Speaker for 9th February 2016

Photo: Club President Jim Archer greets John McKegney, with club members Bob McIvor (L) and Joe Alcorn (R)

Talk and slide show by John McKegney investigating 'Ireland's Worst Rail Disaster'

Coleraine Probus members were taken back to one of our darkest days in the 19th Century. On Wednesday, June 12, 1889 some 89 men, women and children died in what has gone down in history as our biggest rail disaster and one that could so easily have been avoided.

Club member John McKegney presented a meticulously researched and compelling account of that day, the subsequent investigations as well as the court cases and prosecutions that followed. The talk was accompanied by a PowerPoint display showing a large selection of contemporary photos and newspaper reports, as well as documents covering the trials and modern day images showing the area in Armagh where the terrible accident occurred.

John's talk ended with an account of the 12th June 2014, when the Armagh Mayor; Chief Executive of the City and District Council; representatives of all the local political parties; as well as the Stormont Regional Development Minister and a large group of local people and relatives of the disaster victims, unveiled a simple, sad statue of a child going on a holiday trip, as a memorial to that terrible accident that should never have happened.

For some more information about the Armagh Rail Disaster, just 'Click' this link. (it will open in a new window)

Belfast Telegraph - 13 June 2014 - Their report on the memorial unveiling, just 'Click' this link. (it will open in a new window)

And for a look at some slides from John's presentation, just 'Click this link (it will stay in the Probus website)

blogEntryTopper