A call has been made to commemorate one of Donegal’s most tragic disasters by building a bridge to commemorate it and those who perished in it.
The Owencarrow Viaduct Disaster resulted in the deaths of four people and injuries to a further eight on an ill-fated evening in January, 1925.
Now Sinn Fein councillor John Sheamais Ó Fearraigh said funding is needed to restore a structure along the Dunfanaghy-Creeslough viaducts, where the old railway track once ran.
Speaking today, Clr Ó Fearraigh said that the addition of a rope-bridge or other bridge-type structure along where the dilapidated viaducts now stand would be a welcomed tourist attraction for the area.
The call comes amid the planning of centenary commemorations to remember those who lost their lives in the Owencarrow Disaster.
Clr Ó Fearraigh said “Having spoken to locals in the area, this is something which they would like to see developed and I have asked the Glenties Municipal District to work alongside the Letterkenny Municipal District to see whether a source of funding can be secured to develop a bridge-type structure along these viaducts.
“I believe that it would serve well as a tourist attraction and could achieve similar success to that of the railway walk that was developed which now runs all the way to Burtonport.
“I have raised this at Glenties Municipal District meetings and have advocated for the development of the viaducts.
“I have asked my colleague and Sinn Féin TD, Pearse Doherty, to ask the Minister whether any funding streams for such a project are available and I will be raising this again at Council level at the next opportunity.
“I believe that this is fitting in the lead up to the centenary anniversary of the Owencarrow disaster and the people of the area would like to see the viaducts restored to their former glory. They form an important part of the landscape and should be used to benefit the area once again. This is one way to ensure that.”