New iQ research conducted on our behalf by Ipsos indicates the wide variety of missions Dubliners engage with public transport for. Over a third of those surveyed take bus, rail or LUAS for city centre or mall leisure shopping while nearly a sixth use it for grocery shopping. 36% commute to work or education using public transport, rising to 51% among 16-24s. This age group are the biggest users for multiple reasons with 28% using it for sports and training and 42% availing of it for socialising – be that the pub, theatre, cinema or restaurant. 86% of respondents avail of public transport for at least one purpose.

In terms of most used modes this younger audience is also less inclined to prefer the car with 23% choosing it versus 43% overall. Conversely 54% of younger people use public transport most often, compared to 31% of all respondents. 35% of 25-44 year olds use public transport for family days out.

April WATCH: Diageo is month’s top advertiser

As April drew to a close, PML Group’s WATCH market intelligence data showed Diageo as the most present on Outdoor, making the Beers & Spirits stalwart the month’s top advertiser.

Diageo secured an impressive 9% Share of Voice (SOV) largely driven by Guinness campaigns. This included the enticing ‘Lovely Day for a Guinness’ displaying across a combination of digital 6’s, 48 Sheets, and large formats like the Green Screen at Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. Meanwhile the brand’s innovative Sustainability campaign, which showcased ‘the future of Guinness is taking root’, displayed contextual and standard copy on 48 Sheets across the country.

Following closely in the advertiser rankings were McDonald’s and Mondelēz, each capturing a 4% SOV. Notably, Mondelēz upped its game with a 3% SOV increase compared to April 2022, making its presence felt in the confectionery category with Cadbury campaigns Chocolate Fingers, Big Win Win, and Cadbury FC in support of the Irish women’s national football team. Coca Cola and Suntory also featured at #4 and #5 respectively.

The advertising landscape for April was familiar with the Retail Outlets category leading the pack with a 12% SOV. Campaigns like Dunnes Stores’ Double Savers returned running across 48 Sheets to adeptly tap into the mindset of the cost-conscious consumer, resonating with the market audience.

The Quick Serve Restaurants (QSR) sector exhibited a growth trend, registering a 3% increase in SOV YoY to 7% to land at the no.5 category. Reflecting it’s #2 spot among advertisers, McDonald’s was on display across 6 Sheets, transit, and roadside large formats with a multitude of campaigns including Spring Wins and their limited Chicken Big Mac and Steakhouse Stack offerings. With its contextual copy, Deliveroo’s hyperlocal ‘free delivery on top restaurants in your area’ campaign also played a role in facilitating this upward trend, displaying across Luas columns, classic and digital 6s.

Diageo’s presence was also visible in the Beers & Ciders category at no.2, contributing to a 9% SOV. In addition to Guinness, 0.0, and Storehouse, multi-format Rockshore Cider and Smithwick’s were both visible across Outdoor networks. Soft Drinks claimed an 8% SOV, marking a 2% year-on-year increase.

Top advertisers and categories are based on WATCH marketing intelligence from PML Group. Based on campaign monitoring display at rate card. For full information on categories or brands, please contact the PML Group team.