Irish Railway Walks
East Cork region

Railway Walk from Killeagh to Youghal
The railway line from Cork City to the town of Youghal, 42 km to the east, was completed in 1860. There were also stations at Carrigtwohill, Midleton, Mogeely and Killeagh serving the east Cork region and initially there were plans to extend the railway all the way to Waterford, but this hope was never realised and Youghal became the terminus of the line. The important harbour of Cobh was connected to the railway via a branch line, located between Cork and Carrigtwohill, built in 1862. The Youghal line was initially operated by the independent Cork and Youghal Railway Company (C&YR) but was soon purchased by the much larger Great Southem and Western Railway (GS&WR). The line was integrated into their network and eventually the service to Youghal left Cork from Glanmire Road terminus, now known as Kent station. A preserved GS&WR locomotive, dating from 1848, is still exhibited in the concourse of Kent station. Passenger services to Youghal ceased in 1963, though goods were carried for some years after, but the line to Cobh is still operational for both passengers and freight. Despite the fact that some sections of track at the eastern end of the line have already been lifted, the Youghal line still awaits an official abandonment order from Irish Rail. There has also been some talk in recent years of restoring a commuter service to Midleton.
While part of the line has remained clear, other sections are very heavily overgrown and impenetrable, and so I have selected a single, short walk suitable for a day's ramble. It is from a point east of the small town of Killeagh to the station building at Youghal. Killeagh is well served by buses, lying as it does on the main road from Cork to Youghal (N25). The town of Youghal is similar to Bandon; both date from the Munster plantation era, a heritage which is plainly evident in their respective municipal architectures.
Map: OS (ROI), Sheet 25 (half-inch series).

Distance: 7.5 km.
Time: 2.5 hours.
Start: 3 km east of the town af Killeagh.
Finish: Youghal station.
Description: A short walk in the flat country of east Cork, ending at the seaside town of Youghal.

The station at Killeagh is surprisingly large and, although empty, remains in a quite good condition. However, beyond the station the track has reverted to an almost jungle-like condition and is not navigable, thus a slight detour is required to pick up the track at a suitable point. Head towards Youghal and when you reach the junction about 3km outside Killeagh, take the road on the right. A short distance down this road there is a bridge over the railway and you can join the track at this point. Rails and sleepers are still present on the track, although most of the sleepers are decayed and rotten. The track lies to the south of the main road and a long ridge of low hills. It runs level between thick clay walls which have dense bramble and hawthorn hedges on top, before making its way through the rich, fertile countryside of east Cork. When I walked the line, there was an intense hum of bees and other insects and I even managed to photograph a baby fox on the track. The trail carries on under a foot bridge, mostly clear of any obstructions except for the occa sional gorse bush. Beyond the bridge the rails and sleepers have been removed but the walk continues on crisp ballast.

Presently views open up of the surrounding countryside as the side hedgerows disappear and stretches of the track lead on to raised embankments. Two bridges are passed, under and over respectively, and the road to Ballymacoda is crossed; the discarded crossing gates can be seen hidden in the grass. The approach to Youghal is almost reminiscent of the prairie country of the Russian steppes or the midwestern United States; the track runs perfectly straight and level on a low embankment through a swamp where the tall marsh grass stretches out in all directions. The tower on Capel Island in Youghal Bay can be seen to the south. At the outskirts of the town, you encounter caravan parks and the rails and sleepers reappear on the track bed as you travel under the last road bridge. The trail curves around a pitch and putt course and glides into Youghal station behind some seaside terraced housing. There is a large sidings yard and the station house, a long, red-brick building in the Romanesque-style which, although boarded up, still stands on its island platform. The station is right beside the large beach and fun fair at Youghal which must have made it very popular with day excursionists from Cork. The town itself is further around the headland on the Blackwater estuary. It was once an important port but later settled for being a coastal resort; the rows of large tenraced houses with big bay windows overlooking the sea certainly retain the atmosphere of an Edwardian seaside getaway.