Thank you. I visited Belturbet in 2003 and unfortunately the Heritage Centre was closed. My grandfather David Millar was born there in 1892. I had a lovely visit with Alice Millar, who told me of her life with husband William in the cottage on the banks of the River Erne. She loved her new house as the cottage had been cold an damp, she kept me enthralled with stories and plied with cups of tea and coffee until the time came to catch the last coach back to Dublin. I saw a newspaper account a few years back of a local artist who had painted the cottage, but have been unable to see it despite numerous searches online. My father, David Millar Jr was a railway man for most of his life in Scotland, so I was disappointed to arrive when the Railway was closed, and I thank you for this video.
In the 1980's the railway station and it's lands belonged to Robbie Clarke. An attempt was made to demolish the buildings starting with the goods store. Thankfully the children of St. Mary's Terrace intervened by fearlessly sitting on the rubble until the wrecking ball and it's operator backed off. When the wrecking ball operator left the site, the same children from St. Mary's Terrace and Fay Crescent sought the advice of Paddy Martin. Paddy gave the children paper and pens and sent them in different directions to get signatures to save the station and deliver them to the Gardai. Without the advice of Paddy Martin and the bravery and actions of those children on that day, Belturbet Railway Station would not look like it does today. No credit has been given to those children to this date by anyone. I remember every child that was there that day. I was there too.
This story brings a lump to my throat, and although not an official recognition, I thank all of you for your brave stand and for saving the Railway at that time. People power, you should all be very proud of yourselves for such a grand achievement, and look at what has been done since. Our Heritage is priceless, and I can only tell you of the deep emotion I experienced to be standing there back in 2003, thinking of my grandfather's home there, and the railway link to my dad too, It was awesome. I had visited the General Records office the day before my visit, and learned that in 1901 my grandfather was living in Holborn Hill. Arriving after the trip from Dublin I called into the pub to have a cold drink and on the wall there was a print of the houses in Holborn Hill as they would have been in years gone by. I had hoped maybe I could have purchased one at the Station. As a matter of interest my godfather's name was Pat Martin, he was my maternal uncle. My grandfather "Ned Martin" came to Scotland from County Meath around 1920. Thank you so much for taking the time to pass on your local knowledge, I appreciate it very much. I think my grandfather "David Millar" arrived in Scotland c1910-1911. You brightened my day, thank you.
Lovely interesting video well done
Beautifully shot 📷👏
Thank you. I visited Belturbet in 2003 and unfortunately the Heritage Centre was closed. My grandfather David Millar was born there in 1892. I had a lovely visit with Alice Millar, who told me of her life with husband William in the cottage on the banks of the River Erne. She loved her new house as the cottage had been cold an damp, she kept me enthralled with stories and plied with cups of tea and coffee until the time came to catch the last coach back to Dublin. I saw a newspaper account a few years back of a local artist who had painted the cottage, but have been unable to see it despite numerous searches online. My father, David Millar Jr was a railway man for most of his life in Scotland, so I was disappointed to arrive when the Railway was closed, and I thank you for this video.
I bet that was a painting by Sean Cassidy from Ballyconnell.
The reopening of the railway line would cut down on Road Deaths, Traffic Jams, Pollution & Car Accidents should have been done years ago.
In the 1980's the railway station and it's lands belonged to Robbie Clarke. An attempt was made to demolish the buildings starting with the goods store. Thankfully the children of St. Mary's Terrace intervened by fearlessly sitting on the rubble until the wrecking ball and it's operator backed off. When the wrecking ball operator left the site, the same children from St. Mary's Terrace and Fay Crescent sought the advice of Paddy Martin. Paddy gave the children paper and pens and sent them in different directions to get signatures to save the station and deliver them to the Gardai. Without the advice of Paddy Martin and the bravery and actions of those children on that day, Belturbet Railway Station would not look like it does today. No credit has been given to those children to this date by anyone. I remember every child that was there that day. I was there too.
This story brings a lump to my throat, and although not an official recognition, I thank all of you for your brave stand and for saving the Railway at that time. People power, you should all be very proud of yourselves for such a grand achievement, and look at what has been done since. Our Heritage is priceless, and I can only tell you of the deep emotion I experienced to be standing there back in 2003, thinking of my grandfather's home there, and the railway link to my dad too, It was awesome. I had visited the General Records office the day before my visit, and learned that in 1901 my grandfather was living in Holborn Hill. Arriving after the trip from Dublin I called into the pub to have a cold drink and on the wall there was a print of the houses in Holborn Hill as they would have been in years gone by. I had hoped maybe I could have purchased one at the Station. As a matter of interest my godfather's name was Pat Martin, he was my maternal uncle. My grandfather "Ned Martin" came to Scotland from County Meath around 1920. Thank you so much for taking the time to pass on your local knowledge, I appreciate it very much. I think my grandfather "David Millar" arrived in Scotland c1910-1911. You brightened my day, thank you.