Buncrana one of three locations included in Night Time Economy Pilot Bus Service

Buncrana is one of the three locations selected for a new late-night transport pilot. 

‘The One @ One’ will operate at 1am over the May, June, August and October Bank Holiday weekends and on Culture Night. Sligo and Longford have been chosen as the other two locations to benefit from the initiative. 

As rural Night-Time Economy pilot towns, all three locations have consistently identified access to safe, reliable late-night transport as one of the most significant barriers to nighttime participation. This pilot initiative aims to test tailored solutions designed specifically for smaller towns and dispersed rural communities.

“Donegal County Council has worked collaboratively with Longford County Council, Sligo BID, the NTA and Local Link to listen to the needs of rural communities,” John G. McLaughlin, Chief Executive, Donegal County Council, said. “The ‘One at One’ trial night bus service is an important way to connect our towns and villages at night, whilst building a pathway toward further opportunities, as these kinds of innovative collaborations are at the heart of night‑time economy development.” 

Developed as a targeted response to research and extensive local consultation, ‘The One @ One’ will support safer, more accessible travel for residents and visitors while strengthening the vibrancy of the rural night-time economy. The pilot directly aligns with national policy commitments to improve inclusivity, safety and connectivity across Ireland’s rural towns during evening and night-time hours.

The service will operate on several busy weekends and key dates throughout the year, giving people more ways to travel safely after a night out. These trial periods will help partners understand demand, monitor usage, and shape future late-night transport options for rural communities across the country.

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The service will be provided for five Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with the plan for data to be gathered and impact to be measured to inform future planning. The bus service will be operated by Local Link and will run on the existing services. 

Buncrana – Route 959: Buncrana to Greencastle via Carndonagh; Sligo – Route 981: Markievicz Road to Rockfield; and Longford – Route 865: Longford Centre to Granard. The pilot dates are the May Bank Holiday, June Bank Holiday, August Bank Holiday, October Bank Holiday and Culture Night. 

The pilot was announced by the Minister for the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan T.D. This pilot initiative is a partnership between the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, the National Transport Authority, and Local Link, delivered in collaboration with Longford County Council, Donegal County Council, Sligo County Council and Sligo BID.

 “I’m very aware that rural areas can face greater challenges than larger urban centres, when it comes to transport and accessing night-time activities,” Minister Patrick O'Donovan said. “That’s why I’m delighted to support the launch of this pilot initiative as part of the Night-Time Economy programme. It’s especially encouraging to see the strong collaboration between the three counties and their local authorities in working together to address shared needs.” 

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Ed Betagh, Local Link Programme Manager, National Transport Authority, said: "NTA is a strong supporter of the Night-Time Economy and understands the importance of improving our public transport network to ensure our passengers can get home from work or from a night out with friends later in the evening. We are already investing in late-night services in cities and towns across the country, and this pilot project will bring these benefits to even more people." 

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme