industrialheritageireland.info – Page 28 – Ireland's industrial heritage

Clonsilla Locomotive Shed

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 12th November 2022

In 1862, the Dublin & Meath Railway opened their line from Clonsilla, Co. Dublin to Navan, Co. Meath – their station in the latter being located to the south of the railway from Navan to Oldcastle, which was a separate company.

At the Dublin end of the line (Clonsilla), the company had their own locomotive shed, located in the apex of their line and the MGWR mainline to Galway/Sligo.

This building was later converted for use as accommodation for railway staff, but has been derelict for decades and overgrown with plant life.

When out volunteer litter picking on the Royal Canal today, I noticed that the side of the building facing the modern era M3 Parkway branch has been cleared of vegetation, exposing it to public view once more.

Former Dubllin & Meath Railway Locomotive Shed, Clonsilla, Co. Dublin. Copyright Ewan Duffy 2022

I hope that this is not a prelude to demolition of the building.

IH News 2022

Weir near Lough Rinn, Co. Leitrim

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

Agriland.ie reports on the grant aided restoration of a stone wall, which was a boundary of the Lough Rinn (sic) estate south of Mohill.

The IH significance of this is further into the article as the wall was deemed part of an adjoining bridge and weir, which have also been restored.

IH News 2022

Streamstown Junction cafe

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

Midlands103 are reporting that Westmeath County Council are to grant aid the fitting out of a building at the former railway station at Streamstown Junction (on the Mullingar – Athlone greenway) as a cafe, to the tune of €33,000.

This is a welcome initiative and Westmeath County Council are to be commended for this move.

Locations

Titanic Hotel/Museum, Belfast

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

RTE has a review of the Titanic Hotel and Titanic Museum in Belfast on their site.

The former encompasses the former Harland and Wolff office building.

Events

Workers’ Villages Exhibition

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 2nd November 2022

Running until 21st January 2023 in the Science Gallery in Trinity College Dublin, the Reimagine Workers’ Villages exhibition is a celebration of the work and legacy of architect Frank Gibney and the communities that were created through his innovative Bord na Móna villages.

IH News 2022

Waterways and Means

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 23rd October 2022

In my last post, I referenced Brian J Goggin and his website www.irishwaterwayshistory.com.

Brian was working on a book at the time of his passing and his family completed this book – Waterways and Means – which was launched in Dublin in June this year (I was honoured to be invited to the launch).

Brian’s family have posted a review of the book on www.irishwaterwayshistory.com today, suggesting the book as a suitable Christmas present – a recommendation I can support, having bought the book at its launch.

Site Updates

The Ulster Canal

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

Regular readers of this site know that I am opposed to the “restoration” of the Ulster Canal on both heritage and economic grounds.

I am back to being a lone voice in the wilderness on this one, since the passing of Brian J Goggin of irishwaterwayshistory.com 2 years ago.

In memory of Brian, whose contribution to the recording of the history of Ireland’s canals and navigable waterways far exceeded anything I have achieved, I have created a map of the Ulster Canal.

There are two larger scale maps linked off this – one covering from Charlemont to Lock 10 and the other from Lock 11 to Wattlebridge.

At the moment, these latter two are flat pages. However, I intend to add links off these to photo galleries for each feature, showing the canal as it remains today.

Greenways IH News 2022

Limerick Greenway

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

RTE have an article on their site about the Limerick Greenway (formerly the Great Southern Trail).

Greenways IH News 2022

Tralee Fenit Greenway

Post author By ewan.duffy
Post date 19th October 2022

TraleeToday.ie reports that the Tralee – Fenit Greenway (along the former railway between the two towns) opened last weekend.

I’m sure Irish Rail are delighted to have offloaded another liability and the awkward questions around how a railway that was not abandoned could have a supermarket carpark built on it.

Locations Site Updates

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.