Train strike forces Mayo fans to take to the road

Train strike forces Mayo fans to take to the road


Anton McNulty

Over 15,000 Mayo fans expected to travel to Croke Park for the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday are on course for travel chaos with no trains expected to leave for the capital.
Irish Rail are not taking bookings for the trains leaving Mayo for Dublin this Sunday after SIPTU and the National Bus and Railworkers Union announced they were taking industrial action on August 24 and 25.
Mayo TD and former Mayo football manager John O’Mahony, who is also the Chairman of the  Oireachtas Transport Committee advised supporters who normally take the train to matches to make alternative arrangements.
“Unless something happens in the next 24 hours I cannot see anything happening at this stage,” he told The Mayo News on Monday evening. “I cannot see the strike being cancelled and I would suggest supporters start making other arrangements and contact private bus companies.”
A crowd of 40,000 supporters are expected to be in attendance for the All-Ireland semi-final between Mayo and Kerry with an estimated 15,000 expected to travel from Mayo to Dublin.
Traditionally a large number of Mayo fans travel to Dublin by train with special trains usually operating for the big matches.
Mayo GAA PRO, Aiden McLoughlin said it was unfortunate that a large number of Mayo fans will be ‘discommoded’ by the strike but urged them to get to Croke Park to cheer on the team.
“Nobody wants to see this strike go ahead and if it does there is no doubt that it will affect and discommode our supporters. There is normally a big take up for the train but we hope our supporters can make alternative arrangements to get to Croke Park because we need a big crowd to get behind the team on Sunday,” he said.
A spokesperson for private bus company Corduff Travel said they were getting requests for seats to the match earlier than usual and they would accommodate supporters as best they could.