Plaque to mark 175th anniversary of Kilkenny railway station

Mayor of Kilkenny David FitzGerald is to unveil a plaque at MacDonagh Station this week to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the opening of Kilkenny Railway Station on May 12, 1848.

The station first opened its doors to a new railway line section from Kilkenny to Thomastown on May 12 in 1848. The actual building of the station was completed in 1847. It took a further two years for the Dublin line to Kilkenny to be completed. The southern line did not reach Ferrybank until 1854.

The railway revolutionised transport in Ireland; very notable people arrived by train to Kilkenny including the future King George Edward VII and Princess Alexandra in 1904.

For the full story of Kilkenny Railway Station, see next week’s Kilkenny People.