was halted after delays with receiving ticket machines from the National Transport Authority.

Now, the 228 service is expected to start next Thursday, October 12, and will see stops at Belgooly, Riverstick, Five Mile Bridge, Cork University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital and Patrick's Quay in Cork City. 

On Monday, Cork South West TD Christopher O'Sullivan said: "West Cork Connect have really come to the rescue here. I’m confident that the days of people being left at bus stops or left on the side of the road on this route are over.  

“Credit is due to the team at West Cork Connect and Kinsale connect. They’ve taken some unnecessary criticism, but despite that have stuck with it and will in the end provide huge relief for the people of Kinsale, Belgooly and Riverstick.

“It’s difficult to explain the red tape and bureaucracy that’s involved in getting a new bus route up and running," he added.