Tibradden, Rockbrook. Whitechurch, Nutgrove Shopping Centre

Dublin Bus route 161, operated by Donnybrook Garage operates from Nutgrove Shopping Centre via Whitechurch to Tibradden & Rockbrook.

The route was introduced in April 1999, initially operating from Nutgrove Shopping Centre car park using Mercedes Benz 811D with Leicester Carriage Builders bodywork. Attempts to use full length AD class DAF SB220's didn't last long due to the very narrow & twisted road network from Whitechurch to the outer terminus.

The service was introduced to replace the former & long remembered 47 group. Direct services to the City Centre were maintained by a new route 15C ( operated by Ringsend Garage ) operating from Ringsend Garage, using two transferred Leyland Olympians from Donnybrook, RH 92 & 93

( click here for feature ).

More modern 814 Vario minibuses were introduced onto the route following the withdrawal of the Leicester Carriage Builders design & the MV class continued to operate the route.

Following the withdrawal of the MV class, Donnybrook introduced Wright bodied Crusader 2 Volvo B6BLE's onto the route, this WV class from buses received from both Ringsend & Clontarf Garage. This allowed for the conversion of the route to low floor & with increased capacity .

The terminus however in the grounds of the car park has been relocated to outside the Shopping Centre on Nutgrove Way at the bus shelter due to the narrow confines of the car park.

Wright bodied Crusader 2 Volvo B6BLE, fleet number WV 4 ( 99 D 60004 ) is seen at the 161 terminus at Rockbrook in the Dublin Mountains Saturday 10th September 2005.

Just past the roundabout in the rear of the photo on the Tibradden Road, the M50 skirts along on its way to Ballinteer & beyond. Route 161 uses this roundabout to turn back & terminate at this stop. Marley Park & the beginning of " The Wicklow Way " trail through the Wicklow Mountains.

From the terminus here, route 161 meanders along the Tibradden Road, offering spectacular views of below, before heading down onto Edmondstown Road. This point is again popular with hillwalkers & also not far from Larch Hill, campsite for the CBSI Scouting. The route continues along Taylors Lane before a routing into Whitechurch Estate & then along the Grange Road ( former 47B terminus ) towards Nutgrove Shopping Centre. As the route low longer operates into the car park, it loops around Nutgrove, via Barton Road, Beaumont Avenue & Nutgrove Avenue.

WV 4 ( 99 D 60004 ) at the 161 terminus at Nutgrove Shopping Centre.

WV 4 was originally delivered to Ringsend Garage in 1999 in batch WV 1- 10 for route 150 to Rossmore, in City Imp livery.

The WV class are ideal for operating a wide range of Dublin Bus services, not requiring full size single /deckers. The also have the added bonus of being low floor & accommodating a wheelchair space. They are well designed internally, with plenty of seating & space at ground level before steps towards the rear.

Donnybrook uses its WV allocation on such routes as the 44B, 59, 111 & 161.

Previously route 161 operated 7 days a week, with a trip time of about 25 minutes, using just one bus.

MAP OF NUTGROVE

MAP OF ROCKBROOK

Official Dublin Bus route 161 timetable

Donnybrook Garage route 161 from Nutgrove Shopping Centre to Tibradden & Rockbrook has been traditionally been operated by single deck & minibuses, with the narrow mountain roads past Whitechurch housing estate in Rathfarnham.

With the transfer of WV 4- 7 to Harristown in January followed on by the temporary loan of WV 8 all from Donnybrook to Harristown Garage, the WV's left at Donnybrook ( see fleet list ) are unable to cover all their routes sufficiently.

Routes 44B, 59, 63, 111 & 185 are normally WV allocated.

RV 415 ( 98 D 20415 ) is seen at the outer 161 terminus at Rockbrook. Its a remote area, but the only place along the route with a turning circle.

Donnybrook number scrolls do not have route 161, so a postcard display is seen in the nearside front window.

RV 415 was the Olympian involved in the tragic accident on O' Connell Street in September 2005 involving two English tourists.

Donnybrook AV 70 is seen at the Rockbrook terminus, with the M50 to the left side.

Route 161 was originally introduced on the 25th April 1999 as a precursor to the withdrawal of city - Tibradden/ Rockbrook/ Grange Road routes 47/47A & 47B which were canceled a short time afterwards on the 11th September 1999, following a revision of the network in the area. Routes 47/47A/47B were suffering from poor load factors so route 161 was introduced to provide a feeder service just to Nutgrove Shopping Centre.

In the beginning, the route was operated by ML class Mercedes Leicester Carriage Builders minibuses, leading to WV class Volvo midibuses.

While the ML class minibuses operated the route, they actually operated into Nutgrove Shopping Centre, looping right around the car park & terminating in the far corner of the centre, however when the larger WV class were introduced, the WV''s operated to outside, including a new loop routing around Barton Road & the Bottle Tower to the bus shelter outside Nutgrove Shopping Centre.

By 2008, the WV class were suffering chassis/axle damage from the severe traffic calming ramps into Whitechurch Estate, so double deckers such as the RV & AV class were introduced onto the route.

As part of the overall Dublin Bus cutbacks around the network in 2009, route 161 was cutback to just peak time services Monday to Friday with a bogie duty from Donnybrook, with just 5 services in each direction & no weekend operation.