The National Transport Authority (NTA), in partnership with Clare County Council, today announced the new Ennis Town Bus Service, which will make it easier to travel around the town and connect people with employment, education, healthcare, shopping, leisure facilities and rail services.
Beginning on Sunday, 18 October 2026, the new service will operate as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network and will introduce two dedicated town bus routes serving communities across Ennis and its surrounding areas.
Ennis town Bus route NS1 and NS2
The new NS1 route will operate between Ballymaley and Clarecastle, serving Ennis town centre, Ennis Hospital and Ennis Bus and Rail Station.
Serving Shanaway Road, Kilrush Road, Tulla Road, Ennis Town Centre and Ennis Bus and Rail Station
The NS2 route will operate between Shanaway Road and Tulla Road via Kilrush Road, also serving Ennis Town Centre and Ennis Bus and Rail Station, providing improved links to residential areas and key destinations throughout the town.
Cash fares are accepted but passengers can interchange between the NS1 and NS2 for free within 90 minutes of starting their journey using TFI Leap card. Free Travel Passes will also be accepted on the town bus routes.
Both routes will serve Ennis Bus and Rail Station, allowing passengers to connect easily with coach and rail services to Limerick, Cork, Galway, Dublin and destinations across the country. The improved connection between local bus and regional bus and rail services will make sustainable travel more attractive and convenient for commuters, students and visitors alike.
Serving Ennis Hospital
Serving Ennis Hospital on the NS1 route will strengthen connections to essential healthcare services across the town. The route will provide a practical and affordable travel option for patients, visitors and staff, while integrating the hospital more closely into Ennis’s wider public transport network.
Convenience of a regular local bus service in Ennis
For the first time, many communities in Ennis will benefit from a regular local bus service that provides convenient access to some of the town’s most important destinations. Whether travelling to work, attending classes, visiting friends and family, shopping in town or connecting with coach and rail services, the new routes will provide a reliable and sustainable alternative to private car travel.
Daily Frequency
Each route will operate every 30 minutes in each direction throughout the day, with a shared common routing along a central spine creating a 15 minute frequency along this shared spine. Routes will operate from early morning and run until late at night.
Accessibile buses
The services will be operated by low floor, fully accessible, high capacity, single deck buses.
Standard fares
The standard flat fare will apply, currently €2 for adults paying cash or €1.50 for adults using Transport for Ireland (TFI) Leap card. Passengers under 26 years of age currently pay €0.75 Leap fare and children pay €0.65 Leap fare. Free Travel Public Service Card holders and children under 9 can travel for free.
A gateway to County Clare
The new town bus service will also support Ennis’s role as a cultural, commercial and tourism destination. Ennis is known for its historic streets, traditional music, independent retail offering, restaurants, cafés and cultural attractions. The service will help people access everything the town has to offer while supporting local businesses and encouraging greater use of public transport. As a gateway to County Clare and a popular base for visitors exploring the wider region, improved public transport connectivity will further enhance the attractiveness and accessibility of the county town.
Connecting people to the the places and services that matter most
Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer, said:
“This is an important day for Ennis and for everyone who will benefit from these new town bus services. By providing more travel options and better connectivity across the town, this network will help people access the places and services that matter most in their daily lives. I am pleased to see this investment in public transport delivered for Ennis, supporting a more connected, inclusive and sustainable future for the community.”
New services will provide a reliable and accessible transport option throughout the day
Speaking ahead of the service commencing on 18 October, Jeremy Ryan, Director of Public Transport Services at the National Transport Authority, said:
“The Ennis Town Bus Service is about making everyday journeys easier for people and creating stronger connections across the town. Whether travelling to the train station for work, attending a hospital appointment, getting into town to shop, meeting friends for a coffee or enjoying Ennis’s many cultural and community activities, these new services will provide a reliable and accessible transport option throughout the day.
“Ennis is one of Ireland’s most attractive and vibrant regional towns, with a rich heritage, a strong cultural identity and an important role as the heart of County Clare. By linking communities directly with Ennis Railway Station and Ennis Hospital, while also improving access to the town centre, these services will make it easier for people to connect with the places that matter most in their daily lives.
“The NTA is committed to investing in high quality public transport that supports local communities, strengthens town centres and provides a sustainable alternative to private car travel. We are delighted to bring the benefits of the Town Bus Programme to Ennis.”
New town bus service improves access to services, retail, employment and education
Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle, said:
“This is an important milestone for Ennis and a significant investment in the town’s future. The new bus service will give residents and visitors greater transport choice, improve access to services, retail, employment and education, and support the evening and night-time economy. This is a very welcome development that will make a practical difference to people’s daily lives.
“Ennis continues to grow as a place to live, work and visit, and this new service will also help support that growth by creating better connections between communities and key destinations across our town.”
Jonathan Mc Daid, Operations Director, City Direct Bus Ltd., said:
“We are delighted to be part of the new Ennis Town Bus Service. We are committed to providing reliable and accessible transport to the people of Ennis and its visitors. Ennis is a growing town and the service City Direct Bus Ltd will provide will help support local communities, town centre and better connections to the wider public transport network. Well done to the NTA and Clare County Council in their commitment to this project and we look forward to welcoming you on board.”
Ennis is the latest on the NTA’s Town Bus Programme
The Ennis Town Bus Service is the latest investment under the NTA’s Town Bus Programme, which is delivering frequent, accessible and sustainable public transport services in regional towns across Ireland. Town bus services are already operating in Athlone, Balbriggan, Carlow, Clonmel, Drogheda, Dundalk, Kilkenny, Navan, Portlaoise and Sligo, with Mullingar joining the network earlier this year. The addition of Ennis further expands the programme and reflects the NTA’s commitment to providing high quality public transport options that support growing communities, strengthen town centres and reduce reliance on private car travel.
Funding
Funded through the NTA’s Town Bus Programme, the Ennis Town Bus Service will provide a community-focused and economically sustainable transport solution as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network. The service will improve access to employment, education, healthcare, retail and leisure opportunities while strengthening connections with rail services and the wider public transport network.
Further information, including route maps, timetables and fare information, is available at TransportforIreland.ie .