A woman in Dublin has said she was forced to spend €130 on taxis after her local bus ghosted her three times in a single week. 

Tour guide Cathy Whelan has tried to do without a car because it is so hard to find parking in the city centre. 

She currently lives in Clonee in West Dublin where there is “no bus, no DART, no Luas, no train”. 

On Bank Holiday Monday, she had been booked to do a tour in town and turned up at her local bus stop expecting to be whisked away to work. 

 “The 9am bus just never showed up,” she told Lunchtime Live. 

“So, myself and a girl who works in a restaurant in town, ended up spending €60 on a taxi because it was premium rate for a bank holiday to get in. 

“Friday morning then, I had another corporate gig to get over in the Clayton Hotel in Donnybrook, Leeson Street. 

“The 64 bus, again, ghosted.” 

A double decker bus. Picture by: Alamy.com. 

While Ms Whelan managed to eventually get another bus into town, by the time she got there the traffic was so heavy she had to get a taxi for the second leg of her journey. 

It wasn’t even the last taxi of the week. 

“On Saturday morning, I was going in to do the third job of the week,” she added . 

“I decided to take the 10.30 bus and, again, ghosted.” 

In total, Ms Whelan ended up spending €130 that week just getting to work. 

“The worst part about it is that Bus Éireann goes through the village all day long,” she said. 

“They’re allowed to pick up or drop off there because Dublin Bus has the licence there.” 

While Ms Whelan said she sympathises with the need to reduce the State’s transport carbon emissions, she feels this is only possible if there is a reliable bus network in place. 

“I’ve been trying to do my part but the answer to my question now is to go out and buy another car?” she said.

Dublin Bus has been contacted for comment.

Main image: A Dublin Bus in Dublin city centre. Picture by: Martin Philpott / Alamy Stock Photo