A MUSEUM is looking for Glaswegians who travelled on the County Donegal Railways – or who emigrated from Ireland to the city – for a new display.
Niall McCaughan, boss of County Donegal Railway Heritage Centre, explains: “We know that many people, especially from the Glasgow area, travelled by boat from Ardrossan to Belfast, or from Glasgow to Derry, and took the Great Northern Railway train to Strabane.
“They transferred there, to the County Donegal Railways to catch the CDRs - unique, diesel railbuses to Stranorlar, Glenties, Donegal, Killybegs and Ballyshannon, when returning to Donegal for the summer holidays.”
Niall adds: “In the reverse direction, many made that journey to emigrate to Scotland or as seasonal workers for the tatty howkin’.
“We believe that there are memories in plenty out there, especially from older people who were children in the 1950s, and we’d be delighted to hear from them.
“The Glasgow and Scottish connection was very much part of the character of the County Donegal Railways. We want to record that for future generations before it’s too late.”
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The railway closed in 1959 but Niall adds: “We know there are still many people alive who travelled on, worked on, or knew the railway. We’re planning an audio resource and display at the centre for later this year, and we need to capture these memories before it’s too late.”
The memories will be collected in an audio archive at the museum which celebrates the life and times of the narrow-gauge CDR. Its narrow-gauge trains served Donegal for a century and carried thousands travelling to and from Donegal and Scotland.
If you can help, get in touch with Times Past.
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