Author: ewan.duffy

Fairyhouse Halt

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 16th October 2022

Located on the Clonsilla to Navan line between Dunboyne and Drumree stations, the halt at Fairyhouse was used for race day traffic for the racecourse of the same name.

When checking online aerial photos of the area today (both Googlemaps and Geohive.ie), I figured that I had the location wrong, in that I had assumed that the M3 motorway occupied the site of the line here. This is wrong – for a short section of line north of Fairyhouse, the M3 does occupy the former trackbed, but not at Fairyhouse.

The road overbridge at the halt was removed during motorway construction – however, the trackbed remains adjacent to the M3, including the halt site, which is now occupied by a garden attached to a private residence.

I have updated the Gazetteer page for Fairyhouse Halt and will add the photo of the site (a garden) in the near future.

General

Not possible

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 8th October 2022

People wonder why I don’t like Irish Rail. Things like this are the reason.

I should be getting the 13:32 ex Kilcock to Maynooth to transfer to the 13:45 ex Maynooth to Confey, to undertake volunteer litter picking on the Royal Canal.

However, as is not uncommon for Irish Rail, the first train (from Sligo) is late and there is no guarantee of a connection at Maynooth. The second issue relates to the single track west of Maynooth. The real time departures section of the Irish Rail website is currently reporting an impossibility:

The first section is showing an arrival at Kilcock of a train to Sligo at 13:42. However, the second section is showing an arrival of the train I should be on at 13:45. Due to the single track section between Maynooth and Enfield, this is a physical impossibility and the IR website is publishing a lie.

Events

Dublin Bricks & Brickmakers (online event)

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 5th October 2022

As part of the Dublin Festival of History, the above titled talk, given by Susan Roundtree, is being hosted (online) by Dublin City Council (in conjunction with the IHAI) on 12th October 2022 between 18:30 and 19:30.

The event is free but registration is required.

IH News 2022

Dublin Port Sea Wall

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 5th October 2022

RTE reports on the discovery of a section of the original sea wall constructed as part of the early development of a port at Dublin, which is believed to date back to the 1720s.

This is located under a former electricity substation at the port, which is undergoing conservation works currently.

History IH News 2022

Bog ore blacksmith

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 4th October 2022

They say you learn something new every day.

I was aware that historically in Ireland, copper was retrieved from bogs by burning it. I was unaware that iron ore can be similarly retrieved but the Irish Independent have an article about a blacksmith who uses Irish bog ore iron in his work.

Overseas

Level crossings are dangerous

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 28th September 2022

One of the few items where Irish Rail and I see eye to eye is the belief that level crossings are dangerous.

As an example (albeit overseas), this video (trigger warning – not for the sensitive) on Independent.ie shows a police car being hit by a train in the USA.

Colorado’s finest police officers had parked their car on the crossing during a traffic stop, in the dark and had placed a suspect in the car before it was hit by a train.

History Overseas

Treadmill crane

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 26th September 2022

Not for the first time, I link to a YouTube video by Tom Scott – in this case, he is demonstrating the use of a replica treadmill crane, which is believed to have been in use in Continental Europe in the early part of the 2nd millennium.

IH News 2022

Connemara railway project

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 22nd September 2022

Youtube recommended this video to me, which is footage (both on the ground and by drone) of progress on the Connemara Railway Project at Maam Cross station, Co. Galway.

IH News 2022

Whitegate pier cafe

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 21st September 2022

CorkBeo.ie reports on the adaptive re-use of an old pier in Whitegate, Co. Cork, as the foundations for a new purpose built cafe, the selling feature of same being that it will have sea views on three sides.

I’m not sure now is the time to be investing in cafes, with a major downturn in the economy on the way, however, I wish those behind this venture the best with their project.

Site Updates

Lagan Navigation

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 14th September 2022

Last weekend was due to have been Heritage Open Days in Northern Ireland and I had booked to attend an event in Belfast as part of this.

As I also had a few stations on the Larne Line that I had not visited and photographed, I booked a B&B near Ballycarry with a view to using the excellent NIR Day Tracker (only available on Sundays) which allows all NIR network travel for the full day for £8.

Unfortunately, the event was cancelled due to an outporing of emotion over the passing of a person who, in a 1st world 21st century society, should not have the importance attached to her that she had.

As I had already booked my accommodation and train travel (up on Saturday and back on Sunday) I quickly drew up an alternative plan for Saturday, which took shape in the form of walking the Lagan Navigation from Lisburn back towards Belfast.

For various reasons, I only got from the point where the navigation disappeared under the M1 motorway back to Lambeg, however, I will be returning this weekend to walk from Lambeg back to Belfast.

In advance of posting the photos taken online, I have created a map of the Lagan Navigation (1st draft only) and this is online.