Dubliners rub their eyes in disbelief as a horse drawn bread van makes city centre deliveries.
People on O’Connell Street in Dublin may feel like they have gone back in time at the sight of a horse drawn bread van making city centre deliveries.
The cart belongs to Downes Butterkrust Bakery. It was originally used circa 1920 by the bakery Joseph Downes and Son. The van which can hold 16 trays of bread was restored over the past two years.
This run tests how feasible it is to put horses back on bread delivery routes. Taking part are driver Ben Sumner and route supervisor Michael Dooley. The horse drawn bread van halts outside The Mullingar in Parnell Street where a tray of bread is dropped off.
Using the horse drawn van Downes will save on their diesel fuel bill, but they will need to factor in the cost of maintaining the horse.
The inexperience of the hired horse in city traffic proved to be a slight hindrance to the test.
If they should decide to go ahead with this form of transport for deliveries, Downes believe the most difficult aspect will be finding staff to look after the horses.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 20 June 1979. The reporter is Jackie Hayden.
