Three "IRMs" — which one do you want?
Irish Railway Modeller is the community forum — layouts, club news, buy & sell. Irish Railway Models is the manufacturer of ready-to-run Irish-outline stock (see our new releases tracker). And the MRSI — Model Railway Society of Ireland — is the Dublin society, first on the roster below. For a broader route into the hobby, start with the Irish model railways guide.
§ 01
Active club roster
If you are choosing a club for the first time, start by location, then by what you need help with: wiring, baseboards, Irish prototype research, scenery, DCC, second-hand buying, or exhibition operating. Meeting times and visitor rules can change, so treat this page as a route map and confirm details directly with the club or via the Irish Railway Modeller forum before travelling.
01MRSI
Model Railway Society of Ireland
Dublin 1 · Flagship
MeetsWed & Fri 20:00–22:00
Fee€55 / year, no joining fee
Address2nd Floor, The Old Fire Station, Lower Dorset Street
Ireland's oldest and largest model railway society. Open clubrooms two evenings a week. Hosts Ireland's biggest exhibition at Mount Temple School each October. Well-known layouts include "Dundalk Works" (GNR).
02SDMRC
South Dublin Model Railway Club
Knocklyon, Tallaght · Est. 1975
MeetsWed 20:00–22:00 · Sat afternoons
Founded1975
ShowBiennial, Blackrock College
Founded in 1975, one of the longest-established clubs in Ireland. Home of "Dun Laoghaire" — a detailed layout of the County Dublin station in contemporary Irish livery. Exhibition runs on the October bank holiday weekend.
03WMRC
Wexford Model Railway Club
Wexford town · Leinster
MeetsConfirm via forum
Layout"Little Siddington", 10m+
Active regional club best known outside Wexford for "Little Siddington" — one of the largest travelling model railway layouts in Ireland at over 10 metres long. Frequent attendee at MRSI and SDMRC exhibitions.
04MWMRC
Mid West Model Railway Club
Limerick · Munster
MeetsConfirm via forum
ScalesOO · HO · N
Regional club serving the mid-west and Munster. Focus on Irish prototype modelling plus general OO/HO/N gauge. Good option for modellers in Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and north Kerry.
05CMRS
Cork Model Railway Society
Cork city · Munster
MeetsConfirm via forum
FocusGSWR · CIÉ · Irish Rail
Munster-based club with a focus on Irish Southern district modelling — Great Southern & Western Railway, CIÉ, Irish Rail.
06NIMRS
North of Ireland Model Railway Society
Belfast · Northern Ireland
MeetsConfirm directly
FocusUTA · NIR · British outline
Active Northern Irish club. Covers both the UTA/NIR era (Ulster Transport Authority / Northern Ireland Railways) and broader Irish and British prototype modelling. Strong cross-border attendance at MRSI exhibition.
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Club listed but details out of date?
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Forums & online community
- Irish Railway Modeller forum — the heart of the Irish hobby online. Free to join; layout build threads, prototype reference, club news, and an active buy-and-sell section. Their clubs area is the best source for current-state regional club info.
- Irish Railway Models — the manufacturer, not a forum. Ready-to-run Irish-outline locos and stock; we track announcements on our New Releases page.
- Facebook — Model Railway Society of Ireland, at facebook.com/ModelRailwaysIreland.
- Casino Model Railway Museum — our visitor page for the permanent museum in Malahide (Dublin).
Best next step by intent
- I want in-person help — pick the nearest club, then ask whether visitors can attend before joining.
- I want to use the forum first — read the Irish Railway Modeller forum guide, then ask one specific question about scale, era, wiring or buying.
- I want to see layouts first — use the Irish model railway exhibitions calendar and talk to club members at a show.
- I want to buy safely — read the buyer guide before asking for opinions on second-hand stock.
- I am brand new — start with the beginner guide, then use a club visit to sanity-check the first layout plan.
§ 02
Frequently asked questions
What is Irish Railway Modeller?
The main online forum for Irish railway modelling — free to join at irishrailwaymodeller.com. If you only bookmark one community resource alongside this directory, make it that.
Modeller vs Models — what's the difference?
The Modeller is the forum you join; the Models is the manufacturer you buy from. The names trip everyone up at least once.
How do I join a club?
Visit first — MRSI's clubrooms (Lower Dorset Street, Dublin) open Wednesday and Friday evenings, membership around €55/year; SDMRC meets Wednesdays and Saturdays in Knocklyon. For the regional clubs, confirm current details via the forum before travelling.
What gauge are Irish model railways?
Mostly OO gauge (16.5mm) despite Irish prototype track being 1600mm broad gauge — a long-accepted compromise. A dedicated minority build exact 21mm gauge. Full breakdown on our Scales guide.
Where do I start, and where do I buy?
New to the hobby? Start with the Beginners guide. Buying Irish-outline stock: the Where to Buy directory and New Releases tracker cover shops and announcements, and the exhibition calendar lists the shows where stockists trade in person.