Our unique living history in Co. Galway
Ballyglunin Station is a unique living history experience in Co. Galway, Ireland. Established in 1860 upon the famous Tuam-Athenry railway line, Ballyglunin Train Station has been at the centre of this small rural community for over 100 years, a role it continues today as a vibrant community resource centre and unique events venue supporting the arts and creative communities. Set among 6-acres, the site is also home to an award-winning biodiversity park.
Our visitor centre is open for the public to explore an original late 19th century train station and ancillary buildings. We bring the early days of train travel in Ireland to life through beautifully restored original buildings and fascinating stories of arrivals and departures that characterise key moments in Irish history, lived through the people who used the station for well over 100 years. Whether on a self-guided tour or guided tour with one of our heritage experts, a visit to Ballyglunin is an immersive experience and a gateway to a rich architectural, industrial, and social history – an unmissable attraction in the Galway countryside among Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.
Our unique living history in Co. Galway
Ballyglunin Station is a unique living history experience in Co. Galway, Ireland. Established in 1860 upon the famous Tuam-Athenry railway line, Ballyglunin Train Station has been at the centre of this small rural community for over 100 years, a role it continues today as a vibrant community resource centre and unique events venue supporting the arts and creative communities. Set among 6-acres, the site is also home to an award-winning biodiversity park.
Our visitor centre is open for the public to explore an original late 19th century train station and ancillary buildings. We bring the early days of train travel in Ireland to life through beautifully restored original buildings and fascinating stories of arrivals and departures that characterise key moments in Irish history, lived through the people who used the station for well over 100 years. Whether on a self-guided tour or guided tour with one of our heritage experts, a visit to Ballyglunin is an immersive experience and a gateway to a rich architectural, industrial, and social history – an unmissable attraction in the Galway countryside among Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands.
Who we are
Ballyglunin Station is protected and managed by a group of local volunteers. We are united by a passion for preserving our local heritage and repurposing Ballyglunin Station as a vibrant resource for visitors and the community to enjoy. Together we set up the Ballyglunin Community Development Company in 2004 to support our mission, a registered charity committed to the future of Ballyglunin Station. We are not for profit and engage in fundraising activities throughout the year to support the opening of Ballyglunin Station to the public and the preservation of the site through restoration. We also apply for grant aid to support our efforts to restore the station. The restoration project has already received endorsements from Maureen O’Hara and Duncan Stewart. Ballyglunin Station is owned by Coras Iompar Eireann (CIE), who lease the site to us.
Vision
At Ballyglunin Station, we are motivated by a vision to enhance the local environment and conserve the unique natural and built heritage of Ballyglunin. We are committed to developing Ballyglunin as a destination in the West of Ireland and a valuable site for heritage tourism that will benefit the community and local economy. Ballyglunin Station is for everyone to enjoy, and once again a hive of activity for local groups, schools, the business community, and the creative arts. We value community and heritage, with sustainability at the core of all our activities, ensuring restoration is carried out in a archaeologically and environmentally sensitive manner
Successes
We have successfully engaged with Government, Galway County Council, the local community and our wide circle of supporters to raise the large sums of money required to restore beautiful Ballyglunin Station to its former glory and maintain it. The before and after photos show the full scale of the achievements of our committee in the initial restoration of the Signal Cabin and the Storehouse, and subsequent restoration and refurbishment of the main Station House. These buildings and their original features were in danger of being lost forever. We also ran a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2017 for the restoration of the roof of Ballyglunin, which was endorsed by actors Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne.
