The Herald was contacted by an upset traveller at the weekend, who was waiting on the Number 30 service from Dublin to Donegal, which goes through Derrylin, Enniskillen and Belleek, at Dublin Airport. It failed to turn up as scheduled at 7.50pm on Saturday, without any notice from the bus company. Passengers had to wait until the next service that stopped at the airport at 10.20pm to get home. 

A spokesman for Bus Eireann told the Herald the company had made efforts to prevent the bus’s no-show, but in the end it couldn’t be avoided. 

“Unfortunately the driver rostered to operate the 1930 service from Dublin to Donegal on Saturday became sick at the last minute. Considering the late notice, added that we had no spare driver neither was a private contractor available at such short notice, Bus Eireann were left with no option but to cancel the service ex Dublin.

“The return service at 0100 ex Donegal was operated by a private operator who we contracted to operate on our behalf.”

The spokesman added: “Bus Eireann would like to apologises to the customers affected for any inconvenience caused to them.”