Shillelagh_branch_line
Shillelagh branch line
Irish rail line
The Shillelagh branch line was a branch line of some 16.5 miles (26.6 km) to Shillelagh, County Wicklow opened by the Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford Railway (DW&WR) in 1865.[1] It joined the Dublin–Rosslare railway line at Woodenbridge halt.[2]
The single track line closely followed the course of the Aughrim River to Aughrim and then the Derry River to Shillelagh. A short spur from Aughrim served the Aughrim Flour Mills.[3]
Passenger services ended in 1944 due to coal shortages which became critical during The Emergency, and though there were hopes of it re-opening this never happened.[1] However, the line remained open for goods as far as Aughrim until 1952, serving Forgarty's Flour Mills. The line was officially closed and lifted the following year.[4]
A walking trail was developed in 2005 on a 2.7km section of the old alignment near Tinahely.[5]