A recently shared photograph from the Derry Journal, dated 12th November 1976, has sparked memories of the thriving pub darts scene that once centred around the Railway Tavern in Fahan.
The image, shared on the Fahan, Inch & Burt community Facebook page, shows a darts team from the Railway Tavern — including men from Inch Island — posing for an official team photograph nearly 50 years ago.
The Tavern Cup
The Railway Tavern wasn't just a place for a quiet pint — it was the hub of competitive darts in the Fahan and Inch area during the 1970s.
Remarkably, video footage survives from the 1978 "Tavern Cup" final, held at the Railway Tavern. The footage shows two local teams — Hagerty's and the Valley CV — battling it out in front of a packed crowd. The Valley CV emerged victorious, with celebrations continuing well into the evening.
A rare glimpse into pub life in Fahan nearly half a century ago.
A Long Tradition
The Railway Tavern has been serving the local community since 1864, when it opened as the refreshment rooms at Fahan Station on the Londonderry & Lough Swilly Railway line. For generations, it served as a gathering place for communities across the area, including Inch Island.
In an era before television dominated evening entertainment, pub darts leagues were a cornerstone of social life in rural Ireland. Teams from local pubs would compete in leagues and cup competitions, with the Tavern Cup at the Railway Tavern clearly a highlight of the local calendar.
Darts: A Donegal Tradition
The competitive spirit captured in that 1976 photograph and 1978 video lives on. Today, the Inishowen Men's Darts League continues to thrive, with teams from pubs across the peninsula competing each week.
Donegal has become a powerhouse of Irish darts — the county team has won an remarkable 11 All-Ireland inter-counties championships in the past 17 years, with many players hailing from Inishowen. Names like Charlie Grant, Junior Coyle, and the Leech brothers from Moville have carried on a tradition that stretches back to those Railway Tavern teams of the 1970s.
A Living History
The Railway Tavern today is a very different place from the smoky pub of 1976 — it's now Ireland's Steakhouse of the Year, where steaks are cooked over an open fire housed in an actual steam engine firebox. But the walls are still adorned with railway memorabilia and photographs from the area's past.
If you look carefully, you might just spot some familiar faces from Fahan and Inch's darts-playing days.
Do you recognise anyone in the 1976 photograph, or have memories of playing darts at the Railway Tavern? We'd love to hear from you — get in touch at [email protected].
Thanks to P Lafferty for sharing the original photograph via the Fahan, Inch & Burt community page.