Malahide Station

Last September we went north and east to look at three surviving stations designed by Berkeley Deane Wise of the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.  This time we will travel south to see and learn more about the work of his contemporary, William Hemingway Mills of the Great Northern Railway (Ireland).

Mills had a long career with the Great Northern, serving as Chief Engineer from 1876 until his retirement in 1910 – a period when many of the original stations of the component companies required enlargement to cope with increased traffic while other new branches were still opening.  His distinctive multi-coloured (‘polychromatic’) brick stations and station houses could once be seen all over Ulster – from Strabane to Castlewellan and Balmoral to Newtownstewart.  Now, alas, only his fine Lisburn Station survives in its original function, so we will have to move on into Leinster to see two more of his best designs.

The day will start and finish at Grand Central Station, Belfast, and will comprise a journey by local train to Lisburn, then on to visit Malahide before heading back to Dundalk, where Dr Siobhan Osgood, the leading authority on Mills’ work, will talk to us about what was one of his largest and most challenging projects.  We will then return direct to Belfast on the Enterprise.

Tickets are available via Eventbrite must be purchased in advance.

 Rail fares not included – Senior SmartPass holders will be able to travel free of charge, SmartPass holders will need to buy tickets from Newry to Malahide.

No meals included – ample time on the trains to enjoy a picnic or use the lunchtime break in Malahide to patronise one of the many cafes, restaurants and bars within easy walking distance of the station.

Please wear sensible walking shoes and bring a raincoat in case of wet weather.

Meet at Grand Central Station, Belfast.

Members:£15 Non-Members: £20

Talk by Dr Siobhan Osgood