Railway enthusiast on track with award

Railway enthusiast on track with award

16 April 2025

THE Downpatrick and Co Down Railway is celebrating more success.

Last week, volunteer Shea McKee was crowned the South Eastern Regional College’s community champion at its annual awards for his contribution to the heritage railway. 

Shea has been volunteering with the charity since 2022 but his connection to the local railwaygoes back further than that. 

Normally, that would mean someone had a family connection or volunteered in the early days before taking a break. 

But that is not the case for Shea.

Railway officials’ first encounter with him was as a trespasser on one of its lines when he was up to no good. 

Shortly before the pandemic, Shea was spotted sneaking around the railway yard when he shouldn’t have been by two railway board members.

Shea was given a stern talking-to and sent on his way and warned to stay off heritage railway property.

But he didn’t heed that warning for very long and with good reason.

Two years after being asked to leave Shea returned, only this time through the front gate to apply for membership.

After a few Saturdays volunteering, Shea revealed himself to board members Jonathan King and Morgan Young who had previously asked him to vacate the premises. And they couldn’t have been happier to see him back.

And Jonathan was delighted to join Shea at the recent awards ceremony to cheer him on – embodying the true community spirit of Downpatrick.

Railway officials say Shea has proven himself to be a devoted and useful volunteer.

“His journey from trespasser to award-winning volunteer is an inspiring one, proving that there truly is a role for everyone at the railway, regardless of background or experience,” they said in a social media post.

“In the truest sense of the word, Shea is a champion of the local community; somebody who has stepped up and made a meaningful difference to an organisation he had previously wronged.”

Railway officials added: “Well done from all of us Shea at DCDR. We are all very proud of you. You’ve come a long way and you really deserved this award.”

Shea is the third railway volunteer to be individually recognised for his achievements this year and the fifth award winner in the heritage railway’s anniversary year.