Irish Railway Record Society
Obituary
WALTER
McGRATH
Walter
McGrath has been accorded many labels – all complimentary.
An evening newspaper in Cork described him as the “Father of
Scouting”. Another
account noted that he was “a distinguished writer”.
As a historian specialising in the history of the Fenian uprising and
Fenian connections in Australia, he had no peer.
University College Cork conferred an Honorary Master of Arts (MA Hon
Causa) on Walter – and his own brother, speaking at the funeral Mass, gave him
the special and loving accolade of “a lover of ice cream”!
All
true, all fine – but to many, many members of the railway fraternities,
professional and enthusiast, Walter McGrath was “Mister Irish Railways”!
He was known throughout Ireland and Great Britain – and also to not a
few rail enthusiasts farther afield, in the Australia and the United States.
Walter
McGrath spent his working life in the employment of the Examiner group of
newspapers. He
started as a cub reporter, became a respected sports reporter (never a
“journalist”!), served for years as a sub-editor of the Holly Bough, a
Christmas annual eagerly sought in every house in Cork city and county, and
eventually became Editor of that much-loved publication.
And
it was because of his newspaper career that Walter was enabled to support and
enlarge the railway enthusiast community in Ireland.
Many articles about Irish railways and tramways flowed from his
industrious pen and were published in the morning, evening and weekly papers of
the Examiner group.
During his time as Editor of the Holly Bough, it became a point of
principle for every issue to contain at least two railway articles!
But
Walter McGrath as a railway author was not just some local scribbler read only
by enthusiasts in and around Cork.
His contributions appeared for many years in various British railway
publications, including the distinguished and long-established Railway Magazine.
We
who knew the man could only marvel at his knowledge of the Irish railway system.
If he had some particular favourites, and who among us has
It
is perhaps unfair to Walter to describe him as a railway enthusiast only,
because his interest and affection extended also to the tramway systems of
Ireland and Great Britain.
His encyclopaedic knowledge in this field was regularly put to use to
correct those who might, whether by ignorance or an intention to impress,
exhibit any imprecision in their statements!
His
greatest achievement as a tramway man was his magnificent work, Tram Tracks
through Cork, published in 1981 and a classic from its day of publication.
Perhaps the happiest moment of Walter’s life was 27 April 2002, when he
and other members of the Munster Area of the IRRS visited the Red Cow Depot of
LUAS and climbed into the recently “unwrapped” vehicles for the Red Line.
A photograph of Walter on this occasion catches the moment.
Walter
was also especially proud to have been one the IRRS members who represented the
Society on the occasion of the visit to the Society’s premises of Mary
Robinson, President of Ireland, a much-valued acknowledgement of the good work
carried out by the Society and its members in the recording of Ireland’s
transport history and heritage.
How
cruel it was that in his latter years, Walter was to be knocked down by a Cork
City Services bus near St. Luke’s Church (an occurrence for which however he
took full responsibility – saying that it was entirely his own fault!).
While he recovered and was eventually discharged from the Cork University
Hospital, Walter was much the frailer afterwards.
In his last few years, declining health greatly impaired his mobility.
His death took place, in March 2006, following which, with an
unanticipated twist of fate, his remains were brought to St. Patrick’s Church,
adjoining Kent Station in Cork city, on the evening of St. Patrick’s Day.
JAP
Copyright © 2006 by Irish
Railway Record Society Limited
Revised: August 07, 2006
.
