Carrigabrick Bridge and Castle,

Co. Cork

Documenting our Heritage

Carrigabrick Castle is an old castle of the Roches, left in ruins for centuries.

Carrigabrick translates as "The rock of the badger"

Carrigabrick Bridge passing close by to the castle was built in 1872 to the design of James Otway. Carrying the railway line over the River Blackwater, the bridge is supported by five rock faced limestone piers with elliptical arches and made of wrought iron lattice girders.

The railway line ran from Fermoy to Lismore and on to Waterford. The Fermoy to Lismore section was financed almost entirely by the Duke of Devonshire of Lismore Castle, the railway line became known as "Dukes Line". The line connected the Dungaran line with the Great Southern and Western at Fermoy, giving a connection to Cork, by way of Mallow. Traffic was mostly to Waterford Harbour, with people and goods on their way to and from Wales. Tradition says that the carriages were the most uncomfortable in Ireland.

For many Irish people emigrating to America their last Irish railway journey was over the Dungarvan line to Waterford Harbour.

The railway operated until 27th March 1967 when the line between Mallow and Waterford City was completely closed to passenger and freight traffic.