West Cork Model Railway Village — Attraction in West Cork

This is a must see if you are around clonakilty! We enjoyed it here so much. Such attention to detail. Highly recommend!! -2019

I had previously given this place five stars based on a visit 3 years ago. However we visited again a few weeks ago for the Polar Express. Some of the actors/ attractions were hit and miss but you wouldn't mind too much because of the Christmas spirit and all. We accidentally left my sons backback behind. It had fallen off the stroller. We went as far as the local town for a bite to eat and it was quite late when we realised we were missing it. We had sat down and ordered and were waiting on food (my son was very hungry at this stage after the whole railway village) I tried to find some of his bits and that's when I noticed we were missing the backback. I rang the Model railway village and explained what I thought must have happened. The lady I was speaking to said yeah they had it there and to come back and get it because they were closing in 30 mins and not open for the next (I think she said) three days. I explained my son was hungry and we had ordered food so I could leave without feeding him and asked if we didn't make it on time could they post it home to us (much too far of a drive to do in one day for the sake of a backpack). She said "just get here in the next 30 mins". I again explained the situation, hungry kid + too long of a drive to come back another day if we don't make it in 30 mins and I asked her to send it to us. I have worked in hospitality and tourism my entire life, sending lost/forgotten items has never been an issue. She was so rude and unrelenting my partner had to drive back to get it while I made sure my son got fed only for my partner to come back to cold food. I didn't get her name but she is by far the rudest person I have met all year. And based on the fact she answered the phone I'd be inclined to believe she is permanent staff and not just for the polar express. She would make me rethink any further visits i had planned. She put a damper on an otherwise lovely...

What is a Model Village? To be honest I had no idea before we went in there. Some small houses I thought? Maybe some little plastic people dotted around them? It turned out to be much larger and much more engaging than I'd imagined.

Through the main building we went then outside to discover the model villages. They have built a model of four of West Cork's more famous towns. Kinsale, Bandon, Dunmanway and of course Clonakilty. In each case there are some of the more famous buildings, along with miniatures of the high streets and main squares. The detail they have put in is really quite impressive. Do check out the photos, you'll have to look twice to see if it's a miniature or the real thing.

But I'm there with a small child, and being impressed with the accuracy of the replications of buildings he's never seen is unlikely to hold his imagination for long. That's where the big guns come out - the model...

Aww, this is truly something to be proud of! The work that has gone into this little village is breathtaking. The attention to detail is amazing and the little trains chugging along are adorable!

There are little boats you can control if you can pop a euro into the slot. The kids love them! And also a little viewfinder where you can get breathtaking closeups of the bay if you pop a euro into it too!

There's a little gift shop and a place to get refreshments inside. The staff are so friendly and a joy to talk to. But the real winner is Liam and his little train that takes you on a short journey around Clonakilty.

If you're lucky enough to book in advance, you can enjoy your spin in a carraige as the train hoots and chugs through the town. You are encouraged to wave to all the town folk of Clonakilty, and in all fairness, they all waved back! Wonderful community...