Guests at yesterday's celebration at Ballina train station. Photos shared by Iarnrod Eireann on Twitter.

North Mayo town celebrates 150 years of the railway

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One hundred and fifty years of the railway was celebrated in Ballina yesterday (Friday) afternoon.

A specially commissioned bronze plaque was unveiled at the local train station to mark the milestone.

The 11¼-mile section from a new station at Manulla Junction to Foxford was opened by the Great Northern & Western Railway on May 1, 1868, with an intermediate station at Ballyvary. However, it was another five years before Ballina was reached - just 9¼ miles from Foxford.

The GN&WR had hoped to reach Ballina by June 1868 but with financial difficulties and engineering problems with the building of the bridge over the River Moy, GN&WR abandoned the Foxford-Ballina section.

The Great Northern & Western Railway was leased to the Midland Great Western Railway from November 1870 and work recommenced on the extension to Ballina, which opened on May 19, 1873.

The railway gave the opportunity for people with modest means to experience day trips and it also provided employment for people.

Today, services to and from Ballina are busier than ever. The station is serviced by five passenger services on weekdays and four services at the weekend. It is busy with both regular commuters and those taking more occasion trips for leisure or business purposes.

Ballina also acts as an important freight hub and, currently, there are five freight trains operating in each direction to/from Northwall and two in each direction to Waterford. A pulpwood train also operates weekly to Waterford.

Guests at the celebrations included present and former staff members, Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, the cathaoirleach of Ballina Municipal District, Councillor Mark Duffy, cathaoirleach Mayo County Council, Councillor Seamus Weir, and members of the public.

Councillor Duffy, speaking at the celebrations, said: “Ballina train station is a vital piece of infrastructure which serves north Mayo so well. Ballina is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year and it is fitting that we celebrate the 150 years of Ballina train station as part of those celebrations.

“The introduction of the early morning service in Ballina has greatly enhanced passenger numbers and we are excited to see the station grow in passenger numbers and freight volume.”

Iarnród Éireann regional manager customer experience, Derrick Curran, said: “Ballina is a station that has always adapted to suit the needs of the people, where over a century ago it served as a hub for agricultural products, today it supports very successful container and pulpwood businesses, for our freight customers Coillte, IWT, and XPO.

“In the early 20th century, the station served as a departure point for migrants leaving north Mayo but today the station supports a wide demographic of customers that travel for business or study or leisure.”

Ballina station manager Matthew Garrett commented: “It is wonderful to see so many people here supporting and celebrating with us today on this special occasion. We will continue to provide valuable services to the people of this region for a long time to come”.

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