|
Malahide
Lions Club - Steam Train Excursion
Sunday 7th June 2009
Steam Engine Number 4, an ex NCC railway tank locomotive, along with its 6 carriages and brake van pulled into Malahide Railway Station with a screech of metal brakes on a bright morning. The crowd of onlookers watched this arrival with mixed emotions. To the younger members of the audience, Thomas the Tank Engine had come to life. Others were catapulted fifty years into the past when the last steam engine had serviced Malahide commuters. The Malahide Pipe Band raised the rhythm to match the mood.
The lucky (only 280 tickets were available) passengers prepared to enter the waiting carriages for their nostalgic trip including a bus tour of the Cooleys and Carlingford before returning to Malahide. Coach number 1522 had been reserved for the attending dignitaries – the Mayor of Fingal (Michael Donovan), Malahide Lions President (Alfie O’Dowd) and the PRO for District 105 I of Lions Club International (Alan Halford),and local historian and author (Vinny Caprani) The rest of the carriage was occupied by a party of 16 who were celebrating the birthday of a very special boy.
Malahide Lions were helping the Malahide Station staff in looking after the health and safety of those present. These same Lions would later be stewarding people on the bus tour.
This was the culmination of all the planning by the Malahide Lions Club (MLC) in conjunction with the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI), Fingal County Council and Iarnrod Eireann (especially the staff at Malahide Railway Station). This project had commenced with a feasibility study back in 2008 under the guidance of Joe Gunning. The costs involved were covered by a combination of 15 generous sponsors and ticket sales.
See more photos here
TO OUR GROUP OF SPONSORS
On this unique occasion, this trip was made possible and subsidised by local sponsorship, the assistance of Fingal County Council and the dedication of the Inchicore Crew of RPSI. Added enjoyment was provided by our very own Pipe Band. We thank them one and all.
We also sincerely appreciate the following Local Business Sponsorship:
- The Malahide Historical Society
- The Village Medical Centre
- Cleaning Tokens Ltd
- Breffni Couriers
- Michael Leahy
- Jargon
- Ciaran Weldon
- Smyths Taverns
- The Malahide Horticultural Society
- R.M.Breen Associates
- Mr. Steven Young
- Paddy Gallagher Family
- EBS Whitehall
- Eamonn Lee
- C.D Mullock& Co Ltd
Malahide Lions Club serves the Community. These and many other activities are made possible by many fund raising activities, e.g. Tennis Tournament, Art Exhibition, Table Quiz, Hill Walks and Golf Classics. Some of our recent activities resulted in-
- providing computers to a Hospital for disabled children;
- financial assistance for local Hospice;
- sponsoring teachers course in Drug Awareness;
- supplying equipment for Meals-on-Wheels;
- provision of ‘a special room’ in St.Itas Hospital;
- providing and distributing Christmas food vouchers for the needy;
- providing and supporting third world projects;
- arranging and supervising Zoo visits for disabled children
Thanking you one and all. Our sincere appreciation Alphonsus O’Dowd
President Malahide Lions Club
|
