From Sunday 26th January 2025, there will be some changes for bus routes in Leopardstown Valley, The Gallops, Ballyogan, Clay Farm and surrounding areas through the Bus Connects programme. As I’ve done with previous bus changes, I’m putting together some info specifically for local residents in our area. But still, all the official information is here on the NTA’s website too.
I’ve tried to give a guide to the changes below and I hope you find the information helpful. Please reach out to me directly if you have any questions or feedback. I shared some feedback with the NTA on previous Bus Connects changes and received a response, which you can read here, so they do take on feedback.
If you live in Kilternan or Glenamuck and would like to know how the change from the 63 affects you, I have a Kilternan guide here.
Background to Bus Connects
The bus network in Dublin evolved bit by bit since last century with not much joined-up thinking behind it. The NTA ran a number of consultations between 2017 and 2019 which resulted in the new Dublin bus network being released in September 2020. Many politicians have tried to influence the routes but the decisions on the routes have been made by the professional Transport Planners in the NTA. Only fairly minor changes have been made following political and public pressure.
Since 2021, the NTA have been rolling this new network out in phases. The next is Phase 6a, which is launching on the 26th January.
One thing that’s relatively new is the 90 minute Leap card fare. This means that you just pay once if you’ve to transfer to a different bus/Luas/DART within 90 minutes of the start of your journey. This was brought in by the Greens in the last government along with half price fares for young adults and full-time students. You can buy a Leap card here.
Changes for Leopardstown Valley area
These are the changes for Leopardstown Valley, The Gallops, Ballyogan, Clay Farm and surrounding areas:
| Staying the same | New routes | Routes being removed |
| Route 44 | Route L26 (every 30 mins) | Route 63 (every 30 mins) |
| Route 47 | Route L27 (every 30 mins) | |
| Route 118 |
The new bus, the L27, will run every 30 minutes. It will start at Leopardstown Valley by the Shopping Centre, then follow the same route as the 63 down from Leopardstown Valley through Ballyogan to Carrickmines. Then it’ll go straight over the M50, following the same route as the 63 down to Cornelscourt. The L27 bus will continue all the way to Cabinteely village. At Cabinteely village it’ll go left over the N11, along Johnstown Road.
The L27 bus will then turn left down Pottery Road, going past the National Rehabilitation Hospital. It’ll continue straight down past Baker’s Corner (get off here for IADT) then at the Stradbrook roundabout it’ll take a right down to Monkstown Farm, right again along Oliver Plunkett Road (Monkstown Farm). Then at Mounttown, the L27 bus will go left down York Road all the way to Dún Laoghaire DART station.
There are other routes changing around Dublin too, but this is the change affecting Leopardstown Valley, The Gallops, Ballyogan, Clay Farm and surrounding areas. Some of the other buses may be worth knowing about as well. The best way to check how your specific journeys will best be done by public transport after the changes on 26th January are:
- Install TFI Live for Android or TFI Live for iPhone on your phone.
- Use the TFI Plan A Journey tool on the web.
L27 bus timetables
The timetable for the L27 and other new buses is here.
Bus shelters
The NTA are following up on my request for a bus shelter in Ballyogan near the roundabout. More info on that request here.
Feedback and further changes
Are there other trips you take from/to Leopardstown Valley, The Gallops, Ballyogan, Clay Farm and surrounding areas that you’d like help with? Or have some questions about the above? Please contact me, I’m more than happy to help.
I have been in contact with the NTA to seek better and clearer communications for a smoother transition to these new routes. They are delivering a leaflet to homes and businesses along all the new routes. I’ve requested a digital copy of the leaflet and will upload it here once I have it.
The NTA’s page with all of the details on the Leopardstown Valley, The Gallops, Ballyogan, Clay Farm and surrounding areas Bus Connects changes and other new routes as part of Phase 6a is here.
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