Clifden Branch (Midland Great Western Railway)
Introduction
Known as the Connemara Railway this 48 mile long scenic line extended the Midland Great Western Railway's line west from Galway to Clifden. It was fairly short lived, opening in 1895 and closing in 1935. Also known as the Galway and Clifden Branch.
Much of the trackbed will become the Connemara Greenway , a long distance foot/cyclepath.
A portion of line is being reinstated by the Connemara Railway at Maam Cross.
Dates
| / /1895 | Clifden Branch (Midland Great Western Railway) Opened from Galway to Oughterard, the first part of the Connemara Railway. |
| / /1895 | Clifden Branch (Midland Great Western Railway) Extended from Oughterard to Clifden. |
| / /1902 | Clifden Branch (Midland Great Western Railway) Recess Hotel Platform opened to serve the railway company hotel (acquired 1895, rebuilt 1898). |
| / /1911 | Shantalla Branch (Midland Great Western Railway) A 1.5 mile mineral branch is laid from close to Corrib Viaduct on the Clifden Branch (Midland Great Western Railway) to Shantalla for granite and marble quarry workings. |
| / /1922 | Clifden Branch (Midland Great Western Railway) Recess Hotel Platform closed with burning down of the railway owned hotel by Republicans during the Civil War, preventing its use by the Free State Army. |
| 27/04/1935 | Clifden Branch (Midland Great Western Railway) Line closed. In closing the line, the Great Southern Railways particularly cited the increase in road competition. |
Locations along the line
These locations are along the line.
Iarnrod Eireann 03 22342 to Dublin Heuston at Galway station on 21st June 2017. ...David Bosher 22/12/2018
Galway Ceannt Station on 26th May 2019. The Sundays only 11.55 to Limerick Junction awaits departure from Platform 2. ...
Mark Poustie 26/05/2019
Remains of the viaduct that carried the one-time Connemara Railway from Galway to Clifden over the River Corrib at Galway, seen here, looking from ...David Bosher 21/06/2017
Remains of bridge on the north side of the River Corrib at Galway which carried the former Connemara Railway from Galway to Clifden across the river, ...David Bosher 21/06/2017
This single platform halt was opened for the Midland Great Western Railway Recess Hotel. The hotel was located in a remote, wild and beautiful area of moorland, lough and mountain.
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This station was around a mile west of the, from 1895, Midland Great Western Railway Recess Hotel. The hotel was better served by Recess Hotel Platform which opened in 1902.
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Ballynahinch station, on the Galway to Clifden Branch, seen on 8th March 2020. The entrance to the station house, now restored as a private home. The ...Mark Poustie 08/03/2020
Ballynahinch Station has been tastefully restored as a private house with railway signage apparent. The station closed with the rest of the line to ...Mark Poustie 08/03/2020
Ballynahinch Viaduct, just west of Ballynahinch Station, the first station on the branch after Clifden. The viaduct is being restored as part of the ...Mark Poustie 08/03/2020
This was the single platform terminus of the Connamara Railway from Galway. The platform and main station building were on the north side of looped sidings. Opposite the platform was the two road engine shed. The goods shed was at the east end of the station, north side of the lines. Approach...
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Clifden Station in March 2020, with its Water Tower that has now been converted into a cafe. The whole station area has been redeveloped and all ...Mark Poustie 07/03/2020
Clifden Station looking west. The Galway to Clifden Branch (sometimes called the Connemara Railway) was built as a light railway but to standard Irish ...Mark Poustie 07/03/2020
Clifden Station looking east along the platform and showing the signal box-style upper floor added to the station as a bar - it is now part of the ...Mark Poustie 07/03/2020
Former Clifden engine shed, now the Clifden Station House Museum, on 7th March 2020. The tracks are a nice addition, although not original, and were ...Mark Poustie 06/09/2020
