While Dublin Bus was the premier operator, Bus Eireann was also considerably involved in the Special Olympics World Games 2003.

Here is a selection of vehicles used during the week long activities, borrowed from various garages around the country. Bus Eireann used nearly every single type of bus they had during the week long activities.

A city bus miles from home.

M C 1 0, a Mercedes Benz Citaro based at Limerick Garage seen at Bus Aras on 20th June 2003 just as the Olympics got underway. Limerick has 12 of this impressive low floor buses which were introduced into service August 2000.

One of the very early Volvo Caetano's, VC 4 of Galway seen turning onto Simonscourt Road as it terminates at the RDS, 28th June 2003.

Former Donnybrook Garage RH 46, now with Jimmy Kavanagh of Malahide in its deviated Dublin Bus livery.

This bus is sun contracted to Bus Eireann & generally operates route 109 from Dublin to Navan given its handy additional capacity.

Seen on Nassau Street 28th June 2003, complete with stylish wheel embelishers.

PL 68, a Leyland Plaxton, which originally came from Shearings UK in late 1992.

I remember these arriving in Broadstone from England, in the traditional Shearings blue livery.

The interiors are very crampt & the dark chocolate trim does not help. PL 68 these days is usually confined to school bus duties,

Seen on Anglesea Road 28th June 2003

Ah, the humble minibus.

While Dublin Bus have disposed of most of their minibuses, the original fleet of Mercedes Benz with Eurocoach & Leicester Carriage Builders are still all in service right around the country with Bus Eireann.

The minibus is still very flexible, either on the school run or operating town services.

ML 108 is seen above on Anglesea Road 28th June 2003. Its usually found operating the Navan Town Service.

VC 212 seen at Jurys North Wall on a sunny 29th June 2003. There was quite allot of atheletes staying at this hotel & Bus Eireann seemed to be operating all the various shuttles from here. The coach park was packed with mostly VC's ( old style ).

These Enigma Caetanos are extremely comfortable,  this bus is frequently used on the Waterford - Dublin service, complete with air con & toilet facilities.

While Bus Eireann was using a wide variety of its own vehicles for Olympic duties, its scheduled services required the additional hiring of vehicles. 4 Volvo Olympians from Dublin Bus were hired, in particular for the Dublin - Ashbourne 103 service, as its allocated East Lancs Volvo's DD11-16 were being used on Olympic services.

RV 634 of Dublin Bus Phibsboro Garage, complete with Bus Eireann decals on the front, side & rear heads for Abbey Street.

Finally, Bus Eireann also charted some private operators for the Games.

Operators like Aerdart & Bee Line as above, with its former Stagecoach livery seen on Nassau Street 28th June 2003.