Castlebar train station celebrates its 150th anniversary on Sunday December 16 with celebrations planned in Castlebar on that day.
Opened in 1862, it was the considerable influence of Lord Lucan (George Bingham ) MP for Castlebar, who was instrumental in getting the line to the county town, with his primary objective of exporting livestock to the UK. Over 2,000 people worked through that atrocious winter of 1862 to achieve this objective. It took a further four years for the link to Westport to be completed.
The ceremony will commence at 1.30pm and will include a recital from the Castlebar Town Band, light food and refreshments, face painting for children and a vintage car display. A magnificent sculptor in cast iron created by Liam Ralph and funded by Castlebar Town Council will be unveiled on the day. Speakers will include Ms Anna Elliott, station master, Castlebar Mayo councillor Brendan Heneghan, and other dignitaries. The master of ceremonies for the occasion is Noel Hoban.
At 3pm a special cheese and wine reception will be held in Tolster’s Bar, Spencer Street, Castlebar. A video will be played showing the closing day of Castlebar signal cabin and there will also be live entertainment in the bar.
