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heritage · Saturday 15 August 2026 · Various 
Irish Railway Heritage at Dromod
At Cavan and Leitrim Railway, Dromod · Dromod, Co. Leitrim
At Cavan and Leitrim Railway, Dromod · Dromod, Co. Leitrim
The narrow-gauge trains that once hauled coal and passengers across south Leitrim and north Cavan stopped running in 1959. Thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers, a section of the original track at Dromod is alive again - and during National Heritage Week you can ride it for free. This is a genuinely rare thing: a working narrow-gauge steam railway in rural Ireland, operated entirely by people who are passionate about keeping it going. Families with children, train enthusiasts, and anyone curious about how a small country railway shaped a region will find this well worth the trip.
The Cavan and Leitrim Railway ran for 72 years on a 3-foot narrow gauge across some of the most rural parts of Leinster and Connacht. The heritage site at Dromod station is built around the original 1887 engine shed and occupies the old station yard. During Heritage Week, visitors can take a guided heritage train ride along a restored section of the original line - the guide covers the railway’s history, its role in the local economy, and the volunteer effort behind the restoration.
On site you will also find an open-air transport museum that goes well beyond rolling stock: vintage buses, aircraft including Irish Air Corps planes with accessible cockpits, and artillery pieces from both World Wars are all part of the collection. The resident steam locomotive - an 1908-built engine - is on display inside the original engine shed. Another recently restored locomotive, the Avonside 0-6-0T “Nancy”, spent twenty years in restoration before returning to Dromod in 2019 after being rebuilt in Wales. The tour is family-friendly and the site encourages visitors to get up close to the exhibits. Allow around 45 to 60 minutes.
Admission is free during National Heritage Week as part of the national programme. The railway is volunteer-run, so a donation is welcomed to help cover insurance and running costs.
Dromod is in south Leitrim, on the N4 Dublin to Sligo road, roughly 15 km south of Carrick-on-Shannon. By car from Dublin it is around two hours; from Sligo about 50 minutes. Dromod is also a stop on the Irish Rail Dublin Heuston to Sligo line, which makes it one of the more accessible heritage sites in the midlands-northwest. The station yard is a short walk from the train platform. Parking is available on site.
Dromod is a small lakeside village on the Shannon-Erne Waterway, and the surrounding area rewards a slower pace - the nearby loughs and river are popular with anglers and boaters. There is more to see in Dromod and across Co. Leitrim.
Heading to Cavan and Leitrim Railway, Dromod in Dromod? Leitrim has plenty more to see. Read the Dromod area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.