The Ballyglunin Train
Station is famous for its leading role in the John Forde classic The Quiet Man.
However, the charity that has been working to save the train station has been
advised by conservation experts that the station will collapse if immediate
restoration works are not completed.
A number of high profile
celebrities have endorsed the campaign including Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne and
the late Maureen O’Hara.
In 2012, the local
community established a charity with the vision of developing the old train
station as an international centre for heritage and culture in the west of
Ireland. The Ballyglunin Community Development Charity is a not for profit
organization which was established to restore the station back to its
former splendour. To date the charity has successfully restored the
signal cabin and goods store at the station. A large part of the work of the
charity is maintaining the station.
66 years ago Maureen
O’Hara and John Wayne arrived at Ballyglunin Train Station for the filming of The
Quiet Man. The station was re-named Castletown by director John Ford and was
the location for the opening scene and many other scenes of the Oscar winning
classic.
Today hundreds from home
and abroad come to visit the train station each year to breathe in a piece of Irish
movie history. However, unless immediate action is taken the station will
be forced to close its gates to the public.
Saw Doctors star, Leo
Moran, who is official ambassador to the crowd funding campaign, says “We need
everyone’s help to save this iconic building so that future generations can
enjoy and understand our past. The Ballyglunin Community Development Charity
has huge plans to develop this amazing location however; the roof is now at
serious risk of collapse. If nothing is done, we’ll be saying goodbye to an
important slice of Irish history.”
As of today €24,000 has
been raised.
Issued by: Ballyglunin
Community Development Charity, Ballyglunin, Co. Galway
Contacts:
Campaign
Rewards
·
€10 – A special edition Lapel pin with the famous Castletown sign
·
€15 – Official Castletown Mug with image of the station printed on it.
·
€20 – Official 2018 Castletown Calendar with beautiful images of the
station
·
€40 – A plant or shrub planted in your name at the station with your
nametag and a map of where each plant is laid
·
€85 – Quiet Man Slate - A slate
from the station with image from the movie inscribed on it.
·
€250 x 6 – A raised flower bed
professionally cultivated made from railway sleepers. This will have a brass plate with your name
on it.
·
€500 x 6 - The use of the famous waiting room at Ballyglunin Train
Station for a half day for your private event.
·
€1000 x 4 - A Quiet Man day out for 4 people. Retrace the journey
of John Wayne down the tracks. An historical tour of the station and
Ballyglunin area by a local historian. Have a luxury picnic on the
station platform and watch the Quiet Man movie afterwards in the waiting room.
A gift of a slate, mug and calendar for everyone.
·
€1000 x 2 – Use of the storehouse arts space for a day for your one off
event.
·
€2000- The station as a location for your wedding ceremony. The
charm of this station is perfect for your wedding day. The station will
look perfect for your big day. We will also provide an award winning
videographer to capture the ceremony.
·
€3000 – Official sponsor for the Storehouse arts space for 1 year.
Tasteful branding on the outside of the building. Get to use the location
for your annual event. Your company logo will appears on all brochures ,website
and social media sites.
