Slideshow: From Derry to Kerry, 1955 to 1958 – by Ciarán Cooney (27/09/18)

The first indoor meeting of the Dublin Area programme of the IRRS takes place this Thursday, 27 September 2018, beginning 7:30pm at our HQ in Heuston Station. The meeting takes the form of a slideshow illustrating the Irish railway network during the years 1955-1958, as recorded by the late British based photographer Anthony E Bennett.

Titled “Derry to Kerry”, the presentation illustrates the three visits to Ireland undertaken by Bennett during the 1950s, journeying on what was then an extensive railway network and which encompasses railways in each county of Ireland, including the former Great Northern Railway lines in the north west, the narrow gauge Cavan & Leitrim Railway system and the erstwhile CIÉ branch lines in the south and west of the country, such as Ballinrobe, Loughrea, Valentia and Kenmare to name but a few. Bennett’s travels also document the wide variety of Irish steam locomotives then still operating during the 1950s and which were slowly giving way to diesel traction.

In addition to their physical conservation treatment, each picture has been carefully digitised and restored for presentation and IRRS members will have observed in recent Journals the appearance of Bennett’s photographs. This slideshow thus gives a taste of forthcoming material to be published in future issues. 

(Ciarán Cooney, IRRS Hon Photographic Archivist) 

The IRRS is located opposite Heuston Station carpark, Dublin, on the northside of the station adjacent to the River Liffey