Jimmy (Slim) Cullinane

Here is a picture of Dunmore 's much loved bus driver of many years, Jimmy Cullinane. Jimmy drove us around

when few had even one car, let alone two or three. He drove us to Mass, to Waterford , and to School. He was one

of a few drivers to drive a Double Deck Bus between Dunmore and Waterford in a driving career than spanned over

40 years.

How much we must have tormented Jimmy as secondary school kids we will never know, but he had a special love

for us all which was often demonstrated at Christmas time when, with a tear in his eye, he would accept the annual

gift of cigarettes we would present to him.

He would call us “feckers” and “cafflers” and threw a few off the bus from time to time when the caffling got out of

order. His red bus turning the corner at the Mall in Waterford signalled the end of another long school day, the same

red bus would creep up Killea Hill on Sunday morning carrying all and sundry to Mass. He drove us to town on

Christmas Eve and to the pictures on a Sunday evening, he even drove people to Tramore to play Bingo when

entertainment was not as extravagant as it is today.

Jimmy lived at No 2 Glenview Tce. Dunmore, and was married to Cissy (nee Ivory) a sister of Twink Ivory RIP. He

was a neighbour of Ned Farrell, and Katie McGrath. He enjoyed a game of cards and a few drinks in his later years

and often sat at the bar in the Strand Hotel chatting about old friends and old times.

Jimmy passed away on the 14th of September 1992 aged 79 years. He will always remain in our thoughts and in our

hearts as our “School Bus Driver”. There will never be another Jimmy, or another red double deck bus travelling the

school route between Dunmore and Waterford .

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