Flying Snail

Liberal use of the ol séimhiú there, not to mention the 'fada' - an accent you'll see above vowels (á, é, í, ó, ú). Also it might be helpful to know when you're making up signs or fonts that in the Irish/Gaelic font in this sign ... the first letter on the first row is a 'G', which is very similar to the first letter on the third row - which is actually a 'T'. The second letter on the first row is an 'A'. The first letter of the second word on the first line is a 'D' (with a 'séimhiú' over it) and as an aside ... and absolutely nothing to do with this thread - but you'll see on that sign that Kenmare translates to Neidín (pronounced something line 'Nay-deen'), meaning 'the little nest' . This has always struck me as a particularly pretty name. A lot of Irish names can be real tongue twisters, but to my ears Neidín sounds as nice and gentle as the image it invokes

The dot above the M in the first sign (and above the C in the third one) is actually our friend the 'séimhiú' - when Irish was modernised ini the 60s, the dot was replaced with the 'h'. sooooo .... 'Muileann Bhaile Na Ceathrún' would be 'Muileann Ḃaile Na Ceathrún' in GSR days* *again, there may be grammatical errors in my translations as my Irish is very rusty

I'd go with the first one - its easier on the eye than the second one, and closer to the GSR signs shown above.

On the name - Irish translations can be tricky, as the grammar is very different to English. 'Baile' (that's the bit that translates into 'town') is typically at the front as in 'Baile Átha Cliath'. Its also the reason so many Irish placenames that have been anglicised start with Bally. From the eircode finder website (which is run by An Post, the Irish postal service), 'Quartertown' is translated into 'Baile Na Ceathrún', so thats what I would use. Mill is translated as 'Muileann' as Galteemore said, and you'll put that in front of the town's name, so I think* it'll become 'Muileann Bhaile Na Ceathrún' - note this adds a 'h' (which is actually a special grammatical construct called a séimhiú) to Baile. * Its 30 years since I did Leaving Cert Irish, and I wasn't particularly good at it then, thats why if I was making a bilingual sign I'd probably just do it as 'Quartertown Mill / Baile Na Ceathrún'

That cover is a particularly fine fine effort at abstract art by AI. Its remarkable, the more I look at it ..... the less I see (less realistic things, that is)

Instantly recognisable!

The mill looks very well - as Patrick says the stonework looks well but I also think the timber doors and window frames set it off nicely

Hopefully, these kinds of delays to major projects will be reduced in future: Government to introduce emergency legislation to fast-track key projects ... The Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan is aiming to cut red tape in order to deliver more housing, roads, water treatment plants, energy sub stations, hospitals and other critical infrastructure. It also contains measures to reform judicial reviews. These include the introduction of a test on the likelihood of a review being successful before leave is granted take one. ... https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1202/1546788-ireland-cabinet/

She was hardly making rock buns or rocky road? Anyway, I hope nobody chipped a tooth

The corrugated carriage shed based on Kenmare is in the August 1970 edition of Railway Modeller

I think someone else might have posted this already, but here's the newsreel announcing the train of the future, today! ... in 1949 https://youtu.be/1a2K0TP1lxM?si=6-WbupNl68qTeCif

Great diagrams @Westcorkrailway ... I'd like to second @Rob R's request that you upload it to the Resources section please, so that it doesn't get lost amid all the various threads and posts on here.

and Hinos ... lots of Hinos: that's one of the biggest gaps in 1:76 trucks for Ireland

I'm not actively trying to drag the thread off-topic (by about 95 miles to the north east) from Mallow ... but there were reasonably sized flour lorries in Ireland. Portlaoise, again, .. this time Odlums: From Portlaoise Pictures: http://www.portlaoisepictures.com/odlumhistory4.htm Edit: I'm not sure if this is 1960s (maybe later?)?

I think there might be another angle to consider here. The objective for some objectors might not be to get Metrolink cancelled, or the station moved ... they may just want the project slowed down long enough to avoid personal impact. For someone in their mid-70s today, pushing the project into the late 2030s would effectively achieve that. A selfish and cynical thing to do, but rational from their perspective.

I can't help you much with the marques but regarding the haulage firms active in the 1960s, I think it was still restricted in terms of carriage of goods for hire up to the 1970s. You would still have options for adding lorries though. Businesses would have had their own fleets for the haulage/delivery of their own products - including the milling companies. Farmers would have made extensive use of their own machinery (tractors and trailers) to transport grain, and there was/is also a system of farmers' co-ops with their own lorries. In terms of local traffic on nearby roads, Irish Sugar who had a plant in Mallow would have had their own fleet too and there's probably good archives somewhere for them and other semi-states. Also, in rural Ireland, lorry's from businesses like Kelly's Foundry in Portlaoise (picture below) could be found delivering hay sheds everywhere, and its also plausible that a mill would need steel structures? I believe the picture of Kelly's fleet below is 1950s or early 1960s so I hope its helpful in terms of the kinds of vehicles on the roads in Ireland then. (Portlaoise is my hometown and despite it being long gone now, Kellys is still very fondly remembered in the town. Not just a midlands business, Kellys erected sheds all over the country) View on Facebook here

I know I'm repeating myself from Darius' thread, but the lights really do add something special to the scene. A very nice layout indeed - you must be nearly there now?

Those two videos are just pure filth @jhb171achill!! .... Really impressive weathering on the esso tanks! The grime and oil is really caked on!

That looks very like the Slieve Blooms in the background when viewed from the Portlaoise area. Picture could be taken out near Clonkeen (Coolnamona) looking toward Ballyfin.

Looking very good under the lights - the scene has really come to life with the lights and the people!

The buildings are really good. lots of good detail in there!

I have to say who ever is doing your announcement videos is doing a smashing job! As always its very enjoyable to watch

very atmospheric photos !

Yes please - would be great to have the RAL for GSR / CIE locomotive grey

Not a bad day out at all ... I think thats what's called a 'humble brag' these days .. you're clearly a lucky man, of all Mrs. Snails' railway model related "requests" to me, not one has been that I make her a model .. the tram gets my vote too