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For many generations, school journeys were marked by steamed-up windows, hard seats, and unreliable heating—features that children recall vividly. However, one retired Citybus has found a new lease of life, transformed into a boat navigating the River Bann under the guidance of Paddy Bloomer. Paddy, a Belfast-based artist and inventor, has given this former bus a remarkable second act.
Paddy’s background is eclectic, describing himself as “an artist, inventor, explorer and plumber.” His creative ventures have spanned diverse settings, from sewers to deserted factories, and he has shared his work globally through workshops and talks in countries like the United States, Portugal, and Slovenia. Inspired by the social nature of bus journeys in his youth, he reflected, “A bus was a kind of social space… You went for a trip and your friends were on the bus and you looked out the window and you met people. I met some very weird people on buses I suppose, but also had plenty of craic on them.”
The bus that became the vessel for his ambitious project was found abandoned in a scrapyard. Initially built as a Citybus in the mid-1980s and later used for sightseeing tours in Belfast, the vehicle underwent a significant transformation. Paddy crafted a hull from scrap wind turbine mast components, welded on a bow and stern, and installed an engine to set it afloat. “The reason I did it was because I had the idea in my head and I had to get it out,” he explained. “It seems like a very simple thing doesn’t it? Make a boat and set a bus on top. It’s just a boat and a bus, it’s only two parts, it seems simple enough.”
Since the end of the Belfast 2024 arts festival, Paddy has been sailing the bus boat from Coleraine up the River Bann to Portadown, passing through Lough Neagh. His plan includes exploring the sights, meeting new people, and finding a suitable mooring spot for the winter. The unique craft has attracted attention everywhere it goes, with people of all ages sharing bus stories and enjoying the spectacle. Looking ahead, Paddy hopes to use the boat for community events, describing it as a mobile spot “for people to get together and have a bit of craic.” In the meantime, he’s focused on enhancing the onboard comforts, aiming to install practical features like a properly positioned phone charger and a shelf for teabags. “I’m going to take my dungarees off shortly and maybe put on some deck shoes and have a G&T,” he said with a smile
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