Families recall heroism of rail driver who prevented second crash during Buttevant rail disaster

Some 18 people were killed in the Buttevant rail disaster in 1980

Great grandnephew and nieces of August 1980 Buttevant Rail disaster train driver, Bertie Walsh of Glounthaune, Co Cork, photographed at a bench in his honour at the site of the disaster at the 41st commemoration of the tragedy at the weekend. From left: Mia Cummins; Kate and Jack Cauldwell; Alice O’Keeffe and Olivia Cummins.

Out of one of the greatest tragedies comes stories of heroism and selflessness. For relatives of those involved in the Buttevant rail disaster of 1980, they remember and preserve memories 41 years on.

The crash of August 1, 1980, has somewhat faded in the public consciousness in the decades since 18 people died and about 70 were injured, but never so for families and dedicated volunteers in Buttevant, determined never to let the memories extinguish.