Appeal to reopen west Mayo railway stations closed for decades

An appeal has been issued to Irish Rail to reopen the railway stations in Balla and Ballyvary in west Mayo.

Councillor Cyril Burke said the increased use of the train network demanded that these facilities be brought back into public use.

Speaking at a meeting of Castlebar Municipal District, he said he is disappointment Irish Rail is not responding to efforts by the council to re-open the Balla facility.

Councillor Donna Sheridan said Irish Rail needed to realise that the need to step up and deal with the greater demand for the service now and the people of Balla and surrounding areas were entitled to have their own station like other towns.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne said he had received approaches from a community group in Ballyvary seeking to have the station reopened in the village.

"I don't see why it cannot be done with more and more people now using the train."

Councillor Martin McLoughlin said a strong case can also be made in respect of Islandeady.