Navan - Dublin All Ireland rail special Sept 1991

All-Ireland Football special from Navan to Dublin, 1991.

[@marc21091]

Watching this film in 2022, 30 years on, it is a wonderful historic record of the day when Meath met Down in the 1991 All-Ireland Final and the people of Navan hired a special train to the match. It is striking how the Drogheda-Navan line remains in good condition and that the historic Great Northern station building remains intact - it could operate a daily service now. In 2021 the plan to bring a rail service back to the growing town is live, though it will be some years yet before we see it. The groups of people who stood by the line as the train made its way to the main line at Drogheda deserve to be remembered and this film does that. Please keep it in a historic film archive.

[@aprc1977a]

what a fantastic railway video. As well as giving us a cab ride, it tells a lovely story of people going up to dublin for the all ireland. You can just sense their excitement. When these videos show the interaction between the trains and people, it gives off a great vibe. Even though I'm a dubliner, I really enjoyed this. My Nan lived just outside Croke Park and I would be so jealous on all ireland day watching the numerous gaa specials passing by the house, with people hanging out the train , cheering and waving flags coming to Croker for the big day and Dublin not there. Ah well brings back lovely childhood memories. Great job Daniel!

[@RYNT1157]

It was a fair task a 6 pce Push/Pull with a 121 loco used to have them out of Cork with Match specials. The Driver out of Navan is Martin Rice who was based in Drogheda who is now enjoying early retirement. We trained together for the driving in 1981. A young Andrew Roach is there he is still with us in Cork. Great Film a lot of history there.

[@hibernia91]

Tom Ryan Thanks lad.

[@supafuckinmingster]

Tom Ryan Tom, when you say "It was a fair task a 6 pce Push/Pull with a 121 loco..." As someone who never drove a train, i'm curious. Did you not like the 121s? Is push/pull train driving more difficult?

[@irishrailtrains]

Great historical footage there Daniel, its amazing how much has changed since this footage was taken !

[@SeanMcGrathNavan]

Lovely footage from Navan train station. thank you!

[@hibernia91]

Sean McGrath Thanks lad.

[@colmocallaghan6626]

Great video, I was in Navan that morning, I think I recognise myself on the tracks taking photos 3.20mins into the video, lovely footplate footage and 038 I think stabled on the Tara in Drogheda, the last GAA special to Navan was 5 years later Sunday15th September 1996 with 228+6104

[@MetroVick]

Wow - fantastic footage Daniel. I was on that train, I had a ticket for the Canal end in Croke park too! A good day for gricing - wasn't a good day for Meath though! Thanks very much for posting it - it brings back memories of a great day.

[@hibernia91]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed the footage. It would be a great initiative if IE or the Rpsi did a few railtours on the line, it would be fantastic to experience. The Navan-Drogheda line is well maintained these days and I've noticed large parts of the line have been laid with concrete sleepers!

[@RJH1971]

OK random thought for 2022: How about a DART/Commuter Rail extention to Dundalk AND Navan...with a rebuilt Drogheda as a pseudo-Howth Junction?

[@dannyoconnor824]

Great video. Great memories of travelling from Ennis to Cork, Thurles and Dublin on the special trains in the 90’s.

[@TheIrishMainline]

Really wonderful footage, thanks so much for sharing :)

[@hibernia91]

Cheers buddy!

[@supafuckinmingster]

A great piece of history right there.

[@hibernia91]

supafuckinmingster Cheers, thanks for watching!

[@AndreA-ke2id]

It's a pity the film maker didn't do a driver's eye view instead of the front view from the cab.

[@Isochest]

I love this! The Irish People and their railway!!!

[@MyMichele66]

Omg Daniel that's a fab video. Just copped a few people I know especially my mums late partner patsy ward. And cousin Michael McCabe from beauparc

[@hibernia91]

Michele McCourt Glad you liked the footage Michelle, appreciate the comment

[@josipmickovic2572]

I've seen this vid the other day, cycled to Navan from Dublin. On a way back asked a local guy where the station is and he told me tgere is no e anymore 😂

[@alexanderglen8109]

Fantastic!!!!

[@martinwalsh3228]

It should be reopened all closed & disused railway lines throughout Ireland should be reopened sooner rather then later.

[@martinwalsh3228]

@Michael John Dennis Would stop 1) Pollution, 2) Road Deaths, 3) Car Accidents & 4) Traffic Jams.

[@martinwalsh3228]

@Michael John Dennis It would cut down on Pollution, Car Accidents, Traffic Jams & Road Deaths.

[@Eiretrains]

Great footage, seldom recorded on video!

[@hibernia91]

Thanks for watching, it sure is a rare catch!

[@emjackson2289]

When will the next Meath All-Ireland Special leave Navan I wonder?

[@qcsorter4626]

Great to see the absence of the dreaded spray painters!

[@IrishModelRail]

Unbelievable footage, my dad travelled on a special to Navan way back but I never knew they ran them up to 91. When was the last special to Navan?

[@hibernia91]

The last special ran in 1996 when Meath played Mayo in the all Ireland.

[@IrishModelRail]

Why did they not run them after that?

[@hibernia91]

***** To be honest I don't know why it was discontinued. I suppose it would have been a lot more convenient just to take to bus instead as it was much quicker!

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

Watching from Wales in March 2023. So who won ? Oh and was Joe Cassells still playing at that time ?

[@twinboo529]

I think this was the down v. Meath final in 1991, sadly down won it; also Joe Cassells had retired off the Meath team in 1988.

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

@@twinboo529 thanks for replying, Joe was next door neighbour when we we kids 🙂

[@twinboo529]

@@radiogramgramophonetoons5802 wait I meant down instead of Louth sorry

[@patscott8612]

If the station is gone where in the town was it?

[@marc21091]

It's there now, to the south of the town centre. Film of mineral trains in Navan station in July 2022 on KZbin now at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmmnepapj96gidE There are other films showing the historic station building, which remains intact and available to serve passengers again with some restoration.

[@hibernia91]

[@hibernia91]

Cheers buddy. Luckily I was able to obtain this footage from a relative of mine. Hopefully one day we'll see a passenger service running from Navan to Dublin buts its highly unlikely in the foreseeable future!