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Few can deny that the best way to see Ireland, indeed the best way to see any country, is by train. As a largely rural country, we are much indebted to the railway network that has provided transportation for over a century and a half. Today, Iarnród Éireann administers the service for a special fee. However the current Irish railway network covers less than half the amount it did in the 1920s. The extensive Midland Great Western Railway network, constructed between 1846 and 1895, connected Dublin, Cavan, Sligo, Killala, Achill and Clifden. Its Galway, Sligo and Westport lines are still used by Iarnród Éireann. But what of the rest?

In 2011 Pamela de Brí took to the rails and began a 1,000 km cycle across the MGWR network, retracing its former glories and enduring beauty. Midland-Lár Tíre follows her travels across the emerald midlands, documenting the adventure through photographs, maps, video, notebooks, audio clips and sculptural compositions. The multimedia installation consists of heartfelt local accounts of the train service and beautiful images of the stations and tracks of both past and present. The glimpse into the past reveals a bygone era of stories, people, stations and bridges; of life before “Fán Taobh Thiar Den Line Seo”.

Through the juxtaposition of old and new photographs de Brí manages to evoke sentiments of nostalgia and remorse for the once flourishing rail stations and network lines. It is clear that much of what was has now been lost to grass and shrubbery. However, many live on through the stories and memories of the locals. Some stations even became homes, whilst others such as Maynooth are now thriving through constant use. De Brí’s striking portraits of the faces she met along the way beautifully pays homage to the lives the MGWR continues to touch today. Tracing her journey through some of the most beautiful country settings, the exhibition is an incredible endorsement of Ireland and its past. Standing in front of the sprawling map tracing de Brí’s adventure, one thought prevails — maybe it’s time for one of our own.

Midland-Lár Tíre: Cycling the MGWR from Past to Present runs at the National Photographic Archive until May 24. Admission is free.