Weekend double-header at the Donegal Railway Museum for Hertiage Week
Donegal Railway Museum Manager Marty Gilroy said: 'This weekend’s double-header will be a fantastic start to Heritage Week for us here'
The Donegal Railway Museum in Donegal Town has announced a jam-packed programme of railway-related events for Heritage Week, with proceedings kicking off this weekend.
On Saturday 16th August at 3pm, Dr. Joe Kelly will be presenting a talk entitled ‘The Donegal Railways: Aspects of their History and Folklore’. Joe will be known to listeners of Highland Radio’s Nine ’til Noon Show for his regular ‘Talking History’ segment, and in this talk he’ll be discussing the Donegal railways in relation to their historical development, social impact, and the local lore that developed around them.
On Sunday 17th August at 2pm, railway historian Jim McBride will return to the museum for a talk entitled ‘Partition & the North-Western Railways’. In this talk, Jim will focus on the effect the partition of the island in 1921 had on the railways that operated across what then became a national boundary, including the County Donegal, Lough Swilly, and Great Northern Railways. As part of the event, the museum will also be launching their new booklet Railway Connections: Stories and Memories from the North-West of Ireland, and will distribute free copies to event attendees.
Donegal Railway Museum Manager Marty Gilroy said: "This weekend’s double-header will be a fantastic start to Heritage Week for us here. We’re especially excited to welcome Dr Joe Kelly for his first appearance at the museum – being a Falcarragh man, much of his talk will revolve around the Burtonport Extension, arguably the most scenic part of the network and a line with a fascinating history.
"While Joe’s talk will lean towards social history and local folklore, Jim McBride’s will interrogate the role partition has played in shaping our modern rail network, with a particular emphasis on the closure of the lines that once served Donegal. Overall, it’s a great opportunity to learn about this fascinating part of our heritage and to discuss what the future might hold for rail in the county."
Both events are free (optional donation €5) and booking is required. The museum will be hosting more events throughout Heritage Week – visit their website for full programme details.
Online Bookings and Further Information on the Donegal Railway website.