Rail campaigners in the Maynooth line area, think Laytown. If I could offer you only 1 tip for the future, Laytown would be it.
The long term benefits of Laytown will be proved by time, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.
Concentrate primarily on Laytown, O never mind, you will not understand the significance of this fact until you use it, but trust me, in 20 years you will look back at these events and laugh in a way you can't grasp now, at how you could have missed something so obvious and how naïve you really were. You are not as wrong as you imagine.
Don't worry about getting it wrong, or worry, knowing that doing so is as effective as trying to obtain planning permission without giving a bribe. The real problems in this case are known to many, but only revealed by a few, the kind of revelation that will appear suddenly and disappear just as quickly.
Do 1 thing every week that scares them. Allege. Don't be afraid to voice your beliefs, don't put up with those who denigrate them. Talk. Don't waste your time on politicians. Occasionally they'll listen, normally, they wont. The game is long, initially you'll lose, long term, you'll win.
Acknowledge those who help you, even if you don't know them. If you do this, they will remember you. Keep all correspondence, throw nothing away, it may be useful. Listen. Don't delay in acknowledging expertise. Experts are people with a story to tell and in need of an outlet to do so. If you give it, they will be an invaluable source for the future. Get plenty of advice. Be kind to railway enthusiasts. They know what's happening.
Maybe you'll be sued, maybe you wont, maybe you'll win, maybe you wont. Maybe you'll lose in 2 years time, maybe you'll be celebrating for decades to come. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your bluffs are half chance, theirs are 99% so. Endure what you have now, safe in the knowledge that one day, with your input, things will be better. This can only be so. Lobby. Even if you aren't sure, do it anyway. State what you know and demand what you want. Do not listen to rail management, they will only make you feel depressed.
Get to know railway staff, however, and they will assist. Be civil to them and they will respect what you do and will probably take part in your activities. Understand that you will win and lose, but that victories are generally permanent. Work hard at your cause, bias by the State is hardest to overcome, but once achieved, lays the foundation for victory and success. Complain to them at least monthly, if enough do, it will scare them.
Do not complain more than fortnightly, doing so could be harassment. Utilise. The greatest weapon they have is closure. They have done it before and will do so again if you abandon the service. If they do, you will have no-one to blame but yourself and every other individual who did not argue consistently and vociferously. Be consistent. Don't expect the uninterested observer to support you. Maybe they will initially or feign support to please you, but you never know when support might be withdrawn.
Don't give in to the pessimists amongst you, by doing so you will lose everything you gained and more. Be careful about accepting half measures, but look carefully at what has been offered. A half measure may be the foundation for developing the future and could give benefits you will not get otherwise such as improved service, reduced overcrowding and more people to your cause. But trust me on Laytown.
Spoken in the style of "Sunscreen" by Baz Luhrman.
Copyright Ewan Duffy 2005