New Local Link bus from Athboy to Drogheda

A new Local Link bus route will link, Athboy, Navan and Drogheda, taking in Kentstown and Duleek.

The new service has been warmly welcomed as a much needed link from Athboy to services in Navan and Drogheda.

Local Link Louth/Meath/Fingal has announced that from the new service, Route 188 will begin on 16th of January.

Route 188 will run eight times per day, seven days a week including bank holidays. The service will create a new connection to Kentstown and Duleek as well as servicing Athboy, Navan, Donore and Drogheda with ancillary services from Rathcairn.

It will also provide enhanced access to numerous amenities including tourist attractions such as Newgrange (Brú Na Bóinne) and Battle of the Boyne site, regional access to hubs, bus services and hospitals in both Drogheda and Navan and access to local towns for employment and education.

This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland Network.

Local councillor Mike Bray has welcomed the announcement of the new 188 bus service from Athboy through Navan into Drogheda.

"This is great news for the Athboy and Rathcairn area to have up to eight bus services per day, seven days a week to bring passengers from Athboy to Navan and Drogheda," said Cllr. Bray.

"There is a great service from Athboy to Trim and Dublin in place but there was only one daily flexibus service to bring people from Athboy to the county town of Navan.

"During the County Development Plan process I had a motion passed to have a regular service from Athboy to Navan and I have been working with the NTA, Meath County Council and Locallink to have this service put in place.

"This new bus route will be a great help to those locally working in Navan and for those who need to attend medical or personal appointments in Navan or Drogheda." said Cllr Bray.

Miriam McKenna, Local Link Louth Meath Fingal Manager said: “We are delighted to announce TFI Local Link Service 188, connecting people to Athboy, Navan, Kentstown, Duleek, Donore, and Drogheda, providing greater connectivity for people to employment, education, training, shopping, and social activities.

“Route 188 will stop at both Navan and Drogheda hospitals and also stop at Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne) and the Battle of the Boyne visitor centre. Payment can be made using the TFI Go App and passengers can benefit from the TFI Leap reduced fares on public transport which is better for your pocket and for the environment.

“TFI Local Link Louth Meath Fingal is currently working with the NTA designing new bus routes under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and with more services coming in 2023 these new routes will be transformative and have a fundamental impact on the health and wellbeing of people in the community”.

Cllr Mike Bray welcomed the announcement of the new 188 bus service from Athboy.

"This is great news for the Athboy and Rathcairn area who will have up to eight bus services per day, seven days a week to bring passengers from Athboy to Navan and Drogheda," he said.

"There is a great service from Athboy to Trim and Dublin in place but there was only one daily Flexibus service to bring people from Athboy to the county town of Navan.

"During the County Development Plan process I had a motion passed to have a regular service from Athboy to Navan and I have been working with the NTA, Meath County Council and Locallink to have this service put in place.

"This new bus route will be a great help to those locally working in Navan and for those who need to attend medical or personal appointments in Navan or Drogheda." said Cllr Bray.

Route and timetable information are available at the TFI Local Link Louth Meath Fingal office on 046-9074830 or 1800 303 707.