The Cliff Walk

Here are two videos: Part One and Part Two of the Cliff Walk narrated by the broadcaster Jim Sherwin from the ‘Tracks and Trails’ series.

Part Two is most relevant to the town of Greystones.

The video includes details of the train disaster that happened due to erosion.

On August 9th, 1867 at 6.30 a.m. the Enniscorthy to Dublin train derailed at the Brandy Hole ravine.

You can read more details of the train disaster HERE

The second video also includes a visit to St. Crispin’s Cell.

Famous People – Isambard Kingdom Brunel – Contrasting Photographs

Bray-Greystones cliff Afef Abrougui via Compfight

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born in 1806. He engineered the railway line between Bray and Greystones which had a significant impact on Greystones. His father was French left France in a hurry to escape the French revolution. His mother had been accused of being a spy and went to England where they first met. Later they spent some time in debtors’ prison. They had money problems when their sawmill burned down. In later life Brunel found it hard to delegate. He worked too hard. He often slept on a chair. The students are familiar with an iconic photo of a robust Isambard from 1857 smoking a cigar. You can see that photo HERE

Students contrast this photo with one where he is holding a walking stick and suffering from ill health taken ten days before he died. They are not surprised to hear he died at 53 shortly after the photo was taken. Students are always vehement in blaming smoking for his demise! You can see that photo HERE

Famous People: Isambard Kingdom Brunel

 

Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: LEOL30 via Compfight

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born in 1806.

He was an engineer who designed steamships, bridges and tunnels.

He engineered the railway line between Bray and Greystones.

This was a challenging job

as tunneling through rock was needed.

The arrival of the railway in Greystones

has made our town what it is today.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Nagesh Kamath via Compfight

You can read more about Isambard Kingdom Brunel HERE 

on the BBC Primary History website.