The National Transport Authority and Bus Éireann are enhancing bus Route 243 services, Newmarket to Cork. They are introducing new bus Route 519, Charleville to Cork. These improvements will come into effect on Sunday, 29 June 2025.
The enhanced services are 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 (TFI) Network. The improvements will benefit passengers in the region travelling for leisure, work and education as well as those making onward connections with bus and rail services.
Route 243, Newmarket to Cork will now provide five return trips daily between Newmarket and Cork, via Kanturk, Dromahane, Bweeng and Grenagh.
In addition, five return trips will be provided between Newmarket and Mallow, via Kanturk. Overall, this revised bus service will provide significantly enhanced connections between Newmarket, Kanturk and Mallow, including improved public transport connections to Mallow rail station, seven days a week.
New route 519 will provide passengers travelling from Charleville to Cork with a morning service at 7.05 and a service from Cork to Charleville at 05.45, Monday to Friday. These services currently operate as Route 243 and will now be operated as Route 519.
In addition to the significant changes outlined above, TFI Local Link Cork will now be operating a bus service linking Banteer, Lombardstown, Castletownroche, Killavullen, Mallow and Mallow rail station on Saturdays only, commencing 5 July 2025. Details of this service will be made available by TFI Local Link Cork.
“Bus Éireann is delighted to introduce these enhanced services between Cork, Newmarket and Charleville, increasing transport options for passengers in the region,” said Aled Williams, Senior Regional Manager, South. “These improvements will positively impact passengers travelling for work, leisure, health and education. Thanks to the NTA, through the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan we have added over 2.3 million kilometres to our network nationwide. Demand for our services in Cork is high and we have seen considerable growth in recent years, delivering over 111.6 million passenger journeys last year. Bus Éireann continues to enhance connectivity across the country, delivering an affordable, reliable and sustainable bus service for communities throughout Ireland, helping to make life better.”
John Nott, Head of Public Transport Service Planning at the National Transport Authority stated: “The introduction of Route 519 and the expansion of Route 243 are important steps in delivering better public transport for rural communities in the North Cork area. Through the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, we are working to ensure that towns and villages across Ireland have access to reliable, frequent, and convenient bus services”.
For further information on Route 243, Newmarket to Cork and Route 519, Charleville to Cork including updated timetables and route maps, please visit: Timetables – Transport for Ireland and Bus Éireann | Routes and Timetables
