The small village of Attanagh in Co.Laois was served by rail on the Great Southern & Western Railway's Portlaoise to Kilkenny line, opened in 1868. The line however ran parallel to the GSWR's other more populated line to Kilkenny and Waterford which ran via Carlow. The line between Kilkenny and Portlaoise via Abbeyleix finally succumbed to closure in January 1963. Attanagh was largely just a small halt, consisting of one single platform and a siding serving the concrete GSWR built goods shed, the latter is the only structure to remain today. A couple of the granite level crossing gate posts also remain in situ beside the former station.
1 This is the site of Attanagh Station, looking north towards Portlaoise. Only the goods shed on the left remains. The station only ever had one single platform.
2 The site of Attanagh Station, as viewed from the former level crossing. This view is looking south towards Kilkenny.. The station was merely a halt, with a siding serving the goods shed.
3 The early 20th century built Great Southern & Western Railway goods shed at Attanagh, which remains largely intact.
4 The attached wooden canopy on the goods shed also remains. This was the railway side of the shed and a siding was once located here. The shed also retains some of its original wooden doors.
5 Part of the former goods platform which served the adjacent siding at Attanagh Station. The shed was located on the up side of the line.
6 A small brick building possibly of railway origin, located adjacent to the Attanagh Station site.
7 The northen side of the former level crossing at Attanagh Station, looking towards Portloaise. Two of the concrete gate posts remain.
8 Closer view of the remaining gate posts at the former level crossing at Attanagh Station. The posts also retain their rusty metal hooks and bolts.
9 This is a former rail overbridge just north of Attanagh village. Both the former stone built abutments remain.
10 Closer view of one of the former stone abutments located just north of Attanagh village. The metal bridge section has long since been removed.
11 A stone road overbridge is seen north of Attanagh. The farmers have ploughed away a lot of the former trackbed on this section of line.
