On track to claim your very own railway station at this unique Ballinhassig home

It comes with Station Master's House, double-sided platform and the original track bed

Fri, 17 Oct, 2025 - 08:25

Catherine Shanahan Pictures: H-pix

Property 1 Station Master's House
€300,000
Size	90 sq m (969 sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1
BER	Exempt

Property 2 Contemporary Home
€700,000
Size	185 sq m
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	4
BER	Pending

THE rumble of trains echoes through the ages at this one-of-a-kind hillside property outside Ballinhassig village, where the nation’s slow chug to modernity is evinced in the impressive remnants of a bygone railway.

Not only is the mid-1800s stone-built Station Master’s House standing exactly where the station once operated; the railway platform, made of cut stone, also remains intact, while the original track bed can still be traced through the countryside.

Original Station Master's house, next to the rail line

In other words, the ground plan of the station — house, platform and track alignment — is the same today as when the station opened in 1849 under the banner of the Cork & Bandon railway.

Remants of brick built base of the signal cabin are still visible on the platform

For a time, the Ballinhassig to Bandon stretch was the only operational section, with city passengers brought by horse drawn carriage to Ballinhassig Station, until the line was extended from Albert Quay in Cork city c1851. The line ran through Goggins Hill Tunnel, a mid-1800s feat of engineering, that was once the longest tunnel in the Republic of Ireland (828m); it’s accessible from the property featured here, but only by the owners, as there is no public right of way.

Goggins Hill Tunnel is accessible from the property, but is not a right of way

The Chetwynd viaduct, built to carry the rail line over the valley, is less than two miles away.

The Chetwynd viaduct, a magnificent feat of 19th century engineering

To be able to see and feel the legacy of a development that connected communities and influenced how towns grew is not an experience associated with too many properties, and it’s what makes this one unique. It’s surely the dream home for house-hunting railway enthusiasts who love the history of its evolution but don’t necessarily want to be shaken awake in their beds by the roar of passing trains.

Having a piece of railway history preserved within your property — the station name is on the platform, along with a stone seat — isn’t the only singular element of this tantalising package.

The Ballinhassig station name is on the platform

Unlike more traditional house sales, it comes with a couple of buyer options.

There are two different houses to choose from — one historic, the other contemporary — plus there’s the option of buying several additional acres of land. Or you can buy the entire package for a guide in the region of €1.1m-€1.15m.

Lot 1 is the two-bed 90 sq m Station Master’s house on 1.18 acres. Accommodation includes living room, kitchen/dining room, utility and bathroom.

Kitchen/dining in the Station Master's house

This extended property was previously rented out by the current owners and is in reasonable condition. It comes with stable buildings consiting of a tack room and two loose boxes. The guide price is €300,000.

Lot 2 is a 185 sq m three-bed contemporary home, on one acre, which is on the market with a guide price of €700,000. Accommodation at this spacious, light-filled property includes a bright, open hallway with vaulted ceiling, a south-facing front sitting room with impressive TV and sound system, a well-organised kitchen/living room with walnut countertops, striking blue kitchen units and south facing views, a dining room/sunroom, with vaulted ceiling off the kitchen/living room.

Double doors open from this room to a large timber deck which faces down the old rail line.

There’s a home office too, a utility and a detached garage.

Both properties come with the option of an additional 8.5 acres, guiding at €150,000.

Selling agent Brendan Bowe of Bowe Property describes the setting, near Goggins Hill Tunnel, as “magical and evocative”, and adds that the acreage available is excellent for horses. Enquiries have been “very strong”, he says.

“We had 22 parties viewing on day one. We’re seeing interest from first time buyers in the Station Master’s house, a perfect lodge style property, and we’ve had a few families looking at the larger house.

“I’ve also had two business people looking at the entire portfolio. We are really seeing quite a diverse range of buyers,” Mr Bowe adds.

The larger home is a well-designed, well laid-out property, built 20 years ago by the people who bought the Station Master’s house. It has that enjoyable combination of south-facing aspect and rolling countryside views.

Mr Bowe says while the setting is quite open, the site itself is very private, by virtue of how high up it is and its distance from the public road. Ballinhassig village is a four minute drive away and the journey to Bishoptown’s suburbs and to Cork Airport is c10km.

Those looking at the properties may or may not be aware that there are ongoing discussions and proposals to revive sections of the old railway line, such as the Goggins Hill Tunnel, for use as part of a greenway linking Cork city and Kinsale.