An exhibition to mark 175 years since the railway came to Navan, Co Meath, will go on public display today.
The Dublin and Drogheda Railway Company opened a branch line to Navan in 1850, linking the town to Ireland's rapidly expanding network of railways.
The railways brought increased trade and visitors to Navan and Co Meath, as well as allowing local residents greater access to goods, services and entertainment.
To mark the anniversary, a special exhibition has been curated by architectural historian Dr Siobhan Osgood, with support from the Navan and District Historical Society and Meath County Council.
It explores the history of the railway, the people who designed and built it, and the buildings along the line, many of which still survive today as examples of railway architecture.
Those behind the project said it consists of a mix of contemporary photographs, "offering a window into life in Navan in the 19th century," and architectural drawings of Navan Station, "demonstrating the skill and craftsmanship of the people involved in its creation".
Navan Station, along with the branch line, was subsequently closed to passenger services in 1958 when the Oldcastle line lost its passenger traffic.
However, the station itself still remains relatively intact with trains carrying freight from Tara Mines running between Navan and Drogheda up until relatively recently.
Campaign groups have for years called for the opening of a rail line that would connect Navan to Dublin.
A project to extend the line from the existing terminal station at the M3 Parkway, north of Dunboyne, to Navan is hoped to be delivered between 2030 and 2035, but is subject to planning and funding approvals.
The '175 Years of Navan Railway' exhibition, which is free to visit, runs at Solstice Arts Centre in Navan until Saturday.
A lecture to formally launch the exhibition will take place this evening but must be pre-booked.
