The people of West Cork recall with great fondness the time when this region was connected to the railway network. This fondness is something that Skibbereen & District Historical Society has long appreciated and in recent years our society has organised a number of talks and other events to commemorate our railway heritage. Last year we were involved in the restoration of the railway mural at the ‘Cutting’ and we unveiled the first of a series of information boards about the railways in Skibbereen, which was dedicated to the Skibbereen to Schull Tramway. During Heritage Week 2026 we were delighted to complete our railway information board series with the unveiling of two new boards. The completion of this project was made possible thanks to the support of Cork County Council and the Heritage Council under the County Heritage Plan Funding 2026 and to the generous sponsorship of two local businesses, the West Cork Hotel and Drinagh Co-operative Limited.
The first new board, which is located at the Schull Road roundabout, is dedicated to the main railway line into Skibbereen, which was part of the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway. The railway line to West Cork was commenced in 1845, but it was not until 1877 that it reached Skibbereen. The Skibbereen line met the main railway line to Cork at Drimoleague Junction and had an intermediate station at Madore in Caheragh. The length of the railway to Cork City from Skibbereen was 53 miles (85 km) and it took 2 hour 10 minutes to complete that journey. Despite local protests, the West Cork railway network was closed on Good Friday, 31st March 1961.
The second new board, located at Kennedy Bridge, Ilen Street, is dedicated to the Baltimore Railway Extension. Opened in 1893, this extension was built to facilitate the then flourishing fishing industry in Baltimore. The extension was eight miles (13 km) in length. It required significant alterations to Skibbereen Railway Station and major engineer works to construct a bridge over the Ilen River and the railway cutting beyond Bridge Street. The journey time from Skibbereen to Baltimore was 20 minutes. The extension line had stations at Creagh and Baltimore and was extended to Baltimore Harbour in 1917. To coincide with the unveiling of this board the Society also launched a new page on its website highlighting what remains of the Baltimore Extension, called Traces of the Baltimore Railway Extension.
On the night, the formal unveiling of the Baltimore Board was performed by Michael O’Sullivan an ex-railway employee and ex-resident of a railway cottage at Bunlick, on the Baltimore line. Michael’s recollections of his days working on the railway and his fellow railway workers provided us with a wonderful account of those times and enthralled all those present. (For a copy of Michael’s speech click here.) Cllr. Deirdre Kelly, representing Cork County Council, also spoke, as did our society chairperson, John O’Neill. Also present were Timmy and Barry Looney of the West Cork Hotel, who sponsored the Baltimore Extension board and Michael O’Brien of Drinagh Co-operative Limited, who sponsored the Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway board. The work on the information board project was headed by the society’s PRO Niall O’Mahony, who is also behind the research that went into the new website page. The information boards were designed by local graphic designer Sophie Pentek. The display cases for the information boards were erected by Cork County Council. Skibbereen & District Historical Society is very grateful to everyone who helped with this project.
Skibbereen & District Historical Society will continue our work in preserving our local heritage. If you have any information on our railway or other heritage, that you would like to share, please contact the society at secretary@skibbereenhistorical.ie.
