Inniskeen

Inniskeen, Co.Louth, is probably more well known for being the home of poet Patrick Kavenagh, but it was also once a junction located on the former Great Northern Railway's line which ran from Dundalk to Enniskillen, opened in 1851. It was in July 1886 that Inniskeen became the junction for the short six mile branch to Carrickmacross. The branch lost its passenger services in 1947, but goods continued until the end of 1959, two years after passenger traffic on the main line were withdrawn in October 1957. Today, both the up and down platforms at Inniskeen survive, along with the main station building and GNR canopy, which has recently been renovated and extended. All other buildings have been demolished.
This is Inniskeen Station, looking east towards Dundalk, showing the main station building. This view is on the trackbed between the up & down platforms. The 1850s built Dundalk & Enniskillen Railway buillding at Inniskeen, complete with Great Northern Railway canopy. The station has since been fully restored. A view looking west along the island platform at the former Inniskeen Station. Branch trains serving Carrickmacross once terminated on the left. A view looking east towards Dundalk from the island platform at Inniskeen. This platform once boasted a GNR canopy, parts of which are in the foreground.
The cast iron GNR canopy supports adjacent to the island platform at Inniskeen Station. These have since been restored. A pile of rubble marks the site of the one time Inniskeen water tower and signal cabin, which were set back away from the main line adjacent to the track serving the Carrickmacross branch trains. The trackbed looking towards Clones and Enniskillen at Inniskeen. The branch line to Carrickmacross diverged to the south west a few miles west beyond the trees in the distance. Passenger services on the branch ceased in 1947, but it remained open for goods with until the complete closure of the main line in January 1960. The stone built railway overbridge adjacent to the station at Inniskeen. The former railway line cuts right through the small Co.Monaghan villae.