Commuter Belt

Joe Duffy RT╔ radio presenter

Joe Duffy RT╔ radio presenter

How do you travel to and from work?

I drive a Ford Galaxy - which is higher than most cars - this gives me a commanding view of the throbbing economy gridlocked in front of me, behind, and beside.

How long does it take (to get there, to get home)?

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Presenting Liveline, living in Clontarf, Dublin 3, with RT╔ in Donnybrook, Dublin 4 - it sounds like a short postal-district hop, step and jump. But no, the Liffey comes between me and my workplace. So either fill in the Liffey or move RT╔ to its rightful home on the northside. What chance of either? It takes me between 40 minutes to an hour and 40 minutes.

At what time do you leave home for work?

I have a stark choice. Leave at 7.20 a.m and get in at 9 a.m and prepare Pat Kenny's full Irish breakfast or leave at 10 a.m and cut the journey in half. So I leave at 10 a.m and Pat eats croissants.

At what time do you arrive back home?

The journey home is usually worse as you swerve to avoid oil tankers, cornflake trucks, car transporters and tulip trucks from Amsterdam, because I have to travel through the centre of Dublin which is currently occupied by a port! There are now only two ways into the busiest port in these islands - crazy or wha'? Coming home is much harder that travelling into work. If I hear the sig tune of 5-7 Live before I escape from the RT╔ compound, I have a 90-minute journey in front of me.

Do you travel the same route every day?

Yes, all attempts at a rat-run have been scuppered by the arrival of other road-rage rodents.

What do you enjoy about your commute?

I especially enjoy the drive into work with the view along the Clontarf Road of the Mure del Torres (The Bull Wall) sweeping back to the bay and Dublin mountains. This is easily the scene that gives me the most joy.

What bothers you most about your commute?

I get annoyed at myself getting annoyed. For example, this week I thought I could beat the raising of the toll bridge - just as you can sometimes beat the level crossing at Sydney Parade DART station - don't try it at home, and especially don't try it in your car - unless of course you are Jason McAteer and can fly without wings.

Would you change your mode of transport if you could?

I tried public transport: the Dollymount bus route (the 130) is the best in the country but the DART is a disaster - every time a train arrived in Fairview DART station, it was full.

How could your journey be improved?

A bus lane from Vernon Avenue to Fairview or if RT╔ built outreach radio studios. I have already told the Director of Radio, Helen Shaw, if she builds a radio studio in Dublin 3, I'll go from door to door collecting the licence fee.