Around 800 people attended a memorial service in Buttevant, Co Cork, this afternoon to remember the 18 people who lost their lives in the Buttevant train disaster 25 years ago.
Today the 10.50am train from Dublin to Cork stopped for a one-minute silence at Buttevant at lunchtime, the same time that disaster struck the small station on August 1 1980.
That day, a train, packed with 230 August Bank Holiday weekend passengers, was derailed as it passed through the north Co Cork station.
The impact was so severe the wheels were ripped off all the forward carriages.
The roof of the dining car was ripped off and turned upside down and only three of the ten passenger carriages remained upright after the crash.
Following an ecumenical service, relatives of those who had died lit candles in their memory in what was an emotional and moving ceremony.
A plaque listing the names of the 18 people killed, and thanking the emergency services and local rescue and recovery personnel who were involved in helping on the day of the disaster, was also unveiled.
