The time when West Cork was served by a network of railway lines, including a line to Skibbereen and Baltimore, and a light railway from Skibbereen to Schull, is frequently and fondly recalled. This summer the nostalgia for our railways was clearly on display when a large crowd attended the walking tour focused on local railways organised by the Skibbereen & District Historical Society for Heritage Week. Earlier in the year the society hosted a talk in Drimoleague by John C. Dwyer on the West Cork Railways and in 2023 we presented a talk on the same topic by Chris Larkin in Skibbereen. Both of these talks were very well attended. These three events are just part of ongoing projects undertaken by our Society to recall and preserve the history of the West Cork railways. Two of these projects had major milestones this week.
(Photo: Anne Minihane)
The first of these was the formal unveiling of the recently refurbished railway mural at the ‘Cutting’ in Skibbereen. This iconic image dates from 1994 and is the work of renowned local artist, the late Russell Barrett. Beloved by locals and visitors alike and known as one of Barrett’s finest works it depicts a train passing through the Cutting on its way to Baltimore. Over time, the weather had taken its toll and after 30 years the mural was in need of some care and attention. The new owners of Baby Hannah’s pub, John O’Driscoll and Ann Coakley, on whose gable the mural is located, were determined that it should be restored. They were aided in their efforts by Russell Barrett’s sister, Angela Muckley. They were also supported by local councillors, including Cllr. Joe Carroll, who at the time was Mayor of County Cork. It quickly became obvious that it would require specialised experts to complete the restoration and this work could not be completed without grant aid. When approached, Skibbereen and District Historical Society were delighted to become involved to co-ordinate the project and to manage the grant application process. Our committee member Adrian Healy took the lead in this work. Funding was secured from the Heritage Council Community Heritage Grant Scheme and from Cork County Council, through their Heritage Grant Scheme and Arts Programme. The Cork County Heritage Officer, Conor Nelligan, and County Conservation Officer, Emma Baume, were very helpful in this process.
With funding in place, a mural restoration specialist, Claudia Koch from Germany, was then contracted to do the work. During July, August and into September, Claudia and her assistant Susanne Keller worked on the restoration and the finished product is much admired. We are delighted that the mural which is an important part of the portfolio of the late Russell Barrett, is much loved by the people of Skibbereen and that poignantly recalls our railway heritage has been saved for all to appreciate. This would not have been possible without the efforts of the current owners of Baby Hannah’s, who on top of everything else provided Claudia and Susanne with free accommodation, the determination of Angela Muckley to see her brother’s work preserved and the generous funding received from the Heritage Council and Cork County Council. Our thanks and congratulations to all those involved.
The second project that was formally unveiled this week is the first of what we intend will be a series of information boards that will recall Skibbereen’s railway heritage. The first board, located by the footpath at the Schull Road roundabout, close to the location of the site of the old railway station, is dedicated to the Schull and Skibbereen Tramway & Light Railway. That light railway operated from 1886 to 1947 and it is often recalled for its slow and unreliable service. On a more positive note, it also was responsible for the construction of the iconic 12-arch viaduct in Ballydehob and for aiding the development of the Mizen Peninsula. (For more information on this railway see https://skibbereenhistorical.ie/skibbereen-to-schull-tramway.) The work on the information board was headed by our secretary Niall O’Mahony and it was designed by local graphic designer Sophie Pentek. It was financed from the society’s own resources, a grant from Cork County Council’s Community Fund and by money we received from Access Credit Union Ltd.
It is our intention to erect two further boards, one dedicated to the main railway line into Skibbereen, which opened in 1877, and the second recalling the Baltimore extension line that was completed in 1893. If you have any information on our local railways or you believe you can help us in our continuing work then please contact our secretary by email at secretary@skibbereenhistorical.ie.