Description
Corkan Island on The River Foyle between Strabane, County Tyrone & Porthall, County Donegal, Ireland
A few old rusty pillars of old McKinney’s bridge & the “Old Red Bridge” are all that remain from a once great railway that was constructed in around the turn of the century. This area was all was part of the ‘Great Northern Railway’ line (GNR) that was established throughout Ireland in 1883. This old railway was once a major part of the Industrial Era that has long since gone. Sadly after 82 years of service, the Great Northern Railway shut down operations in 1965 forever.
If you look you can still follow the old railway line tracks which continue from Strabane, across the 2 rail bridges of Corkan Island then into the distance, running alongside the Foyle on the Donegal side.
Looking down on this silent calm river and observing everything, made me think on how fast times have changed. Only 70 years ago these waters would have never ceased to ripple, by the amount of merchant barges and boats sailing both ways. Everything has moved on from steam trains to planes and cars etc who knows what technology tomorrow brings?
Times have certainly changed and moved forward by the modern advances in freight lorries, aeroplanes and internet deliveries. Nowadays calm mirrored reflections are a common sight on these now silent riverbanks…. in my book this is wonderful as it’s how this river was for thousands of years prior and how it should now remain once again, the way nature intended 🙏
