O’Hanrahan Railway Station is Wexford Town’s single-platform train station, located in Redmond Square near the main shopping centre. The station lies on the railway line between Enniscorthy and Rosslare Strand.
The building also serves as a bus station, with Bus Éireann and Wexford Bus operating several routes from the station.
History
Isambard Kingdom Brunel first proposed a railway line from Dublin to the south-east in 1844. The English engineer, best known for building the Great Western Railway, envisaged a broad-gauge line to Rosslare linked with a new ferry service from Fishguard. By 1864, the railway from Dublin had reached Wicklow and Enniscorthy. The line finally arrived in Wexford Town in 1872, with a temporary terminus at Carcur.
The current station opened on 17 August 1874.
On 8 April 1922, Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins arrived at the station during a visit to Wexford Town, a few months before the start of the Irish Civil War.
The station is named after Michael O’Hanrahan, who was born in New Ross, County Wexford. During the Rising, he fought at Jacob’s Biscuit Factory as third-in-command under Thomas MacDonagh, an Irish Volunteer and Gaelic League member, and John MacBride. O’Hanrahan was executed by firing squad on 4 May 1916 at Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin. In April 1966, the station was renamed in his honour.
Until 1977, Wexford Town had two railway stations. The second station, called Wexford South, was located at the southern end of the line near Trinity Street.
Map
The station stands in Redmond Square, across from Dunnes Stores: