Manchester-born Andy Rose commutes from Killenard, four miles outside Portarlington, to Swords, north Dublin, where he heads the IT maintenance department at Organon pharmaceuticals.
His working day is 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and commuting time depends on his mode of transport.
In winter, he's in the car by 6.15 a.m., joining the Naas road route at Monasterevin. Slowdowns include the 25 minutes it takes to negotiate Kildare town, the miles-long tailback to the Johnstown village lights, the "crawl" to the Red Cow roundabout and the "snail's pace" up the M50. Then it takes about 15 to 20 minutes to reach the toll bridge and another 20 minutes to Swords, before arriving at 8.25 a.m.
Taking the same route home at 5 p.m., the toll bridge queue and the M50 means that it's 6.15 p.m. by the time he exits the Red Cow roundabout, followed by the "crawl" to Newlands Cross and the two-mile tailback to the Johnstown lights, before reaching the Curragh at around 6.50 p.m. It takes some 30 to 40 minutes to clear Kildare town and he is home around 7.15 p.m.
Come summer, he's on the motorbike - an €8,000 Yamaha 600 - at 6.50 a.m. and in the office by 8.15 a.m. Leaving at 5 p.m., he's home by 6.30 p.m.
Total travelling time by car: four hours, 25 minutes. By motorbike: under three hours.
In conversation with Kathy Sheridan
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