The Train Returns to Schull

After two named storms (first Austen and then Boelo), and before the next yellow warning and epic rainfall hits tomorrow, the Schull Samhain Parade took place tonight. Samhain (pronounced Sow -to rhyme with how – in) is what we call Halloween, and Fionn Mac Cumhaill must have been keeping an eye on us from Mount Gabriel, because we had a warm and moonlit evening for it. The harbour was looking calmer than it has in days.

The theme of the parade was The Railway Returns. Here’s the poster designed by local gal Liadh Pyburn.

You can read all about the days when the railway ran from Skibbereen to Ballydehob and then on to Schull in Robert’s post Tracking the Trains

So tonight the Ghost Train arrived! It was so cleverly done, as you can see in the photos – lots of huffing and puffing and tooting and steam!

There were little vignettes – this one was about the cattle car and the dealing and wheeling at the fair.

Here are the first class passengers, snug inside the car.

And the second class passengers, who had to get out and push.

The ghost conductor was having a ball.

And the kids, as always, stole our hearts.

It felt great to be out in my new home village, laughing and cheering with all my friends and neighbours, and in complete awe at the endless creativity of Schull.

And if you wander down to the Harbour one day, you will see Robert’s poster all about the old Railway Days.