West Cork Model Railway Village.
Did you know that the West Cork Model Railway Village is Ireland’s only model village? This fantastic attraction in the gorgeous town of Clonakilty, is a fully scaled, handmade model of the historic West Cork Railway Line, with fully working miniature trains and the towns that the railway served during the 1940’s.
The idea to create the model village was proposed by the West Cork Heritage Village in 1985, led by architect Mr William Houlihan and the late Mr James Blewitt. Their main aim was to provide a significant educational and visual interest to both locals and tourists alike, as well as bringing a much needed employment scheme to Clonakilty. A dedicated and talented group of workers set to work to make the Model Village what it is today.
The first town completed was Clonakilty and the Model Village was officially opened in 1994 by then President Mary Robinson. Since then, other towns have been added, Bandon, Kinsale, and Dunmanway, and the much loved Road Train began giving tours of Clonakilty in 2004.
The handcrafted model buildings and figurines tell the story of how people lived and worked in days gone by. See the open air market days, castles, weddings, school children playing in their schoolyards, all lovingly created by hand. Follow the model trains as they journey through West Cork, steer the remote control boats in miniature Kinsale Harbour, try the mini diggers, and enjoy the outdoor play area. The Village Cafe serves a delicious selection of teas, coffees and snacks and visitors can browse the wide range of souvenirs in the craft shop.
From humble beginnings, the Model Railway Village has attracted thousands of visitors from all over the world, and it celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024. It is open daily from 11am until 5pm.
For more information please visit www.modelvillage.ie
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