Rianta na Cathrach (Tracks of the City)

Irish Railway Record Society Review

This book is but a summary of the rail transport in the Capital City. But it is an important summary because it is written in the Irish language - the first publication to appear on the subject of Irish transport in that medium in almost forty years. The last such publication was in 1974 when “Taisteal agus Iompair in Éirinn” (Travel and Transport in Ireland) appeared.

When launched in the IRRS a few months ago there was much discussion about the connection between the Irish language and the railways in this country. The railways kept the language in the public domain with station bilingual names and notices and this continues in our own times with spoken and written announcements and notices on our trains and on the Luas.

The book gives an authoritative account of the story of the railways, metro and tramways in the capital and the text and illustrations show the important role of rail transport in keeping the city moving.

One small criticism is the small size of the illustrations and diagrams (some 66 in total) which makes them difficult to read. No doubt page size and economics have militated here. But our member Dónal Murray has done justice both to the city rails and the Irish Language and this book will appeal to collectors of Irish railway literature and to those with an interest in the language itself. So far the book has proved popular and timely purchase is advised as it may well soon be both out of print and a collector’s item. As such it may appeal even to transport historians and book collectors with little or no knowledge of the Irish language.

Deir an brollach nach bhfuil sa leabhar ach achoimre ar scéal na n-iarnród sa phríomhchathair. Ach is tabhtacht an achoimre é mar tá an leabhar scríofa as Ghaeilge - an chéad leabhar foilsithe tré Ghaeilge bunaithe ar chursaí thaistil in Éirinn le beagnach daichead bhliain anuas nuair a foilsíodh “Taisteal agus Iompair in Éirinn” í 1974.

Nuair a leansaíodh an leabhar í seomraí an IRRS cúpla mí ó shin bhí caint ar an ceangal a bhí idir an Ghaeilge agus na hiarnróid sa tír seo. Choimeád siad an Ghaeilge ós cóir na ndaoine le fograí agus ainmneacha stáisiún as Gaeilge rud atá ann fós le fógraí scríofa agus labhartha ar na traenacha agus ar an Luas.

Sa leabhar tá cur síos údarásach ar scéal an iarnróid, an mheitreo agus na dtrambhealaí agus taispeánann an téacs agus na grianghrafanna an ról tabhachtach atá ag an gcóras seo ag coinneáil na cathrach ag gluaiseacht.