Story of the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway Company told in new book

The official launch of Seeking the Swilly by Transport journalist Hugh Dougherty is taking place on Saturday, June 29 at the Donegal Railway Museum

placeholder image — The official launch of Seeking the Swilly by Transport journalist Hugh Dougherty is taking place on Saturday, June 29 at the Donegal Railway Museum

Seeking the Swilly tells the story of the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway and its bus services which once operated across north Donegal and into Derry

The unique story of the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway Company has been told in a newly-published book.

The new 50-page paperback publication is a collection of colour and black and white photographs, many of which have not been published in book form before.

It tells the story of the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway and its bus services which once operated across north Donegal and into Derry. The book offers new material celebrating this important part of Donegal’s heritage, with all profits going towards continuing to tell the story of the railways and buses that once operated across County Donegal.

Dougherty got to know the Swilly railway and buses while on holidays in Donegal as a teenager in the 1960s. A proud member of the Glasgow-Donegal diaspora, he contributes to transport magazines and local and national media, including the Irish papers in Scotland. As a father of four grown-up children and a grandfather of five, he lives with his wife, Patricia, who has suffered, patiently, for the last 48 years, from his life-long fascination with all things Donegal train and bus-related, including building a working, 4mm scale model of the railway, and its buses in their Glasgow home. Hugh is also an Honorary Life Member of the Donegal Railway Museum.

The 50-page paperback publication is a collection of colour and black and white photographs

The new book follows on from the success of his previous book, The County Donegal Railways Bus Services.

The official launch of Seeking the Swilly by Transport journalist Hugh Dougherty is taking place on Saturday, June 29 at the Donegal Railway Museum. The book is available through the museum website and at the museum directly.

The official launch of the new book will take place at the Donegal Railway Museum on Saturday, June 29 at 3pm.

This event will both be ticketed for those attending the event in person and streamed live on the museum YouTube channel. Entry is by donation at the door on the day of the event. Tickets are limited to two per person.