Clonakilty Junction

Clonakilty Junction, Co.Cork, was located on the former Cork Bandon & South Coast Railway's main line from Cork to Bantry. The station at Clonakilty Jct was originally opened as 'Gaggin' by the West Cork Railway in June 1886, however it acquired its latter name when the 9 mile branch line to Clonakilty was opened in August of that year. The station at Clonakilty Jct was one of the most attractive on the West Cork lines, consisting of three platforms, the latter two been an island on which the station building and signal cabin were sited. At the west end the station was a footbridge which connected the platforms to the adjacent station masters house and forecourt. Following the closure of the West Cork lines by CIE in March 1961, the station buildings were demolished to make way for the re-aligned N71 road, and today only the station masters house and up platform survive.
This is the site of the one time very attractive Clonakilty Jct Station, which once had three platforms, of which only the up side remains. This view is looking west towards Bantry, with the overgrown up platform visible to the right of N71 road. A view of the site of Clonakilty Jct, looking east towards Cork from what was the island platform. After closure in March 1961, the N71 road was realigned through the station site, obliterating much of the station buildings. This is the overgrown up platform at the former Clonakilty Jct. A new but vintage style CIE bilingual name board has been reinstated on the platform. The up and down platforms, the latter which was the island were linked by a footbridge. Although the name board at Clonakilty Jct is an attractive replica of the original, the concrete posts which hold the board up do in fact date from when the station was open.
This was the western end of Clonakilty Jct Station, looking towards Bantry, where the one time station building, signal cabin and footbridge were sited. Today only the station masters house visible to the left remains. This is the original station masters house at Clonakilty Jct, now a private residence. The name board seen here is an original, once located on the island platform. The steps which led down from the original N71 road to the platforms at the former Clonakilty Jct Station. At the west end of Clonakilty Jct there was an overbridge sited here, carrying a small road across the line. After closure in 1961, the bridge was demolished when the N71 was realigned along the former trackbed.
On the right is the original approach to the road overbridge once located at Clonakilty Jct. The road now forms part of driveway leading to a private house. After the bridge was demolished the road was realigned to its present formation to join the N71 at the former station site, visible in the distance. A view looking across the former railway trackbed at Clonakilty Jct from what was the overbridge at the north end of the station. Motorists now speed by unaware of the busy railway activity that once occured here. A small road overbridge, located on the section of former main line between Clonakilty Jct and Desert stations. This type of bridge construction can be found at many locations on the west Cork lines.