Heritage Week at the Railway Museum

The historic Belturbet Railway Station will come alive this August as part of National Heritage Week, offering a vibrant two-weekend programme of events from August 16 to 24. The Belturbet Railway Museum, run entirely by volunteers, will host this annual celebration of local history, culture, and community for the sixth consecutive year.

Themed 'Past Tracks: Foundations in Story and Stone', this year’s programme draws on the town’s rich rail and social history, using the station’s unique architecture and legacy as a storytelling backdrop. Visitors can expect a variety of free events, from historical talks to family-friendly activities, all aimed at connecting people with the town’s heritage in engaging and accessible ways.

The programme opens on Saturday, August 16, at 3pm with a talk by historian Dr Brendan Scott, who will explore life in 19th-century Belturbet. On Sunday, August 17, local historian Hugh McGoldrick will share insights into the history of the local post office, coinciding with the launch of a special An Post exhibition, developed in partnership with the GPO.

Wild Child Day

The second weekend offers a mix of creative and family-oriented events. On Friday, August 22, the museum hosts an evening of poetry and storytelling by local voices, offering a reflective look at shared traditions and community memories. Saturday, August 23, is Wild Child Day, a self-guided scavenger hunt, designed in collaboration with the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark, inviting families to explore the natural and cultural environment around them.

The programme concludes on Sunday, August 24, at 4pm with the premiere of a new theatre piece by local playwright Charlie McGuinness, exploring themes of family and connection.

All Heritage Week events will take place in or around the Belturbet Railway Museum, and admission is free of charge. The museum will also remain open throughout the week, welcoming visitors on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12–5pm.

Group tours outside regular hours can be arranged in advance. New museum features now complement the experience: “We have procured pieces from the old post office,” tells volunteer Tony Prior. Shelving that was used to sort post, an old bicycle and old notebooks add to the historic ambience.

Belturbet Railway Station, originally opened in 1885, served as a hub for both the Great Northern Railway and the Cavan and Leitrim narrow gauge line until its closure in 1959. Remarkably built entirely of locally quarried cut stone, the station has been restored with historical accuracy by the Belturbet Community Development Association, following decades of disuse. Last year they celebrated 30 years of engagement, said Mr Prior.

Beyond Heritage Week, the museum offers a year-round calendar of events. Upcoming highlights include a special Lughnasadh celebration on August 1, featuring a talk by Cecily Gilligan on Irish folk remedies, and live music by saxophonist Dmitry Funky Sax. Popular seasonal events such as the Halloween Spooky Walk and Christmas markets also form part of the museum’s active community programme.