Posted by murrisk on February 05, 2001 at 00:07:02:
A few weeks ago you mentioned quite correctly that the first and last trains to Achill carried coffins. On June 14, 1894, 126 migrant workers left Achill in the hooker "The Victory" en route to Westport where they were to board the ship "The Gardenia" which would take them to Scotland. On the way to Westport the hooker passed by a steamer "The Elm". The passeners moved to one side of the hooker to look at the steamer and in doing so capsized the boat and 32 passengers drowned. The bodies were taken back to Achill for burial on the first train to run to achill. On September 16, 1937, 10 young migrant Achill workers lost their lives when a fire swept through their dormitory/sleeping quarters in Kirkintilloch, Scotland. Their bodies were brought home to Achill on what I think was the last train to Achill.