Dublin city centre was quiet yesterday as shoppers stayed away because of the absence of buses and DART services.
Mr Christy Troy of Troy's Butcher's in Moore Street said yesterday had been his worst day for sales this week: "We are trying to hold on to staff but we might have to let some go."
Sharon, one of the flower stall owners in Moore Street, said sales were dreadful. "Town is like a morgue, I'd have been better off staying at home."
Most of those in the city centre with shopping bags were people who lived close by. Ms Marion Kelly, from the East Wall, had shopping bags and a trolley but said the walk home would take only about 20 minutes.
Mr Dave Meehan, who lives on Clonliffe Road, had a shopping basket attached to the back of his bike to hold his many shopping bags. Although he was inconvenienced by the bus strike, he said, "I'm all for the bus men."
Ms Niamh Finucane, a student in Trinity College, said she had bought her bike on Monday in order to get into town from Fairview. She had to move in with her boyfriend for the week as she lives in Donaghmede. Mr Paul O'Connor, who lives on Leeson Street, said his bike was being serviced so it would be ready for more strikes next week.
Ms Ine Ritchie and Ms Liz Barclay from Fife in Scotland said that when they had arrived in Dublin on Monday evening they had been talking about how good the bus service was. "Then on Tuesday we were standing at a bus stop in the sunshine and a man passing told us there was a bus strike on," said Ms Ritchie.
Although they were staying on Charlemont Place, a 20-minute walk from town, they said they didn't mind the strike as the weather was nice.
Ms Bernie Scott, on a visit from Birmingham, was "very upset and annoyed". She was staying with relatives on Rathdrum Road in Crumlin and had to walk everywhere.
Connolly Station was quiet yesterday despite the fact that some trains were running. One man going in at 3 p.m. said he would normally leave work to get the 5.20 p.m. train to Dundalk but was going home early because of the uncertainty over the trains.