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Mourning the passing of a great institution - the 46A bus in Dublin

ON THE PASSING OF THE 46A

To those of Irish descent (I was thrown out of an Aer Lingus Dublin to Milan flight in a shamrock-green parachute over Manchester myself), you may care to join me in a minute's silence for the passing of a well-loved Dublin institution. So well-loved, that a group called Bagatelle mentioned it in their 1980 worldwide hit "Summer in Dublin".

This passing institution is no less a monument to Irish society than the 46A bus from Dublin City Centre to the port suburb of Dun Laoghaire, the one no one outside Ireland can either spell or pronounce. Actually, it's getting to the stage that not many people in Dublin can spell it either (according to a poll undertaken in Allahu's Snackbar, Glasnevin)


Yes, the passing of this great institution. I remember standing at bus stops in the rain myself, putting my hand out and seeing this great 46A pass by. It was one of the first buses in the world to follow the "safety in numbers rule", where you'd wait for nearly an hour and then three would come at once.

There are some facts people may not know about the 46A:

1. It is rumoured that the Sinead O'Connor hit "Purple Rain" was written by Prince on the 46A
2. In 1979, Bono made his first ever threat to "drive in a 46A over a cliff if Margaret Thatcher was elected". He has since promised to "drive his car over a cliff" for the election of numerous politicians, the most recent being Donald Trump. Sadly for people who can't stand him, he has failed to keep all his past promises.
3. Famous playwright Brendan Behan wrote his only song, "The Wheels on the Bus go 'round and 'round" on the 46A.
4. Sinn Fein Terrorist "Bobby Sands" (well he was IRA, but let's blame Sin Fein because they are a shower of complete bastards), the most famous Irish slimmer in the world once ate a bag of chips on the 46A. It is rumoured the portion of chips was so awful that it set him on his path to terrorism.
5. Some famous people who live in Killiney who could have taken the 46A if it wasn't so far to walk from Dub Laoghaire include Chris de Burgh, The Edge (not the one Bono has steadfastly refused to drive over), Eddie Irvine, Enya, something called a 'Twink' and the late Maeve Binchy.
6. The 46A is not alone! The 63, 63a, 84, 84a, 84x, 143, 144, 145, 155, 184 and 185 will be joining it at the bus graveyard!

The 46A is being replaced by the E2, which some people have claimed is either a hospital ward or a new form of Covid.

Government representative and spokeswoman, Mrs Agnes Brown declined to comment, simply calling bus company executives "Fecking eejits".

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