It is with great sadness we learned of the death of Frank O’Donoghue.  Frank was one of the founding members of Waterford Suir Valley Railway. 

Over drinks at a New Year’s Eve party in 1996, Frank O’Donoghue, then Chief Executive of Waterford Chamber and Michael Wilcock, a railway enthusiast floated the idea of developing an abandoned line as a tourist attraction to preserve and promote Waterford railway heritage.

Once Frank had an idea, there was no stopping him. In 1997, Frank facilitated the inaugural meeting of the Waterford Railway Restoration Group to discuss the potential of developing one of Waterford’s abandoned railway lines. The first action of this group was to get funding to carry out a feasibility study on the three abandoned railway lines.  Although, originally from Cork, Frank loved his home town of Tramore, so his preferred option was to reinstate the abandoned Waterford Tramore Railway line. Unfortunately, the station at Poleberry and much of the original line had already been built over.  The outcome of the study was that the section of the Waterford Cork Railway between Kilmeadan and Bilberry was the obvious choice for development.

Frank took on the project with the same enthusiasm as he did with all his projects. Using his considerable business acumen and social skills to bring together the best people for the job, applying for grants and generating local and national support.

In 2001, once Waterford & Suir Valley Railway Company CLG was established and set up as a registered charity, Frank was satisfied to step back and move on to his next challenge.  He remained in close contact, and loved to see how it developed and thrived. 

When Frank retired, he wrote the story of the beloved Waterford to Tramore Railway “The 5–minute Bell: History of the Tramore Train 1853-1960” It is not only about the railway line and rolling stock, it is also a very important snapshot of the social history of the people Waterford and Tramore area at the time and the important role of the railway in their lives. In this book he has preserved precious memories for future generations.  

For all of us, who had the pleasure of working with Frank, he was generous with his time and expertise, a great motivator, good company and a very entertaining storyteller.  He has left a great legacy.

Our thoughts and sympathies go to his wife Anna, children, David, Stephen, Vincent, Gavin, Valerie and Shirley and to his extended family. May Frank’s soul rest in peace.

https://rip.ie/death-notice/frank-francis-odonoghue-waterford-tramore-567537