Network built upon a rich heritage

Peter Levy recalls the colourful history of the railway lines which ran through East Cork from 1854 to 1987.

IN England it was known as “railway mania”, an explosion of railway projects in the mid-19th century which saw lines constructed all over the country, often on parallel and competing routes.

In Ireland, then as now, the money wasn’t flowing so freely, but it was quickly realised that if your town didn’t have a railway connection it would be left behind economically.