South Dublin Model Railway Club

South Dublin Model Railway Club is a vibrant hobbyist organisation dedicated to the design, construction and operation of detailed model railway layouts. Founded on 15 January 1975, the club brings together enthusiasts of all ages who share a passion for railway history, engineering and scenic modelling, and it regularly showcases its work at exhibitions across the island.

The club’s specialities include historically accurate, digitally‑controlled (DCC) HO‑scale layouts such as the French rural station “Belle Eclaire”, and a celebrated Irish‑focused layout commissioned by CIE in the early 1980s to promote the Howth‑to‑Bray electrification. Recent upgrades have added operating colour‑light signals, a working track‑tamping machine, a Robel maintenance unit and a heavy‑duty crane, while the Kildare Station layout boasts a large fiddle yard and eight rakes of trains. The club also supports the wider modelling community by exhibiting at major shows, including the Model Railway Society of Ireland exhibition and events in Wexford, North Down and at the Inchicore Railway Works open day.

The biennial exhibition, one of the country’s largest, will be hosted at Blackrock College over the October Bank Holiday weekend, offering visitors a chance to explore layouts from clubs throughout Ireland, alongside hobby stalls and trade stands. Admission is €10 for adults, €8 for children, or €20 for a family of two adults and two children.