You can walk or cycle the 23 km Midleton to Youghal Greenway without meeting a car, and Mogeely has a signed trailhead along it. The greenway is the reason most visitors now turn off the busy N25 into this quiet corner of east County Cork; the rest of the time it goes about its business as a working dairy parish in the limestone vale of Imokilly.
Walking and cycling the greenway
The Midleton to Youghal Greenway follows the line of the old Cork–Youghal railway and runs directly from Midleton station. From Mogeely it is 8 km west to Midleton and 5 km east to Killeagh, before the route continues to Youghal. It opened in two stages, the first section from Midleton to Mogeely in March 2024 and the rest on to Youghal that December. The path is paved and lined with young trees.
Use the designated trailhead parking. The official route guide lists accessible spaces and a water fountain at Mogeely. Follow signs at road crossings, give other users room and keep dogs on a short lead.
The castle, and what is actually there
Mogeely had a castle, built around 1460–1464 by the Earls of Desmond and held from the 1580s by the Pine family. Sources disagree on what, if anything, survives, and there is no visitor access to the site, so do not go looking for it. The greenway is the draw; the castle is a footnote.
A working dairy village
Mogeely’s real life is agricultural. The Dairygold Co-Operative Society runs cheese-processing plants here; there are no public tours, but their presence tells you what the village is about.
Practical information
Getting there – Mogeely is easiest by car on the N25 between Cork City and Waterford. By train, alight at Midleton station and join the greenway directly there.
Parking and access – use the signed Mogeely Greenway trailhead car park. There is no visitor access to the castle site.
Facilities – the official route guide lists a water fountain at Mogeely. Check the greenway guide for other facilities along the route, and carry your own water if you are riding the full length.
Best time to visit – late spring and early summer for the countryside, autumn for the colour along the old railway line.