Achill Sound Railway Station

Detached two-bay single-storey railway station with half-dormer attic, built 1893-4; opened 1895, on an L-shaped plan with single-bay (single-bay deep) full-height return (south); three-bay single-storey wing (east). Occupied, 1901; 1911. Closed, 1934. Reopened, 1936. Closed, 1937. Renovated, ----. Now disused. Replacement pitched artificial slate roof on an L-shaped plan; replacement pitched artificial slate roof (wing), clay ridge tiles, rounded coping to gables on kneelers with red brick Running bond chimney stacks to apexes having corbelled stepped capping supporting terracotta pots, paired red brick Running bond central chimney stacks (wing) having corbelled stepped capping supporting terracotta pots, and uPVC rainwater goods on timber eaves boards. Rendered, ruled and lined walls with bull nose-detailed red brick quoins to corners. Paired camber-headed window openings (east) with single camber-headed window openings (west), drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and red brick block-and-start surrounds framing replacement uPVC casement windows replacing two-over-two timber sash windows. Camber-headed central door opening (wing) with concealed dressings framing timber panelled double doors having overlight. Camber-headed flanking window openings with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing two-over-two timber sash windows. Paired camber-headed window openings with drag edged dragged cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement uPVC casement windows replacing two-over-two timber sash windows. Set in unkempt grounds.

A railway station identified as an important component of the late nineteenth-century built heritage of Contae Mhaigh Eo [County Mayo] on account of the connections with the extension of the Mayo Branch of the Midland Great western Railway (MGWR) line opened (1895) by the Achill Extension Railway (AER) Company. Having been reasonably well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with quantities of the original fabric, both to the exterior and to the interior: however, the introduction of replacement fittings to most of the openings has not had a beneficial impact on the character or integrity of a railway station forming part of a self-contained group alongside an opposing goods shed (see 31305511) and nearby water tower (see 31305512) with the resulting ensemble making a pleasing, if increasingly forlorn visual statement overlooking Gob an Choire [Achill Sound]. NOTE: Occupied (1901) by Robert John Boag (1872-1905), 'Railway Station Master' (NA 1901); and (1911) by Richard Halligan (1863-1920), 'Station Master' (NA 1911).