Categories
History Overseas

The first passenger railway service

Britain is currently commemorating 200 years of railways with a series of events having taken place this year, arising out of the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which will occur on 27th September.

However, this was not the first railway in Britain/globally as many mineral tramways predated this. In addition, there was at least one passenger service that predated the S&DR, which was the Swansea & Mumbles Railway in Wales, also known as the Oystermouth Tramway.

The line was built to primarily carry limestone from Mumbles to Swansea, however, a horse drawn passenger service commenced in March 1807.

The BBC has an article going into the details.

Categories
Events

Open House Dublin 2025

I have compiled a listing of events of an IH nature taking palce under the Open House banner in Dublin in October.

Categories
IH News 2025

Belfast City Airport

The Irish News reports on a proposed masterplan for Belfast City Airport, which apparently wants to have a railway station on the adjacent railway line to Bangor.

But not this one for some reason:

Personally, I can’t see Translink building a new station when Sydenham is already on the airport’s doorstep. If money were no object, there would be an argument to close Sydenham and build a new station further east as well as re-opening Victoria Park. However, the Cost Benefit Analysis of such a proposal would be negative.

Categories
General

The lighthouse in Kells, Co. Meath

Before you run to Googlemaps and tell me that Kells is inland and doesn’t have a lighthouse, you are correct.

What is located just outside of Kells is the Spire of Lloyd, a folly constructed in the late 18th century in the form of a doric column with a glazed balcony at its head, giving the appearance of a lighthouse.

Meath County Council have been running tours on Friday mornings over the last few months (ending this month) and as I was heading north last Friday to take part in Heritage Open Days in Northern Ireland (spent the full weekend there), I took the opportunity to pay a visit.

Spire of Lloyd, Kells, Co. Meath
Spire of Lloyd, Kells, Co. Meath. Copyright Ewan Duffy 2025.
Categories
IH News 2025

LUAS Replacement bus

Due to a fire under the bridge carrying the LUAS Red line at George’s Dock, there are no trams running between Busaras and The Point, with the authorities advising that the George’s Dock bridge will need to be demolished and rebuilt.

As a result of this, there is a replacement bus in operation between the Point and Amiens Street, using former London Transport buses, complete with roundel logo.

This makes for a interesting juxtaposition of LT roundel and LUAS branding on buses in Dublin

Former London Transport bus with LUAS branding. Copyright Ewan Duffy 2025.
Categories
Events

Dromore Linen Festival

The Dromore Linen Festival is taking place between 18 and 24 September 2025.

A week long festival in connection with the former linen industry, this includes McConville’s Mill Open Day (Sat 20 Sept).

Hourly tours will guide visitors through the processes of retting, breaking, scutching, and heckling. A free shuttle bus will run between the mill and the town square.

Categories
IH News 2025

Belfast tram isolation pillar

The Belfast Telegraph reports on the restoration of an in situ ‘isolation pillar’ which was part of the tram network in Belfast. These allowed engineers to isolate part of the network for maintenance whilst keeping the rest of the network running.

The box is located on Linenhall Street and has both the city coat of arms and “BTH” for “British Thompson Houston”, cast into it.

Categories
Events

Culture Night 2025

Culture Night takes place on September 19 2025. I have compiled a list of Culture Night events of an IH nature:

BELFAST
Past, Present & Future of Belfast Public Transport

CORK

Rising Sons Brewery: Brewery Tour

DUBLIN

Dublin Docklands: An Exhibition of Photographs

Step back in time in The Liberties – Iveagh Trust Tour

KILDARE

Culture Night at The Steam Museum and Lodge Park Walled Garden

WEXFORD

Guided tours at the Hook Lighthouse

Categories
History

Samuel Grubb memorial

The Irish Examiner has an article about the memorial reputed to be the grave of Samuel Grubb, a Quaker of Castlegrace, Co. Tipperary, which is in the form of a beehive.

The Grubbs were active in milling, Castlegrace Mill being their business. The mill building and mill house remain – I was part of a Mills and Millers of Ireland visit to the complex in 2022, arranged courtesy of its current owners.

I haven’t made it to this monument yet – now that I have the bulk of what is necessary for the railway network of Ireland done, I will be moving onto other additions to the Gazetteer and memorials will be part of this.

In the interim, the image below is of the monument, photo from Geograph.ie – copyright Hywel Williams and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence:

Copyright Hywel Williams and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Categories
IH News 2024 Locations

Quay Street Station, Dundalk

The former Dundalk, Newry & Greenore Railway station building in Dundalk is for sale.