Casino Model Railway Museum

In the restored Casino Cottage on the edge of the Malahide demesne stands one of Ireland's most distinctive collections: around 350 handmade model railway vehicles, assembled over decades by engineer Cyril Fry. The museum traces Irish railway history back to the 1840s, in O-gauge scale and with remarkable attention to detail.

Cyril Fry and his collection

Cyril Laurence Fry (1905-1972) worked as an engineer at the Inchicore Railway Works, one of Dublin's major railway workshops. From the 1920s onwards, over roughly four decades, he hand-built models of Irish locomotives, carriages and trams, not as toys, but as scale technical documentation. After his death in 1972, the collection passed to Dublin Tourism.

Numerous historical railway companies are represented, including the Great Southern and Western Railway, the Dublin and Drogheda Railway, and the Midland Great Western Railway. Most of the models are O-gauge, supplemented by narrow-gauge vehicles.

From the Fry Model Railway to Casino Cottage

For many years the collection was known as the "Fry Model Railway." In its current form it reopened on 22 January 2020, in the carefully restored Casino Cottage, a cottage orné on the Malahide demesne. The building is owned by Fingal County Council, with Shannon Heritage running operations since August 2019.

What to expect

The handmade models take centre stage, some displayed statically, others running on working layouts. Beyond the vehicles themselves, it's worth looking closely at the recreated scenery of Irish railway lines. A visit is compact: 40 minutes to an hour is enough to see everything at a comfortable pace. The museum suits railway and engineering enthusiasts as much as families with children.

There's no café inside the museum itself; food and drink can be found around a two-minute walk away in Malahide village.

Visiting and practical details

• Opening hours: Wed-Sun 10:00-17:00, closed Mon/Tue, Bank Holiday Mondays 13:00-17:00.
• Admission: adults €9.00, students/seniors €7.50, children €6.50, family (2+2) €28.00. Just €2.00 on Saturdays during the Malahide Markets.
• Tickets: online at bookings.modelrailwaymuseum.ie or on the door. Groups of 10 or more should book by email in advance.
• Accessibility: fully wheelchair accessible, accessible toilet, two accessible parking spaces at the building; wheelchairs are not provided on site.
• Parking: Bridgefield car park opposite (first hour free), or the Malahide Castle car park, about a 10-minute walk away.

An Annual Membership pass covers the museum as well as Malahide Castle & Gardens and Newbridge House & Farm.

Combine it with Malahide Castle

The museum is just a short walk (around 10 minutes) from Malahide Castle and its Talbot Botanic Gardens, the two combine easily into one day out. Coming from Dublin city centre, Malahide is an easy trip on the DART; the Dublin Pass covers castle admission. The museum is quietest on weekday mornings and busiest on market Saturdays.