by Bob Waddell and larry Mooney
23/10/2010
The invitation to participate in the August outing advised all to meet at Connolly Station (Amiens Street ) but how can it be that at least 6 people made their way instead to Heuston-Kingsbridge and only two of those got back to Connolly in time for the 9-05 train to Longford? Those who unfortunately lost out missed a great day.
On arrival at Strokestown we were warmly welcomed by Jim Callery, Patrick Kenny and Joe Crann, MD of Scania Trucks, our generous sponsors for lunch. Kim was our excellent guide for the tour of the House and the National Irish Famine Museum and after lunch John O'Driscoll, General Manager of the Park showed us around the beautiful gardens- what about those wonderful Snap Dragons and all the other shrubs, trees and flowers which were a joy to behold.
This was a tremendously interesting and educational day which brought Ireland's history of the Famine period really alive and perhaps gives one the knowledge to understand why for so many years we Irish rebelled against the English.
The Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin and the Minister for Education would do well to include a visit to Strokestown House and its Famine Museum as compulsory to every secondary school student as part of the history curriculum. It is very obvious that the cost of maintaining this enterprise must be substantial and in our view it needs all the funding assistance it can get from the State and Tourism interests in order to preserve all the great work which has been put into the Museum, House and Gardens as part of our National Heritage.
"C-A-R ites" really enjoy travelling by train to our outings and hopefully the privilege of free travel, which makes it even more enjoyable, will remain with us after the December Budget.
The above resume represents the combined thoughts of Bob Waddell and Larry Mooney.
P.S. On the return bus trip from Strokestown to Longford to connect with the train for Dublin our colleague Dermot Quinn, who had studied the effect of the Famine in the Strokestown area as part of his work for a Masters Degree at T.C.D., give us a detailed talk on the matter. A resume of this most interesting research is now on our Site. Just click Reports.
Likewise, click on Gallery, to see all the photo's taken on the day.