Historic horse tram denied return to Fintona area

THE Department for Communities has rejected a request from Fermanagh and Omagh Council to relocate the historic Fintona Horse Tram back to the local area.

The tram, which once ferried passengers from Fintona to its branch station of the Great Northern Railway a mile from the town, is now on display at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.

The tram closed in 1957 after 104 years of service by horses, reportedly all named ‘Dick’.

The council requested that the tram be relocated to the Ulster American Folk Park, but this has been rejected by Tony O’Neill, head of Musuems and Libraries Branch of the Department for Communities.

Mr O’Neill said that it wasn’t possible to grant the request due to ‘practical and interpretive reasons.’

“National Museums NI is primarily concerned with the safekeeping of the tram to ensure it continues to be available for public exhibition,” he said.

“In understanding the significance of the tram to Fintona, I recommend that you continue to engage with the museum about alternative ways to share its story from other artefacts/imagery which may be shared from the National Museums NI collections.”

The issue was discussed at a meeting of the council’s regeneration and community committee on Tuesday night.

Omagh town Sinn Fein councillor, Barry McElduff, who took a group of schoolchildren from Fintona to view the tram at the museum several years ago, said he disputed the reasons that prevent the tram being returned to the locality

“The Fintona tram is a hugely important part of our local heritage,” he stated.

“It is also of tremendous public interest to the Fintona community and the wider council area, not least Great Northern Railway enthusiasts and the families of men and women who worked or travelled on the tram.

“The visiion of returning the tram to the people of Fintona is one that we should continue to pursue. Failing that, I can see no reason why it shouldn’t be located at the nearest regional museum which is the Ulster American Folk Park.”