Lismore

Lismore, Co.Waterford, was first served by rail when the independent Fermoy & Lismore Railway connected the town with that of the already existing Great Southern & Western's built line from Mallow to Fermoy in September 1872. The F&LR was later taken over by the GSWR in the 1880s. The station at Lismore is probably one of the most architecturally ornate to have been built in Ireland, the design having been greatly influenced by the Duke of Devonshire who resided at the nearby famous Lismore Castle. The two storey stone built station building was located on a single platform, to which at its western end was covered by an overall roof spanning both the through line, loop and goods siding across to the equally ornate goods shed. At the western end of the platform was the wooden GSWR signal cabin, and behind this was the F&LR engine shed and turntable, which had fallen into disused by the 1950s. The overall roof was removed by the Great Southern Railway in 1930s, but the section attached to the goods shed was retained.

Lismore Station was also the terminus of the separate Waterford, Dungarvan & Lismore Railway, who had opened their line between Lismore and Waterford in 1878, eventually forming the Mallow to Waterford line. The WD&LR had their own single platform station east of the larger F&LR one, though it was used for only 10 years. The scenic Mallow to Waterford line was closed in 1967, however the ornate F&LR station still survives in a remarkably well preserved condition, having been a heritage centre for some years. The goods shed is also equally intact. The engine shed has been demolished however, and the GSWR signal cabin is long gone. No trace of the WD&LR station remains, except for the adjacent station masters house.
The 1872 built Lismore Station, on the closed Mallow to Waterford line, is one of the most ornate to have been built in Ireland, heavily influenced by the Duke of Devonshire, resident at the nearby famous castle at Lismore. Although Lismore Station only had one platform, the F&LR built an short overall roof at its western end, the retaining wall of which is visible to left of the main building. Side on view of the attractive station at Lismore. To reduce costs the Great Southern Railway removed the overall roof in the 1930s, however the station still retains much of ironwork. Some of the numerous fine ornate stone work to be found at this unique station in Lismore. The then Duke of Devonshire insisted on such quality for the station's design.
Close up view of one of the ornate cast iron veranda supports at the 1872 built Lismore Station. The approach to the impressive 1872 built Lismore Station. The station is located on the south side of the town. On the single platform at Lismore Station, looking east towards Waterford. The goods yard ran the length of the station on the down side to the right. Additonal goods stores can also be seen. The equally ornate stone built goods shed at Lismore, located on the down side of the station. This is one of the few, if any, goods shed to feature an additional ornate covering. It once formed part of the overall roof.
View of the western end of the goods shed at Lismore Station, with the goods office visible on the right. It should be noted the track running into the shed was removed and bricked up even in railway days. It is funny to think that this part of the ornate roof was only ever graced by mundane goods wagons, right until the line's closure in 1967. The cast iron roof supports beneath the covering attached to the goods shed at Lismore Station. Another example of some fine stone work at Lismore; the crest of the Duke & Devonshire was carved into stone on the side of pillar supporting the covering at the goods shed.
Additional goods stores were built at the eastern end of the yard at Lismore Station also, though these do not have any architecturel features worth noting. This is the eastern end of Lismore Station, where the trackbed has been covered over. The edging of the single platform is on the right. he wooden GSWR built signal cabin at Lismore was once located just beyond the platform at the west end of the station. It was removed after closure for use on a farm near Youghal, its current condition is unknown. At the west end of Lismore Station, on the up side, was the Fermoy & Lismore Railway built engine shed, also an ornate design. Today the structure has been cut back significantly.
Only the rear end of the one time F&LR engine shed survives, the rest of the structure having been demolished. The shed also dated from 1872. This was the site of the second station at Lismore, located just east of the present F&LR one. This was the terminus of the Waterford, Dungarvan & Lismore Railway, whose station consisted just of basic single platform. Only the station masters house survives on the left. Looking the opposite way, the Fermoy & Lismore Station can just be seen high above on the remaining section of the embankment. The rail overbridge across the road here was removed after closure in 1967. A characteristic of Lismore Station are these high pillars at either end of the station retaining wall, built to resemble to the nearby Lismore Castle
On the platform at Lismore Station is an original Great Southern & Western Railway mile post, measured from Mallow.