TFI Local Link Kerry recently spoke with Thomas O’Connor of O’Connor Coaches, Castleisland.

O’Connor Coaches operate the below service on behalf of TFI Local Link Kerry.

R8 – CURROW – FARRANFORE – FIRIES – KILCUMMIN – KILLARNEY

Thomas kindly gave some of his free time to answer a number of questions as part of our TFI Local Link Kerry Operator Q&A Series.

1. From your own experience,  what does Local Link Kerry mean to your passengers?

It means an awful lot to them. It’s a bridge from a fairly solitary existence to the wider world and the local community. Without it, some of our clients would feel isolation much more keenly. It is a service that is more than the sum of its parts. 

   2. Funniest moment/wittiest comment.

Funniest moment, maybe when I had to convince a passenger that washing herself in diluted Parazone wasn’t a good idea as a Corona Virus preventive. I blame Trump for that. 

  3. If you were stuck on a bus, who would you like it to be with & why?

Someone from a different background and upbringing from me, someone with a different outlook and different ideas. From what is happening in Ireland at the moment, probably someone like Bulelani Mfaco from the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland. Direct provision is killing people in lots of meanings of the word, and I would like to hear from someone first hand about their experiences living in it. 

4. If you could relocate your route to anywhere else in the world, where would it be and why?

I am pretty happy and contented where I am. I like the area, the people and the community. Things could be better but nowhere is perfect. If we could move the country a bit further south, maybe around the Canary Islands area, I’d take that. 

5. Best advice you have heard from a Passenger?

Do your best for people, even if they are hard work. You just don’t know what life has been like for them or what struggles they go through on a daily basis. Try and be kind to people.

Thanks to Thomas for participating in the Q&A series and for the services provided on behalf of TFI Local Link Kerry especially during these exceptional times.

For further information, inclusive of timetables, 

🖥️ www.locallinkkerry.ie/timetables

☎️  066-7147002

📧 bookings@locallinkkerry.ie