Concern over ‘disruption’ caused by bus route not reaching Fanad Lighthouse

Concerns have been raised that Fanad Lighthouse is not being reached by the Local Link bus service.

The 973 Local Link route serves Letterkenny to Fanad Head, with the last stop listed as the Coach Park at the Lighthouse. However, according to Independent Cllr Declan Meehan, the service now terminates at a point before Fanad Lighthouse since the road there was closed for three months last year.

Cllr Meehan brought a motion on the issue to the February meeting of Letterkenny-Milford MD. He called on the council’s roads section to "engage urgently with Local Link Donegal-Sligo-Leitrim and Fanad Lighthouse to ensure the 973 Local Link service runs on the route it is licensed to serve”.

“This is causing disruption to Fanad Lighthouse and for people travelling who are not getting to their destination,” said Cllr Meehan.

He called for a workshop with Local Link ahead of tourism season, saying the matter needs to be addressed “very soon”.

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The motion was seconded by 100% Redress Cllr Tomás Seán Devine.

The official response to the motion reads: “The Milford roads office met with the Lighthouse committee last year and had agreed a solution where the Lighthouse committee would submit a road closure for the three months that it is required. This then needs to be managed by the lighthouse committee to allow the bus to turn safely at the lighthouse. 

David McIlwaine, Senior Executive Engineer of the Roads and Transportation team, said he would be “happy” to meet with Local Link representatives again on the matter.