Historians to give illustrated talks at Donegal Railway Museum

Two railway historians will each give illustrated talks at The Donegal Railway Museum this August.  

Railway historians Charles Friel and Joe Begley will present as part of the Award Winning Museum's National Heritage Week programme.

 On Saturday, August 17 at 2:30pm, Charles Friel will give an illustrated talk titled "The Wee Donegal in pictures". Using many previously unseen photographs, the historian will recreate a journey through the 124 miles of the County Donegal Railway - from Victoria Road in Derry to Letterkenny, Glenties and Killybegs. 

The first part of the talk finishes with a trip from Ballyshannon to Donegal Town. After the break, Charles will recount the last day of public trains, some subsequent events and the lifting trains before, much more happily, reviewing the many CDRJC vehicles which survive in preservation - including some of the work on Drumboe in Whitehead.

Then on Tuesday, August 20 at 7pm, railway historian Joe Begley will give an illustrated talk titled “Building the Burtonport Extension Railway”. The Letterkenny and Burtonport Extension Railway has been variously described both as the greatest journey on the Irish Narrow Gauge, running as it did just short of 50 miles through some of the wildest of the Donegal countryside, and a Folly, given the nature of its chosen course and construction. Its development and history are well described elsewhere. 

This talk will feature a trip along the extension, accompanied on the way by a “special train” and will have a focus on aspects of its construction and some of the challenges faced, illustrated with some rare photographs from the Engineers involved. 

"We are delighted to have two of the best-known railway historians taking part in our Heritage Week Programme,” Niall McCaughan, Manager of Donegal Railway Museum stated. “As both speakers have never presented before at the Museum, we are expecting a lot of interest in the two events. Both will be showcasing photographs which have not been seen before in Donegal, as well as passing on many interesting facts about the unique railways that once operated across the county."

Both events will be ticketed and will take place at the Donegal Railway Museum in Donegal Town, and will also be Broadcast live online.