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Route 52 is most synonymous with the Sandymount area of Dublin. Bath Avenue was originally served by the 4 tram but on the 31^st July 1932, it was replaced with a bus service numbered Route 44A. By 1936 it had been renamed route 52.

Quoting 65Donard's recently posted 1937 bus route guide; Route 52 served the following route in 1937:

52 - D'OLIER STREET - SANDYMOUNT TOWER(Strand Rd).
Via Pearse St, Westland Row, Merrion Square, Mount St, Haddington Rd, Bath Ave, Londonbridge Rd, Tritonville Rd, Claremont Rd, Sandymount Green, Gilford Rd then a one way loop via Park Ave, Sydney Parade Ave, Strand Rd & Gilford Rd(Coast end).

Route 52 was withdrawn due to wartime shortages on the 11^th August 1941, the day that the last buses from the city were brought back to 11pm. By this time the route may have been shortened, as it was quoted in the press as the D'olier Street - Oaklands Park Service. Other notable reductions on that date was the withdrawal of route 55 Burgh Quay - Rathfarnham, Route 13 (Glasnevin - Beechwood Avenue) was curtailed to peak periods only and Route 21 was curtailed to College Green only with buses only continuing to Westland Row when trains were scheduled.

It was re-introduced early in 1949 by CIE. I have no exact date for this, but I can say it was prior to the fare revisions (notable for the passing of the 1d fare) on the 29^th March 1949.

In the July 1951 Dublin District Bus Timetable the service is noted as College Street to Gilford Road via Bath Avenue. By the June 1965 timetable, it was noted as Burgh Quay to Wilfield Road. Notable were certain services via Herbert Road and Newbridge Avenue, serving the school there, something which would remain in the timetable until this routing was withdrawn.

It is also interesting that route 52 went OPO in 1965, so I wonder did the Wilfield Road terminus suggest anything about this, or was the terminus Wilfield Road prior to the change to OPO??? Anyone know??

By the mid-80's the route was still basically the same, operating now from Townsend Street (sharing its terminus with the 47A and 61) to Wilfield Road. According to the 13^th Popular Edition of the Dublin Map circa 1984, the routing was as follows:

Townsend Street, Lombard Street East, Westland Road, Merrion Square North, Mount Street, Haddington Road, Bath Avenue, Irishtown Road, Tritonville Road, Claremount Road, Gilford Road, Sandymount Avenue, Wilfield Road, Wilfield Park, Gilford Park and Gilford Road and return.

Route 52's routing from City-Willfield Road was withdrawn upon the introduction of the Dart Feeder services. The Dart feeder services were supposed to be introduced on the 8^th December 1985, however drivers refused to operate them and were dismissed. Route 52 was therefore cancelled. This continued on until the 9^th January 1986 when the drivers were re-instated. So Route 52 continued on until the 1^st February 1986, before becoming a Dart Feeder on the next day.

The Dart Feeder Route 52 service began on the 2^nd February 1986, operating on the following route:

St. John's Church, Park Avenue, Sydney Parade Avenue, Ailesbury Road, Merrion Road, Nutley Lane, Stillorgan Road, Belfield, Stillorgan Road, Foster's Avenue, North Avenue, South Avenue, Trees Road Upper, Redesdale Road, Kilmacud Road Lower.

Did the 52 ever serve Owenstown Park??

By the 15^th February 1985, the terminus at St. John's Church had been vacated and a new terminus adjacent to Sydney Parade Station was used. I'm guessing this was at the rather wide junction between Ailesbury Road and Sydney Parade Avenue, can anyone verify this??

Route 52 lost its Sunday service on and from Sunday 3^rd March 1991. The route also reverted back to its original terminus at St. John's Church sometime in the early 90's. Route 52 was finally withdrawn on the 20^th July 1998. Route 2/3 were deemed sufficient to serve the Sydney Parade - Belfield section, with a low frequency Route 3A serving the Kilmacud routing."