In the Tracks of West Clare Railway

In the Tracks of the West Clare Railway is a history of a famous railway, the last of the Irish narrow-gauge lines. The perfect guide to a relatively little-known part of Clare; a record of a walking journey along what remains of the line from Ennis to Kilkee/Kilrush; and a tribute to he people and county of Clare. Far more people have heard of the West Clare Railway than have ever travelled on it because of Percy Frenchs famous song Are Ye Right There, Michael? In the Tracks of the West Clare Railway is at once a history of a famous railway, the last of the Irish narrow-gauge lines; a tourists guide to a relatively little-known part of Clare; a record of a walking journey along what remains of the line from Ennis to Kilkee/Kilrush; and a tribute to the people and county of Clare. Although trains are unlikely to ever again run between Ennis and Kilkee, the legend of this little branch line of the railway system will live on as long as there are people who look back fondly on the past. What was a railway is now a disjointed succession of pieces linking not just places but in a way two worlds: one unhurried and traditional, the other brash, frenzied and modern. In the Tracks of the West Clare Railway paints an evocative picture of a time when the railway breathed life into West Clare. Although trains are unlikely to ever again run between Ennis and Kilkee, the legend of this little branch line of the southern railway system will live on as long as there are people who look back fondly on the past. Anyone with even a superficial acquaintance with Clare will know what a wealth of varied scenery it contains, together with abundant archaeological sites and historical remains spanning over 5,000 years of human habitation. Not least of these are the earthworks of the West and South Clare Railways. Eddie Lenihan believes that a time will come when parts of these lines will be preserved as national monuments, but until that happens their destruction will continue. For what was a railway is now a disjointed succession of pieces linking not just places but in a way two worlds: one unhurried and traditional, the other brash, frenzied and modern. In the Tracks of the West Clare Railway paints an evocative picture of a time when the railway breathed life into West Clare.