A woman who left the world of digital marketing to become a Dublin Bus driver feels "so free and happy" with her new journey.
Barbara Shanahan, from Marino in Dublin, left a job in digital marketing for hospitality to pursue a career as a bus driver with Dublin Bus when the pandemic hit.
She said: “I lost all my clients basically overnight. My entire business just went because everything closed and, of course, that was the end of that.”
Her new position didn’t fall out of the sky, but rather drove past her on Griffith Avenue.
She told Ryan Tubridy on his radio show on RTE Radio One: “What happened was I saw this double-decker bus passing by beyond Griffith Avenue and it had a big sign on it saying ‘Looking for female bus drivers’.
"So it was like come have a go at driving the bus and I thought ‘Jeez, that looks like fun actually. I’m going to do that for the craic."
Barbara got in touch with Dublin Bus, and went to the all-women open day at Phibsboro Garage
She got to meet drivers and other women who were interested in the role, as well as getting to drive the buses around the yard.
However, growing up in Marino meant that Barbara would always see buses throughout her childhood, and she remembers asking the bus conductors for their roll of paper.
“I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would or could drive a massive double-decker bus. It was never really on my remit," she said.
“I remember as a kid being on the top circle there and asking the bus driver for bus rolls - that was a big thing.
“The bus drivers were so sound. They always were happy. You always respected the bus.
“I just picked everyone’s brains. I was just chatting with everyone, finding out as much as I could because then I thought, ‘This is a really viable option. I could actually work for this company.’”
Barbara was trained up for seven weeks, which allowed her to come to grips with the size of the vehicle.
She passed her test first time and is now out on the roads.
Last Sunday, she did the 123 route, which goes from Walkinstown to her home of Marino.
She said that people constantly show their appreciation, and she loves the fact she gets "thanked for a living".
She said: “I am officially a professional bus driver!
“You can see me waving and smiling.
“It’s really surreal driving around the circle waving at people I knew, saying hi to people I knew.
"People are really appreciative... they're so like 'thanks a million, thank you driver, people are so nice.
"Funnily enough their new campaign for recruiting drivers is 'get thanked for a living', because you do.
"You get thanked all of the time, the kids are waving at you. It's so cute.
“I’m in my city now, driving through the city. I feel so free and happy.
"It’s just such a change in attitude and lifestyle and a whole connection to the city that I missed."
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