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IH News 2025

A Reverse United Ireland

The Irish Government has just published a new development plan for the country, proposing investment in many areas of infrastructure and services.

The images on the front cover of the report include an image of a train. However, an unfortunate error has occurred in that the image included is that of an NIR railcar and not a train from the Republic of Ireland.

Rather than the shibboleth of the Republic of Ireland taking over Northern Ireland, it looks like the National Development Plan is proposing the opposite.

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Locations

The Dark Hedges

I can honestly put my hand on my heart and state that I have never watched the drama series “Game of Thrones”. However, I am aware that there is a feature in this known as the “Dark Hedges”, which is a real location in Co. Antrim.

I was in Antrim over the June bank holiday weekend taking photos of the former railway lines to Ballycastle and Retreat and as it so happens, the Dark Hedges are located adjacent to the site of the former Gracehill Station on the long closed Ballymoney to Ballycastle line.

Damage caused by Storm Eowyn in January 2025 can be seen on the left.

The "Dark Hedges", Gracehill, Co. Antrim. Copyright Ewan Duffy 2025
The “Dark Hedges”, Gracehill, Co. Antrim. Copyright Ewan Duffy 2025