07/07/2026
Excellent news! Bus to Maharees on the weekends. Well done to Maharees Conservation and all involved in getting it organised!
DELIGHTED TO LAUNCH THE SMART COAST PILOT SHUTTLE BUS
A new pilot initiative aimed at improving transport access to the Maharees peninsula and reducing seasonal traffic congestion will be rolled out this summer, as part of the international SMART Coast project.
The SMART Coast summer shuttle bus will operate over four peak-season weekends, providing a convenient and sustainable transport option for visitors and locals alike. The subsidised service will run on:
• July 18–19
• July 25–26
• August 1–3
• August 8–9
The shuttle will serve key locations including Fahamore (Spillane's Bar), Kilshannig (near the graveyard), and Béal Geal (Blue Flag beach car park). It will also connect with the Local Link Route 273 service at Castlegregory, improving regional public transport connectivity.
The initiative is expected to significantly reduce the volume of traffic on the Maharees road during busy summer periods, contributing to safer roads and a more sustainable visitor experience. It also offers day visitors from nearby towns an alternative to driving to Maharees
This pilot shuttle bus gives us a great opportunity to DEMONSTRATE THE DEMAND for improved bus connectivity in Maharees. We are asking our resident and visiting communities to PLEASE USE THE BUS SERVICE if you would like a service like this in the future – we can’t show evidence for demand if there is none!
A small suggested donation is invited: €2 per adult, €1 for Under 18s - (cash only to the honesty box on the bus) – all donations will go to the work of Maharees Conservation Association CLG (RCN: 20108571).
We are also asking passengers to complete this short eight-question survey to help us to learn from the pilot project – this will inform future initiatives. To access the survey and more information, please click here: https://www.mahareesconservation.com/maharees-conservation-association-news-biodiversity-sand-dune-management/40-maharees-smart-coast-shuttle-bus.html
The shuttle pilot forms part of the SMART Coast project, an Interreg Atlantic Area-funded initiative focused on promoting sustainable tourism in coastal regions. The project brings together partners from Ireland, Spain, Portugal, and France, including local authorities, higher education institutions, tourism bodies, and community organisations.
By using data-driven approaches and collaborative planning, SMART Coast seeks to develop practical, replicable solutions for managing visitor flows while protecting natural heritage and addressing climate-related pressures.
Maharees has been selected as the Irish pilot site, with project partners including Munster Technological University (MTU), Fáilte Ireland, Kerry County Council and Maharees Conservation Association working together to design and test innovative approaches such as the summer shuttle service.
We would like to thank Spar Castlegregory for allowing the bus to stop at their location and also to TFI Local Link Kerry for their assistance with the schedule - thanks for this great support.
Di**le Peninsula Tourism Discover Kerry Visit Tralee
For more information on SMART Coast, check out this page:
https://smartcoast.eu/information/
