USE OF TFI Local Link services is growing in Clare with a 17.4 percent increase recorded in 2025.
More than 187,000 journeys were made on TFI Local Link services in the county last year, new figures from the National Transport Authority (NTA) detail.
Passenger numbers increased from 159,415 to 187,127, with eight of the ten routes recording growth. The strongest increase was on the Clarecastle to Ennis service, which rose from 8,082 to 22,367 journeys, an increase of 276%. The Kilbaha to Kilrush route grew by 36%, rising from 1,086 to 1,480.
A four-times-daily Cliffs of Moher to Galway service, launched in mid July 2025, carried 17,025 passengers in the second half of the year.
The Ennis to Kilrush service increased by 1% to 18,608 passengers, with a similar rise on the Ennis to Kilrush via Quilty route, which carried 12,625 passengers. The Ennis to Limerick service recorded a 20% increase, with 20,085 journeys made during the year.
Both East Clare routes also grew. The Ennis to Flagmount service rose 12% from 18,011 to 20,085, while the Whitegate to Ennis route increased 28% from 19,336 to 24,692.
The only services to record a fall in passenger numbers were Kilrush to Loop Head, down 19% from 9,786 to 7,883, and Ballyvaughan to Ennis, down 23% from 57,193 to 44,313.
Clare TD, Joe Cooney (FG) said the overall figures generally showed clear and growing demand for Local Link services and should now prompt increased investment. “These numbers highlight the strong potential for further growth in public transport in Clare. When reliable and affordable services are put in place, people use them. The scale of this increase should encourage the NTA and the Department of Transport to invest further in these routes”.
He praised the work of the local Transport Coordination Unit in Clare and Limerick. “The local TCU has invested in and promoted these services, and the results speak for themselves. More people using Local Link means fewer cars on the road, which benefits the environment and helps communities that have been dealing with heavy traffic,” he said.
Deputy Cooney said the rise in passenger numbers was also supporting local economies. “Local Link is helping people move around the county and is boosting the economies of our towns and villages. It is also supporting tourism by making it easier for visitors to travel around Clare.
Growth recorded last year should be treated as a strong endorsement of the programme, the O’Callaghans Mills man stated. “These figures are a vote of confidence in Local Link. Further funding is needed to expand the number and frequency of services across Clare, especially in towns and villages that still do not have a regular public transport option”.
