Famine exhibition for Kilrush

THE launch of the Famine in Clare Exhibition in Kilrush Library will take place on Tuesday at 6pm.
The exhibition concentrates on the Famine in the county from 1845 to ’52 and explores each Poor Law Union, its electoral divisions and workhouses.  Reports are included from those such as English Poor Law Commissioners and Relieving Officers, the Board of Guardians and Poor Law Inspectors, with lists of names of those who died in the Kilrush and Ennistymon Workhouses.
Kilrush has been selected as the host location for the main 2013 National Famine Commemoration, which will take place on Sunday, May 12.
At 7.30pm on Tuesday in Teach Ceoil, Jackie Whelan will give Kilrush and District Historical Society’s monthly lecture, on The story of the West Clare Railway.
The West Clare Railway (WCR) originally operated between 1887 and 1961. This 3ft narrow gauge railway ran from the county town, via numerous stopping-points along the West Clare coast to two termini, at Kilrush and Kilkee, the routes diverging at Moyasta Junction.
The system was the last operating narrow gauge passenger system in Ireland. Intermediate stops included Ennistymon, Lahinch and Miltown Malbay. A preservation society maintains a railway museum and has successfully re-opened a section of the railway as a passenger-carrying heritage line.
Mr Whelan became involved when a committee for the restoration of the West Clare Railway was created in the mid-1990s. He initially carried out all the preparatory works for the tracks, including all excavation works, track laying and fencing on a voluntary basis.
One objective of the committee was to include the Slieve Callan steam engine as part of the proposed WCR restoration project. At that time this steam engine lay dormant and on display at Ennis Railway Station.
A proposal was made to CIE to remove the engine from its plinth in Ennis and an agreement for its removal to Moyasta was granted to the West Clare Railway Company, amid much consternation in Ennis at the time.