February 2018 Lecture: The Athenry - Tuam Railway - Its role in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries

Our 2018 lecture season commences Thursday 22nd February at 8 pm in Tuam Library.

Our guest lecturer is Frank Dawson who has a lifelong association with railways, coming from a strong traditional family background in the railways of Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo, dating back to their foundation.

A former Director of Services with Galway County Council and Roscommon County Manager, Frank has been associated with the campaign to revitalise the Limerick to Sligo railway ever since the first steps to terminate services along the route were taken by CIE in 1974.

The Athenry to Tuam Railway was opened in 1860 before any railways in Mayo or Sligo. It was constructed in 1859-60, employing 750 people, over an eighteen month period, to the highest standards of the day, by the renowned engineer William Dargan. Dargan was the contractor for Ireland’s first railway from Dublin to the then Kingstown, (Dún Laoghaire), and he also built the Dublin to Cork mainline.

The Athenry to Tuam railway line played a major part in the expansion of railways into the West, agricultural development, industrial development, sport and religious events as well as the creation of one of Ireland's most iconic films The Quiet Man.

We hope you will join us for what promising to be a fascinating lecture.

Tuam Library

Thursday, 22 Feb,

8 pm