A MAJORITY of councillors in Kerry have voted not to include on the list of protected buildings the last remaining railway building on the now closed Farranfore to Valentia line, despite passionate pleas from planners and fellow councillors that too much railway history was being lost.
Director of planning Tom Sheehy said there were enormous ties to the old Valentia line, closed in the 1960s.
High-quality materials were used in the railway station building near Castlemaine, including brick, stone and cast iron, much of the building was intact and there was a good chance of getting grants to renovate it.
The single-storey, rubble stone-built station included the remnants of a stone-fronted platform to the side.
An appraisal commissioned by the council strongly recommended it be included in the county's record of protected structures because of "its special architectural, historical and social interest".
"This is privately owned. The community does not own it. The railway line is long gone. There is no right of way into it. The owner will not repair it because it is not worth repairing," Cllr Michael O'Shea said.
He was opposed by Independent councillor Michael Gleeson who said one of the great achievements of the 19th century had been the railway line, and too many buildings along existing lines had been left to appear derelict and too many were being demolished.