By Róise Collins
PLANS are well underway for the commemoration of the 100 year anniversary of the Owencarrow rail disaster later this month.
A memorial service organised by the Creeslough Community Association will take place at the site between Barnes Gap and Creeslough where on January 30, 1925 high winds derailed two rail coaches killing four people.
The tragedy is one of the country’s most infamous rail disasters.
The Derry People/Donegal News at the time reported the tragedy as “the most serious that happened since the construction of the line”.
“In fact it was the most serious that has occurred in the country since the opening of railway communication throughout the remote parts.”
Four people – Arranmore husband and wife Philip and Sarah Boyle, Una Mulligan from Falcarragh and Neil Duggan from Meenbunowen – were thrown to their deaths when part of the viaduct collapsed.
Reports at the time listed the injured passengers, and their injuries as: unnamed Boyle boy, son of Philip and Sarah – shock, Mrs Brennan, Dungloe – severe injuries to her head, Mrs McFadden, sister-in-law of Mrs Brennan – shock, Mrs Bella McFadden, Gaoth Dobhair – shock, Edward McFadden, Magheroarty – shock and wounded hand, Denis McFadden, Cashel, Creeslough – severe concussion.
The crew on board included Neil Boyle, train guard, Bob McGuinness, engine driver and John Hannigan, fireman.
Of the 14 passengers on board only one escaped unhurt, a Miss Campbell who was flung from the upturned carriage, then deflected from the course followed by the other falling passengers, landing on soft and boggy soil, sinking knee-deep into it.
The Derry People/Donegal News coverage at the time told the story of how after Miss Campbell narrowly escaped, she walked barefoot for miles in the teeth of the storm before reaching a house where she got food and dry clothing.
Reports of the tragedy in the Derry People/Donegal News at the time.
“All she can tell of the disaster is that there was a roaring, raging gale, which was shaking the train, causing the carriages to sway. There was an awful crash; the carriage was flung against the parapet, and after recovering from the first shock she was able to struggle out in a dazed condition.
“The screams and moans of the injured mingling with the noise of the gale as it whistled through the valley was terrifying, said one of the staff of the train, the three of whom, engine-driver, fireman and guard, escaped with a severe shaking.”
Rathmullan man Liam Hannigan has penned a special poem ahead of the centenary commemoration.
The 21 year old is the great grandson of John ‘Pop’ Hannigan who was the firefighter on board on that fateful night.
He grew up listening to stories of the disaster but only in recent years through his studies in Yale, Connecticut, Liam found himself delving further into the events.
“My dad and my granny would always be talking about it, but it was only recently that I started looking into it again as a project in college.”
During his deep dive Liam found footage of his great-grandfather who was interviewed by the BBC on the 60th anniversary of the fatal accident.
The rare footage is a first-hand account from the fireman working on that train that night that inspired Liam’s poignant poem.
What stood out to Liam was certainty in his great-grandfather’s voice, “you could tell he had told the story a thousand times”.
“The strangest bit in the recording, which I included a wee bit in the poem, was that he had this ghost story of a man in a grey suit who he saw the night of the accident. He squeezed past him and he never saw him again.”
This left Liam curious about how people deal with and process trauma following tragedy.
“This was a way of him coming to terms with what happened and the four people dying and trying to get on with life after that,” he said.
During a recent trip home to Donegal Liam took a trip out to the site where the train derailed almost 100 years ago.
“You can see traces of the viaduct and you could still feel the wind blowing through the glen, it’s still so exposed,” he said.
Some of the committee pictured on the bridge at the spot of the Owencarrow Viaduct as they put the final preparations in place to mark the 100th anniversary at the end of the month. Included are Majella McFadden, Kathy Doyle, Joe Sweeney and Micheal Doyle.
In July 2021 a monument was erected at the site of the disaster by the Creeslough Community Association, it was unveiled by the late Kathleen Doyle representing the families of those who died.
Her grandfather, Neil Duggan who lived just a stone’s throw from the viaduct was one of the four people killed in the tragedy.
Just four days after the unveiling Kathleen sadly passed away.
Her daughter Kathy Doyle is now involved in planning the centenary commemoration.
The unveiling in 2021 was organised by well-known community man Ben McFadden, who has also since passed.
His daughter Majella is now the chairperson of the Creeslough Community Association.
Speaking to the Donegal News yesterday afternoon, Kathy Doyle said that because of this, marking the centenary commemoration is very sentimental to them.
The centenary commemoration will take place on Thursday, January 30 at 12pm.
There will be guest speakers including Fr Lorcan Sharkey whose uncle drove the car that carried the victims into Creeslough.
There will also be a blessing from Parish Priest Fr John Joe Duffy, followed by a guided walk to the site of the disaster.
A shuttlebus has been organised and refreshments will be provided afterwards in the Hub in Creeslough.
The group organising the commemoration has also asked the families of those killed or injured during the tragedy to reach out to them ahead of the anniversary.
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