After a weekend of bright sunshine and optimism in Waterford at the Green Party annual conference, I travelled last night by car via Limerick, a five hour journey back to Galway to celebrate the sixth birthday of my son Cianán. This morning I came by bus back to Limerick to travel on the first official train journey of phase one of the all new Western Rail Corridor.

 

On the 7.05 bus from Galway to Limerick I met Myles McHugh of Iarnrod Eireann amongst many others who were taking the same trip as I, from Galway to Limerick by bus and back by train.  At Limerick station I had coffee with Fr. Michael McGreal and met many old friends from West on track including Colman O Rahilly, Martin Cunniffe and Roscommon County Manager Frank Dawson.

 

The train left Limerick station roughly on time. I managed to find Transport Ministers Noel Dempsey and Ciaran Cuffe in one of the carriages and had a nice chat with them on the way to the first stop at Sixmilebridge.  Obviously both Ministers were delighted at this positive event amidst all the financial doom and gloom in the political stratosphere. While the train was packed, we left behind a number of local politicians including local Minister Peter Power.

 

Limerick station had been decked out in bunting and balloons to celebrate the launch of the new service. When we arrived at Sixmilebridge, everything turned to chaos. Everyone got off the train and mingled with the large crowd gathered there as the rain poured down. Again there were politicians everywhere. Cameramen followed the Ministers. Members of the public who had waited patiently in the rain tried to get a look in.

 

As I tried to take it all in I just managed to hop on the train before it pulled out of the station. Off we went to Ennis. I exchanged pleasantries with numerous politicians including Labour TD Jan O’Sullivan, Michael Kitt and Noel Treacy of Fianna Fail and Ulick Burke of Fine Gael. There was a very good mood on the train as consensus driven politics replaced the usual rough and tumble of Leinster House.

 

We left Ennis, having unveiled our plaque, met with many local people, picked up souvenirs and briefly visited the marquee at the station that was set up especially for the occasion.  On the way to Gort we passed a sizeable crowd gathered at the location of the extra station proposed for Crusheen. The train slowed down as they cheered us on our way.

 

We stopped at Gort where yet another large crowd had gathered. This time the obligatory plaque was unveiled by local politician Noel Treacy. On the way to Ardrahan, I managed to fit in some tea and pastries that were being supplied to all on the train by Irish Rail catering.  At Ardrahan I met numerous friends and supporters as the rain teemed down.

  

We left Ardrahan with all the, by now familiar razmataz. On the way to Craughwell, I discovered where Fr Michael McGreal and local Galway Minister Eamon O Cuiv had got to. They were in the drivers cabin at the front of the train. I stood with them as we entered Craughwell station trying to avoid crashing into a television camera as we peered out the rain soaked windows. The driver was calm as if this sort of thing happened every day.

 

After a brief stop at Craughwell we made it to Athenry, on the main Dublin to Galway line. As this is an old covered station things were made a lot easier for us all. I was delighted to meet many people who I knew here including County Councillor Michael Connolly who has been a great supporter of the WRC for many years. I also met my local Green colleague, Patrick Creed. The driver changed ends and we headed on towards Galway in the opposite direction to the one we had come from.

 

We arrived in Galway City pretty much on time to the sound of a brass band. As local Mayor Declan McDonnell unveiled the plaque, we were ushered into the old Railway hotel, directly from the platform where lunch and speeches awaited.  Speeches by the various Mayors were of course what you would expect. The speech by Colman O Raghallaigh was a rousing one and he made it clear to the Ministers assembled what he wanted.

 

Colman has been leading the community based West on Track campaign for many years and his main objective is to get the railway back to Claremorris. He wants this to happen on schedule and he will not rest until this has been achieved.

The Chairman of CIE, Dr John Lynch who had been on the train all the way from Limerick also spoke. He pledged that a new station will open in Crusheen and another in Oranmore.

 

He paid tribute to all concerned and his speech was very well received.  The compere for the day Myles McHugh then introduced the final speaker.  The packed ballroom in the Meryck hotel as the old railway hotel is now known was then addressed by Transport Minister Noel Dempsey. He made it quite clear that the next three phases of the Western Rail Corridor all the way up to Sligo, will continue as soon as money permits.

 

After his Ministers speech, food was served. The setting gave the impression of old fashioned grandeur.  I ate my dinner in the company of three Clare county councilors, a local Galway Councillor and local TD Noel Grealish. I think I was the only Senator present at the event. I managed to nip out on to the platform for a few photos as new Green transport Minister, Ciaran Cuffe made a video for his website.  This was a great day for me and my final act was to meet Sarah Roarty who is the head of the Tuam Chamber of commerce.

 

The battle for the next phase of the WRC has already started.