Overview
Percy French sued this railway for making him late to a concert in Kilkee, won, and got his revenge in a comic song that still defines the line’s reputation. The West Clare Railway heritage centre sits in the townland of Moyasta, just off the N67 between Kilrush and Kilkee on the Wild Atlantic Way. A short stretch of the original 3 ft narrow-gauge line has been relaid here, and on running days passengers board the restored steam locomotive Slieve Callan for a 15-minute ride. A small museum beside the platform holds original steam and diesel engines, period carriages and material on the line’s place in local trade and Irish song.
One caveat before you plan a trip: the centre is currently closed to the public until further notice. Check the website for updates before driving out.
History
The West Clare Railway was authorised in 1883 under the Tramways Act, which allowed cheaper narrow-gauge construction and guaranteed returns for local baronies. After a string of failed schemes going back to the 1840s, the first sod was cut on 26 January 1885 at Milltown Malbay by Charles Stewart Parnell, using a silver spade that now sits in the Clare Museum in Ennis.
The line opened on 2 July 1887, linking Ennis with the coastal termini at Kilkee and Kilrush via Moyasta Junction. At its peak it ran three daily passenger services, rising to five by the turn of the century, and moved roughly 250,000 passengers and 80,000 tonnes of freight a year over a route of about 53 miles.
Its 25 mph steam engines were notorious for running late. That tardiness is what French immortalised in Are Ye Right There Michael? after he won damages over the missed Kilkee performance.
During the Second World War the line ran on turf when coal ran short, and staff refused to carry British Army weapons during the War of Independence. Dieselisation began in 1952, and by 1955 this was the only narrow-gauge diesel-run line in Britain and Ireland. Falling passenger numbers and mounting losses led CIÉ to close it on 31 January 1961, ending the last narrow-gauge passenger service in the country.
A preservation society took over Moyasta station and a short section of track in the mid-1990s. Diesel heritage trains began running in 1995, and on 14 July 2009 the original No 5 Slieve Callan steamed for the first time in over half a century. The restoration was funded by local businessman and railway enthusiast Jackie Whelan, who also helped secure planning permission for the museum and café. The centre today keeps restored steam, a former Channel Tunnel shunter and an ex-Bord na Móna diesel, along with two wooden-bodied coaches built by Alan Keef Engineering.
What to see and do
If you only do one thing on a running day, take the steam ride. The 0-6-2T Slieve Callan runs a 15-minute journey along the original track bed, with glimpses of limestone hills and the Atlantic coast, and is steamed at weekends from June to September and on pre-booked private tours. On weekdays a heritage diesel railcar covers a shorter, quieter trip instead.
The museum occupies the former station building, holding the restored steam engine, twelve diesel shunters (two in service, the rest awaiting restoration) and original GSR and CIÉ rolling stock. Great Southern Railways side-corridor carriage No 1325 is now the reception café, and Iarnród Éireann Mark 2 carriage No 4402 doubles as a lecture room for school groups. Interpretive panels cover the line’s role in the Lisdoonvarna festival, the Kilrush horse fair and the development of the Lahinch golf course, with a section on the French lawsuit and the song that came of it. One restored carriage is fitted out as a small cinema showing 1950s footage of the railway. The café in the old dining car sells tea, coffee and local treats, with a craft shop next door.
After the ride, the gravel car park opens onto the Wild Atlantic Way and the West Clare Cycleway, with short walks following the old railway alignment toward the Loop Head Peninsula and links to the long-distance Burren Way.
Volunteering and sponsorship
The preservation society depends on volunteers to maintain the locomotives, restore carriages and run the museum. Roles include carriage restoration alongside skilled volunteers, clearing vegetation along the operational line and maintaining the grounds, and guiding school groups or delivering talks. A ‘Sponsor a Sleeper’ scheme on the website lets individuals or businesses fund the restoration of a specific carriage or shunter in return for a certificate. Contact the society through the phone number or email below.
The greenway
The old railway corridor is the spine of the planned West Clare Greenway, a 100 km traffic-free route linking Kilrush, Kilkee, Ennis, Lahinch, Miltown Malbay and Ennistymon. Recent funding has been uneven. In 2025, €850,000 was allocated for the Kilrush-to-Kilkee section and €500,000 for the Ennis-to-Ennistymon stretch, but Transport Infrastructure Ireland declined funding for the Ennistymon-to-Moyasta segment, prompting local TD Joe Cooney to lobby for reallocation of unused greenway money. Planning permission for the first Kilrush-to-Kilkee section is expected to be lodged in the second half of 2026, with construction targeted for early 2027.
Nearby
- Aillwee Cave and Birds of Prey Centre – a drive north, one of the larger limestone show caves in the country.
- Black Head Lighthouse and Loop Walk – a coastal walk with open sea views.
- Burren Way – the long-distance route passes close to Moyasta and into the karst landscape.
- Clare Museum, Ennis – the original silver spade and other railway artefacts.
Practical information
Opening hours
| Day | Time | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday – Saturday | 1pm – 4pm | Diesel train |
| Sunday – Monday | 1pm – 4pm | Steam engine (weekends June–Sept) |
| Outside listed times | By appointment | Private tours |
| Current status | Closed to the public until further notice – see the official website |
Admission
| Category | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | €8.00 |
| Child (4–12) | €4.00 |
| Child under 3 | Free |
| Group (10+) | Discounted rates (contact) |
Getting there – Moyasta is on the N67. A gravel car park holds roughly 20 vehicles, so arrive early in peak season; no reservation needed. The nearest town is Ennis, where Bus Éireann connects to Galway and Limerick and the mainline station offers onward trains. Cycle parking is provided on-site for those following the Wild Atlantic Way.
Facilities – Toilets are available, standard rather than wheelchair-accessible. A level path runs from the car park to the platform, though the historic carriages keep their original steps. The café operates in the former dining car, with a craft shop alongside.
Contact – For the current schedule, group bookings, school tours or accessibility queries, call +353 65 905 1284 or email info@westclarerailway.ie. Downloadable timetables are on the website.