Irish Rail has bought back the station house and grounds at Adares former train station for 2 million to accommodate a temporary station for the Ryder Cup, prompting a rail advocacy group to question spending public funds on a temporary platform rather than a longer-term solution. According to the Property Price Register, the station was sold for 2 million at the end of last year, after being sold in 2013 for just 216,121. The former station house was being used as a provate residents The train station is on the edge of the village and under 2km from Adare Manor in County Limerick, which is to host the 46th Ryder Cup from September 13th to 19th of 2027. A shuttle train service is planned to run from Limerick Junction to Adare, with passengers making their way to that station using normal services. IMAGE: Main image: A crop of a photo taken in 1965 from the ODea Photograph Collection held by the National Library of Ireland; Image above: A more recent image of the front of the station house (still from Irish Rail persintaion).Adare station is on the Limerick to Foynes railway line, which is being restored as a freight railway. It is expected that passenger services may also be restored on the line, but permanent works for this, including platforms and car parks, are currently not funded. But the company indicated today that the station could be used again in the future.Mark Gleeson, a spokesperson for Rail Users Ireland, a group that advocates for passengers, said: We remain concerned that fleet will be removed from service elsewhere to enable these services, and this is unacceptable to long-suffering commuters.We estimate that 14 intercity carriages would be needed. While fleet is available on weekends, Irish Rail today is routinely unable to operate trains at expected lengths during the week, he said. He added: While providing service for the Ryder Cup, it should not come with an impact on public service obligation services, and it is disappointing that such an amount of funding can be found for a 7-day once-off event, the platform is temporary and provides no long-term value.Irish Rail said that it is likely that the Ryder Cup special services will operate outside of regular timetable hours when existing trains are available.A spokesperson for Irish Rail said: As part of the reinstatement of the Limerick to Foynes Freight Line, Adare Station House and surrounding lands were purchased from project funds to enable completion of the current project and to facilitate any potential future Iarnrd ireann requirements at the location.The project is tasked with building a temporary station for rail services for the Ryder Cup in September 2027. At this time, there are no plans for a permanent passenger station at Adare, but the temporary station will not preclude the construction of a permanent station in the future should the decision be made to advance with such a development, the spokesperson said.Irish Rail said that the construction on the temporary station is due to commence very soon, with completion expected in late 2026/early 2027.A spokesperson for the State-owned railway company added: Provision of special services for large events is part of Iarnrd ireanns normal operations. Iarnrd ireann are working closely with the National Transport Authority on the overall delivery of a public transport plan for the Ryder Cup. It is likely that the Ryder Cup special services will operate outside of regular timetable hours and so will utilise existing fleet.IMAGE: A concept image of the temporary platform, which is to be built soon. Irish Rail said that it will comply with the normal accessibility and safety requirements of normal platforms.