Pictured after the announcement by Marty Whelan in The Galmont Hotel, Galway

Age friendly award for TFI Local Link

Noelle Finegan

Published: Thu 30 Oct 2025, 3:31 PM

TFI Local Link Louth Meath Fingal has been awarded the Age Friendly Transport Award for its hospital bus service at the National Age Friendly Recognition & Achievement Awards Gala 2025.

The award, sponsored by the Department of Transport, was awarded at a ceremony in the Galmont Hotel, Galway, on 23rd October.

The award was received as recognition for the County Meath Hospital Bus Service that is operated through TFI Local Link Louth Meath Fingal, which is part funded by the National Transport Authority and the HSE.

This bus is fully accessible and suitable for anyone who needs transport to a public hospital in Dublin. The bus has a morning service that operates Monday to Friday, with all seats being booked in advance. Since its launch in 2018, the bus has become a lifeline for many that use it. The usage of the bus has increased exponentially over the last few years, and it is a service that supports older people to live at home for longer.

Pictured at the 2025 National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards were Valerie Mc Hugh, Akriti Brady, Barbara Manila, Richard Sheehy, John Burns, Michael Killeen, Anne O’Brien and Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive Meath County Council from The Accessible Hospital Bus Service, Meath, which received the Age Friendly Transport Award (sponsored by the Department of Transport).The winners were announced at the ninth annual ceremony in Galway, organised by Age Friendly Ireland, the national organisation implementing the Government’s vision of an Age Friendly Ireland.Image: Andrew Downes.

The bus provides reliable and accessible transport for some of the most vulnerable people living in both urban and rural areas of Meath who need to access Dublin’s public hospitals. This dedicated hospital route ensures that passengers are collected from designated bus stops on fully accessible buses and transported home safely from their medical appointments.

John Burns, Chairman of the Board of Directors said: “On behalf of the Board of Directors of Meath Accessible Transport Project CLG t/a Flexibus who co-ordinate the TFI Local Link Louth Meath Fingal, we are very happy to accept this award marking the recognition of our Accessible Hospital Bus service. We would like to express our sincere thanks to the community, our dedicated staff, and everyone involved with Local Link Louth Meath Fingal. This achievement reflects the hard work and commitment of all those who continue to support and champion accessible transport for all. It stands as a meaningful example of our commitment to promoting independence, dignity, and well-being within our community.”