The railway first came to Skibbereen in 1877. It was extended via a light railway to Schull in 1886 and via an extension to Baltimore in 1893. The Schull tramway ceased operation in 1947 and the main line to Skibbereen and Baltimore shut down on 31st March 1961.
The memory of the railway is one which many still hold dear and in recent years Skibbereen & District Historical Society Society has organised talks and other events to commemorate our railway heritage. In 2025 our society led the project to restore of the railway mural at the ‘Cutting’ and in 2025/6 we unveiled three information board recalling Skibbereen’s Railway Heritage:
- The first board is located on the Schull Road roundabout, between Marsh Road and the bypass. It is dedicated to the main line to Skibbereen, which was part of the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway.
- The second board is a also located on the Schull Road roundabout, but between the bypass and Ilen Street. It is dedicated to the Schull and Skibbereen Tramway & Light Railway.
- The third board is located by Kennedy Bridge in Ilen Street. It is dedicated to the Baltimore Extension Railway.
In conjunction with the erection of the information boards we have developed a number of webpages to further explore the history of our railway heritage. Click on the links below.
-
Traces of the Baltimore Extension Railway
The Baltimore Extension Railway has been closed for over sixty years and as each year goes by more and more of its footprint is disappearing.…
-
Schull and Skibbereen Tramway & Light Railway
The Schull and Skibbereen Light Railway was born out of the Tramways and Public Companies (Ireland) Act 1883, which allowed for 3 foot narrow gauge…
