“The Limerick & Castle Connell Railway was the third railway line to be built in the Limerick area and opened for business on the morning of Saturday 28th August, 1858. The other two lines were the Waterford & Limerick (opened 1848) and the Limerick & Foynes (opened 1856/57). Castleconnell at that time was spelt as two words and the new line diverged from the Waterford and Limerick line at Killonan, and ran over relatively easy country for 5½ miles to the new terminus and completed at a cost of £25,000. The journey time was just 15 minutes, in both directions, serving three stations, at Killonan,  Annacotty, Lisnagry. There were three trains each way seven days a week, with accommodation for first and third class passengers.  This was part of a line that eventually became the through direct line between Dublin and Limerick as an alternative to the earlier route via Limerick Junction.

In association with the Castleconnell Historical Society/Tidy Towns and Love Castleconnell, Iarnród Éireann are running a special train from Limerick to Castleconnell on 28^th August, 2018 to mark the occasion.  On the evening, a short talk will be given on the history of the Station.  Train will depart Limerick at 17.15 hrs. and return from Castleconnell at 19.55 hrs.”

Who:  Railway Historian, Joe Coleman, members of Castleconnell Tidy Towns and Love Castleconnell

What: Celebration to mark 160 years of the railway to Castleconnell

Where: Castleconnell Station

When:  A special train will leave Colbert Station at 17:00hrs. It will call at Castleconnell and depart there for Birdhill at 17:30hrs and will return to Castleconnell for speeches and refreshments and it will depart again for Colbert station at 19:55hrs.