NEVER mind your Luas, new fangled thing; the trams of Dublin's past, and Belfast's too, are rightly called "Galleons of the Streets" in an article in the current Summer issue of the History Ire/and quarterly. They had dignity, openair sections for much of their history, and could go, when needed, like the hammers of hell. That is, up to 40 mph. They would sway and rattle at this speed and you actually got a thrill out, of riding them. To say nothing of the marvellous views, and the tang of the sea which you got on the Dun Laoghaire line, if you sat in the open section.
The driver of the openfronted tram had to stand there in all weathers. A very punishing job. Eventually all were enclosed. Belfast, too, had had similar designs, and on the long run out to Glengormley along the Antrim Road, you had the Cave Hill on your left for much of the way, and to your right was the full extent of Belfast Lough and a view of the Castlereagh Hills. One of the lesser known uses of the long tram ride (not part of the article), was discovered by a woman who went into a nursing home to have her child. It was due, but didn't come. She went for walks. Still no move. Then she had a novel idea. She took the tram to Dun Laoghaire, in the middle of the afternoon, when the driver could let if fly. She bumped and swayed out and she bumped and swayed back. The baby arrived that night.
Jim Kilroy, who wrote this article, fact packed and absorbing is a Director of the National Transport Museum, Howth. He tells us of many vehicles from the Fintona horse tram on and rightly says that the most famous electric tramway in the world was undoubtedly that which ran from Portrush to the Giant's Causeway. No one who ever rode it could forget. This issue of the magazine is packed with good stuff. A joy to read about as well as to get to know is F.X. Martin. Daire Keogh interviews this retired Professor of Mediaeval History, who has thrown so much light on modern times - the volunteers, the Howth Landing and the men who went on to found this State. F.X. is great company, too.
Then there's a review of the Irish book of 1997, Tom Garvin's "1922". A lot, in this issue of meaty, argumentative stuff. Good on the editors, Hiram Morgan and Tommy Graham. So much that we'll have to come back to this issue again. A well produced, £3.95 worth.