Dublin Bus Route 239 Liffey Valley to Blanchardstown

Route 239

Liffey Valley Centre

Blanchardstown Centre

The Dublin Bus love affair with the minibus which had initially begun in 1987 with the inception of Dublin Bus as its own entity however is expected to end soon bringing to a close the minibus experiment.

The longest lasting minibus route was perhaps the last to operate...the 239. What began as a Localink route around Blanchardstown & Clonsilla in Winter 1996 using the newly opened B Shopping Centre as a hub was extended south of the River Liffey in 2000 into Lucan & onto a similar shopping complex that was the Quarryvale Shopping Centre, eventually renamed Liffey Valley.

MV 65 ( 98 D 1065 ), a Mercedes Vario 814D minibus, with locally built Eurocoach of Donegal bodywork is seen at the Liffey Valley terminus in November 2005, also home to the high frequency route 78A, peak 78 & radial route 210 to Crumlin.

Route 239 began as a shadow service to the high frequency 39 Cityswift service. Similar local route 250 around Blanchardstown & Porterstown & route 207 in Foxborough, Lucan were withdrawn as the 239 was eventually extended over the narrow winding backroads between Blanchardstown & Lucan.

Route 239 was originally operated by Phibsboro Garage, along with the other minibus routes 236, 237, 238 & 270. Following the re shuffles in October/ November 2004, all the above routes except for the " factorylink " 236 ( which was interworked with route 38 duties ) moved to Harristown Garage along with the last remaining minibuses in the Dublin Bus fleet ( MV 60, 62, 65, 70, 76 & the gaudy MV 83 in Western Union allover yellow livery ).

While some of the boards on these localink routes were regularly operated by double decker Olympians, owing to the narrow roads in Porterstown & 3 ton limit on Lucan bridge, 2 minibuses were allocated to the 239 boards.

MV 76 is seen at the Liffey Valley terminus of route 239 in January 2006, as the minibus era in Dublin Bus came to an end. Behind MV 76 is Conyngham Road RV 332 in an allover wrap for the new Adamstown housing development in west Lucan. Feature here

The last minibuses to operate in normal service in Dublin Bus, from Harristown Garage were : MV 60, 62, 65, 68, 70 ,76 & 83

(MV 70 had been withdrawn for some time, while MV 83 was still in full allover livery for Western Union Money Transfer.)

Quick guide to the entire Dublin Bus minibus fleet

MB ( MB 1-5 short wheelbase, 6-15 long ) Metro Cammell Weymann,delivery 1987-89

the original, introducing " the nipper " concept & the love affair began..

MW ( MW 1-10 ) Mercedes 811D Wright body, various garages PB, SH, RG, 1990

first time Dubliner's traveled in a Merc, relaunched the dying decker 83

MA ( MA 1-20 ) Mercedes 709D Alexander body, route 120 initially, 1993

dubbed the ice cream van, with its pitched rear body, do you want a flake in it ??

ML ( ML 1-35 ) ML 1-20 were smaller 709D, ML 21-35 longer 811D, 1994-95

flat backed rear to deter young squatters chasing a free ride

ME ( ME 1-59 ) ME 1-35 were 709D, 36-59 were 811D, 1993 onwards

home grown mini's from Donegal, gone was the 24 & in rolled the 123

MV ( MV 60-84 ) Vario 814 class, last minibuses, mostly Phibsboro ( 1998 )

a minibus with a logo " Vario ", the final batch of mini's for Dublin Bus

Dublin Bus Route 239 at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre

Route 239 was the last remaining minibus route

The contrast : MV 62 & RV 617 at Blanchardstown on route 270

Phibsboro Garage MV 83 received an allover (including contravision ) advertising livery for Western Union Money Transfer & spent most of its time on route 120 ( City Centre - Cabra ) until the remaining fleet of MV's were transfered to Harristown Garage in late 2004 for Blanchardstown local routes.

MV 83 at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre

Following the conversion of route 130 back to double deckers, Clontarf retained a few of its ME class for routes 51A & 53. ME 56, originally diverted from a Bus Eireann order is seen operating route 53 to East Wall in Dublin 3. Route 53 feature here

Route 172 operated by Phibsboro Garage was re branded in conjunction with the National Museum & ME 42 received a unique " Museumlink " livery. Full feature here

Meanwhile, over in Dun Laoghaire, Donnybrook Garage was using minibuses to operate the short hop route 69 from the station to Kiliney. Full feature here

Even in 2008, minibuses still play at active role for Dublin Bus, albeit limited to ticket sales buses, during the late hours at Nitelink ticket buses or during concert events.

ME 21 is seen on Parnell Square for Oxegen in 2006.