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We are introducing a "Wall of Fame" to Conyngham Road that will quite rightly show the people
who have retired from Conyngham Road Depot after long service to the company either as drivers, clerical, maintenance and
EVEN management.
Our first name on the Wall of Fame is Paddy Nolan from Route 25A. Our second name is
Jimmy Kenny from route 51B. Our third driver John Conroy retired 19th September2005.
| PADDY "STOCK" NOLAN |
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| AND NOW THE END IS NEAR... |
Paddy "Stock" Nolan, (photographed above), recently retired in April 2004 after completing
40 years service with Dublin Bus (inc. Dublin City Services pre-1987, of course). There will be a special night out for Paddy
in June but the 6th May 2004 will provide the staff of Conyngham Road with a chance to wish Paddy well with an informal gathering in
a local beverages establishment on Parkgate Street. No names no advertising (unless money passes my way, ha ha).
Paddy Nolan came from Ballygar, Co. Galway. For anyone not familiar with Ballygar's location,
it is situated near the Roscommon border near Mount Bellew. Like most young men from a rural background Paddy went to England
for several years to earn a living and worked in the building trade in both Manchester and London. When Paddy returned to
Ireland he started work in 1964 with Dublin City Services as a conductor.
During Paddy's many visits to the CIE canteen in Earl Place he started dating one of
the staff from the canteen. Veronica, a girl from Inchicore in Dublin, and Paddy started a courtship that was to eventually
end in marriage and bring along 5 children, four boys and a girl. At this stage the "children" are aged between 27 years
of age and 37 years of age. How time flies when you are enjoying yourself!
Paddy's history on the buses, as mentioned above, started in 1964 as a conductor on the 23
route. Paddy began his driving career in 1968 and got marked-in on the 79 route. After a while Paddy transferred to the Finglas
route 40 for approximately 3 years, but eventually gave in and came back to the 78 route. Getting itchy feet again Paddy went
on the 76 route before he got his bogey duty on the 78's again. Alas, his last marking-in of his career came on the Lucan
25/A route, which again was a bogey duty. A lot of changes you'll agree, but there again, a lot of years covered.
Paddy had his son Frankie working in Dublin City Services/Dublin Bus as a conductor some
years back. Frankie stuck it out for one year but eventually had enough and went elsewhere to pursue a career.
Many of you will want to know how Paddy got the name "Stock". Well in the mid 1950's the Galway
gaelic football team were legends and were winning All-Ireland medals galore. One of the famous Galway footballers was a Frankie
Stockwell. Now Paddy says his own football skills were no match for Frankie Stockwell's but like all hopefuls Paddy would
have liked to 'model' himself in those days on F. Stockwell. His mates then nicknamed him "Stockwell" and eventually
shortened his nickname to "Stock". Hence, the name stayed with Paddy to this day and so we call him Paddy "Stock" Nolan. There,
I bet you that piece of history was a surprise.
We were and still are very fond of Paddy who's quiet demeanour around the garage could have
meant he could go unnoticed. Sure isn't that the sign of a gentleman, never one to boast of his deeds and experience and just
leading by example. Far be it from me to be passing judgement on anybody but I think it goes without saying that we are seeing
the farewell of a true gentleman and one who will be missed by many.
Paddy, good luck in your retirement and best wishes to you and your family for the future.
May your health be your wealth and may god go with you wherever you go.
| JIMMY (SMILEY) KENNY |
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| JIMMY RETIRED ON THE 21st MAY 2004. |
Sadly Jimmy died in 2007. However, we feel it right for Jimmy's details to remain on the 'Hall Of
Fame' page as great people like Jimmy don't come around too often in this world . This is now a tribute to Jimmy
Kenny, R.I.P.
Jimmy Kenny (left) retired as a driver from Dublin Bus Conyngham Road Garage in May 2004 after 33
years service with the company, including time working at the beginning of his driving career with Broadstone Stores as a
lorry driver.
Jimmy got the nickname "smiley" from his workmates either because he smiles all the time or he's
grumpy at times. Either way we wish him well in his retirement. Our workmates have a habit of giving you a nickname,
some names are flattering most most are not and you unfortunately end up stuck with that name until you retire.
But getting back to Jimmy. From 1971 our Jimmy worked as a lorry driver for Broadstone Stores for
3 years. At that time Broadstone Stores supplied parts and everything else for buses and lorries to all parts of Ireland including
all the bus garages in Dublin. Jimmy's work brought him to places such as Cork, Waterford and Limerick, to name just a few.
Nowadays all Dublin Bus garages have their own Stores Departments.
In March 1975 Jimmy went driving for Dublin City Services (now Dublin Bus of course). He started
as a spare driver in Ringsend garage and then after 2 years service he got marked in on the 15 route. (The 15 route really
consists of several routes such as 15, 15A, 15B, and more recently 15C). After one year on the 15's Jimmy decided on a change
of scenery and got marked in on the route 50 (still attached to Ringsend). Jimmy spent 9 years on the route 50 and his conductor
was the late Arthur McLoughlin. Some of you older drivers may remember Arthur?
In 1985 Jimmy transferred to Conyngham Road garage and got marked in on the 78 route. He later also
went driving on the 36 and 68 routes. In fact, since 1990 Jimmy has been on 'bogey' duties on the 36, 68, and 51B routes.
The 51B route was his last route as a marked-in driver. Like many a driver with Dublin Bus, Jimmy worked many a rest-day over
the years working for Bus Eireann. It would be true to say that there is not one County in Ireland, North and South, that
Jimmy has not driven through whilst with Bus Eireann. That may not be a record in itself but it sure adds up to a lot
of driving.
Just in case you may think that Jimmy done nothing else but drive, I can put on record that Jimmy
did take to getting married way back in 1961 to a beautiful girl called Esther Lyons and Jimmy and Esther had two
children Sandra and James (Jnr). Of course no longer children, Sandra is coming up to her 45th Birthday in October 2007 and
James (Jnr) will be 40 years old in July 2007.
For any of you that believes in coincidences and so on, Jimmy was telling me that he noticed that
his home house number is 309 - His locker number in the garage was 309, and the last three digits of his staff number
was 309. How's that for a coincidence? When it comes to foreign holidays Jimmy likes his bit of sun and can be seen with
the jetset in many a Spanish resort including the Canary Islands where it is believed The 'El Greco' apartments in Puerto
Rico, Gran Canaria has a reserved apartment for Jimmy and Esther.
We wish you well in your retirement Jimmy and we send our best wishes to your family as well. We
had some laughs along the way and the slagging was fierce (as your 'culchie' comrades would say). A fitting tribute to a great
man. May he rest in peace.
| John (Jack) Conroy at Hueston Station |
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| John's last goodbye... |
Please return soon.
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