Campaign escalated for restoration of public transport access to Mayo parish
The Straide Bus Stop Campaign has written to elected members of the Oireachtas and Mayo County Council seeking support for the restoration of public transport accessibility for local residents.
The correspondence, penned by Alisha Houlihan on behalf of Jimmy Mulroy and the Straide Bus Stop Campaign, outlined: "For many years, residents of Straide were served by Bus Éireann Route 52, which stopped in the village and provided an important transport link for local people travelling to work, education, healthcare appointments and other essential services.
"When Citylink assumed responsibility for the route, many residents reasonably expected that this level of connectivity would continue, as has been the case in many towns and villages along the corridor.
"However, due to current licensing arrangements, Straide was not designated as an official stop.
"Today, eight Citylink services travel through Straide in each direction every day, sixteen services in total, yet none are permitted to stop.
"As a result, residents are left in the extraordinary position of watching public transport pass through their community throughout the day while being unable to access it.
"This campaign is therefore not seeking a new route, additional services or significant infrastructure investment.
"Rather, it is seeking the restoration of a level of public transport access that existed for many years and which local residents reasonably expected would continue following the transition from Bus Éireann to Citylink.
"Given that bus shelters are already in place and the route already passes directly through the village, residents believe there is a compelling, practical and cost-effective case for designating Straide as an official stop.
"We also fully appreciate the operational realities facing transport providers and understand that buses would not be required to stop unnecessarily where there are no passengers waiting or no bookings made.
"This proposal therefore represents a sensible and proportionate solution that could have a significant positive impact on local residents while having minimal impact on service operations.
"Beyond the wider community's need, this campaign is also deeply personal for Jimmy and his family.
"Jimmy's son, Owen Mulroy, is an adult with an intellectual disability who works in Ballina.
"Like many families, Jimmy and his family have always encouraged Owen's independence, participation in the workforce and ability to contribute fully to his community.
"However, the absence of an official stop in Straide means Owen can no longer independently access public transport to travel to and from work. Instead, he must rely on family members for daily lifts in order to access services elsewhere.
"In a society where we rightly encourage people with disabilities to enter the workforce, live independently and participate fully in community life, this situation is simply not good enough.
"For Owen and many others in the area, this is not simply a transport issue. It is an issue of independence, inclusion, opportunity and equal access to employment and community life.
"The issue also affects school and college students, commuters, older residents attending medical appointments and those without access to private transport.
"Reliable public transport is essential to ensuring that rural communities can remain connected, vibrant and sustainable.
"For many residents, this campaign is about restoring a level of public transport access that was provided through Bus Éireann Route 52 for many years and which was lost following the transition to the current service model.
"The community response to the campaign has been extremely encouraging. To date, the campaign has secured:
• 384 supporters
• 2,677 petition views
• 843 petition shares
• 22 volunteer promoters
"Alongside this, more than 100 physical signatures have already been collected throughout the local community."
"We started this campaign one week ago and the signatures are still ongoing.
"Jimmy is looking to organise a public meeting in Straide to discuss the campaign and identify the most effective path forward.
"While the final date will be confirmed by Friday, June 19, the meeting is provisionally scheduled for Monday, June 19, 2026.
"At a time when government policy is focused on tackling rural isolation, supporting balanced regional development and improving accessibility for people with disabilities, we believe Straide presents a compelling and practical opportunity to deliver meaningful change for a local community.
"This is a practical, achievable and cost-effective request that would have a transformative impact on the lives of residents throughout Straide and the surrounding area."
The online petition can be viewed here: