For the first time in the history of the Irish State (excluding the LUAS), we have a railway line being rebuilt and reopened. The 6 mile line from Glounthaune (formerly Cobh Junction) to Midleton has been cleared of track in preparation for the laying of a new line between the two points, a development which will restore passenger rail services to Midleton for the first time in over 45 years.
I welcome this development and recognise the significance of what is being done, which is why, unlike the KRP, I did not lodge an objection to this plan. However, others did. The house on the left here was built in the period since the ending of all regular traffic on the line and its owners felt that because Cork County Council had given them permission to build alongside the line, this somehow "closed" the railway line to Youghal.
Notwithstanding IR's own effective "closure" of the line, by letting it become overgrown and by removing 3 miles of track between Killeagh and Youghal, the line was never closed and certainly never abandoned. Therefore, the owners of this house were on a hiding to nothing and playing the "Thick Paddy" card, that constitutes so much of NIMBYism in this country, got them nowhere. Beyond the house, there is a business which had also appropriated part of the "open" railway and had to move back behind their own lines.
It is interesting to note that whilst the pre existing track is gone from the rest of the Glounthaune - Midleton line, IR have made sure that there is track up to and past the legal boundaries of these two properties. Can I take it that this is a deliberate holding measure lest a spurious claim of effective abandonment is made? Answers from Barry Kenny appreciated.
Last modified: 21st September 2008