placenamesMoyasta
Maigh Sheasta
The old junction linked routes to Kilrush and Kilkee; a restored steam engine brought railway memories back to Moyasta in 2009.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- Maigh Sheasta · Irish · main form · validated name
- Moyasta · English · main form
Place & story
Where the routes divided
Moyasta Junction was the point where the railway divided towards Kilrush and Cappagh Pier on one branch, and Kilkee through Blackweir on the other. Clare Museum describes the West Clare and South Clare railways as separate companies operated together by the same leadership. Their combined system connected Ennis with the two coastal termini, making the junction part of a wider transport network across west Clare. [2]
Slieve Callan returns
On 6 July 2009, RTÉ reported the return of the restored steam locomotive Slieve Callan to Moyasta. It had worked on the West Clare Railway from 1892 until 1952, when diesel engines replaced steam. The railway closed in 1961. Jackie Whelan led the restoration effort, which took a decade, while two and a half kilometres of track were restored from Moyasta for the heritage project. [3]
A railway on film
The engine's return also prompted memories of filmmaking. In the RTÉ report, Joe Taylor recalled appearing as a ten-year-old extra when John Ford filmed scenes for A Minute's Wait, part of The Rising of the Moon. His recollection connects the railway with a screen appearance as well as its everyday transport work. The report preserves that participant's memory alongside the restoration celebrations. [3]
Geographic information
- Place type
- Population centre
- County
- Clare
- Barony
- Moyarta
- Civil parish
- Kilfearagh
- Within
- Moyasta
- Coordinates
- 52.67225, -9.53765 (approximate)
- Logainm ID
- 1412566 ↗
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Moyasta. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- 5 objects from the West Clare Railway,7May2024 · John Rattigan, Clare Museum
- Steam Engine Is Back2009, archive report broadcast6July2009 · RTÉ Archives; Cathy Halloran
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2025-01-10. How this page was prepared.