An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.
Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/1020554
An Cosantóir September 2018 www.dfmagazine.ie 30 | BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD PHOTOS BY SGT MICK BURKE HIDDEN HISTORY IN HOWTH: THE NATIONAL TRANSPORT MUSEUM T he Howth Peninsula on Dublin's east coast features the 15th cen- tury Howth Castle, the medieval ruins of St Mary's Abbey, a 19th century Martello Tower, and fantastic views of Dublin Bay and Ireland's Eye island. Tucked away in the grounds of Howth Castle is the National Transport Museum, which is operated by the Transport Mu- seum Society of Ireland (TMSI), a registered charity set up for the purpose of preserving and displaying vintage commercial vehicles. On the 24th July, An Cosantóir visited the museum, where our guide was re- tired Dublin Airport fire officer and TMSI Hon Sec, John Curran, two of whose sons are serving in the Defence Forces: Capt Donal Curran, a CASA pilot with the Air Corps; and RDF Sgt Ciaran Curran, 2 BTC, a former member of the PDF and now Dublin Airport fire fighter/paramedic. John's enthusiasm for the museum's historic vehicles was evident from the moment we met him in front of the two vehicles on display at the entrance: a 1938 Leyland Terrier APC and a 1979 Timoney APC, which John describes as the mu- seum's "gate guardians." Inside the main building the size of the collection was evident, with wall-to-wall vehicles, some nearly touching the ceil- ing. The displays, some of which are over 100 years old, include everything from bicycles to double-decker buses, and trams to fire engines. John then brought us to see more of their vintage DF vehicles including a 1939 Morris CDSW gun tractor, a 1945 Austin K6 lorry, a 1938 Landsverk APC, a 1971 Uni- mog APC, a 1933 Leyland Retriever, and a 1953 AEC Matador truck that John told us "was one of the vehicles that carried the coffins of the soldiers killed in the Congo at their State funeral in 1961". John says that while the facility where the vehicles are displayed and restored is very basic, they are thankful that the ve- hicles have been saved so that everyone can see and touch them, "Some of these vehicles go back to the foundation of the State and in some cases, prior to that," he told us. Pointing out a tram our guide informed us that the last trams to run in Ireland were the Hill of Howth trams, which ran until 1959, 10 years after the last Dublin City trams ran. Pointing out one particular tram John said, "Our predeces- sors saved that so that future generations could see it. It has 15 coats of paint which also protects the mainly wooden body against the elements and a preservation against corrosion." He also told us that in its day, Dublin had the second largest tram system in Europe, after London. Currently, the museum is turning down vehicles as they have run out of storage space in Howth and at another facility in Co Wicklow, where vehicles are stored awaiting preservation. The TMSI has 30 active members who help run the museum and preserve and maintain the collection. John encourages serving members of the DF and veter- ans to come and see their collection of historical DF vehicles, and says: "Perhaps, some of them may even consider becom- ing members, lending their expertise and giving some TLC to our military vehicles or other vehicles they may be interested in." Since its inception in 1949 the TMSI has survived largely through its members' contributions, admission fees from visi- tors, hiring out historical vehicles to films, and public donations. The museum has also received some welcome assistance over the years from CIÉ, Fingal County Council, and the Heritage Council, and in recent years they have been very fortunate to receive much-needed grants from the Dept of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, which has effectively helped to keep the museum open and to enable the TMSI's ongoing work. The TMSI believes that the State has at last recognised the importance of a National Transport Mu- seum and is very optimistic about the future safety and security of this important collection of vehicles. Contact information National Transport Museum, Heritage Depot, Howth Demesne, Howth. Ph: +353 (0)1 8320427 (during opening hours only). Email: info@nationaltransportmuseum.org or visit www.nationaltransportmuseum.org