Blog Pilot Walking Tour - Togher Facebook Group Invitation - June 8th 2013

On June 8th 2013 , after much planning , a pilot Walking Tour was organized for specially invited members of the Togher Facebook Group - " I'm From Togher , Boy " ( see links on main homepage ) for the early afternoon at approximately 12 O'Clock. It was decided that an impromptu tour centered on the schools would be the most appropriate topic to discuss. So it was that the Blog began what was probably the first ever purposeful on the ground , in the flesh , look at this educational hub of Togher which has its origins going back over 160 years!


The tour began with a meet and greet of the participants in the car park of Togher Church and a short walk to Togher Cross where the obligatory photo opportunity presented itself. All participants are present in the photo below excluding Eamonn Pearce who took the shot.

Billy O'Brien , Ted O'Riordan , Dan O'Riordan ,

James A O'Brien , Ian Harrington

Rear view photo of the Liberty Stream 

as it approaches Togher Cross

The Liberty Stream was formally introduced to the group , which in the first photograph above is seen to the rear. This flows through the heart of the suburb and will be mentioned in much greater detail in other articles. The group then paid silent tribute to the remains of what had once been part of the Orchard Walls of one of Togher's past Big Houses - Lehenaghmore House - now extinct. This and other portions of the original stone walls are dotted around Palmbury Orchard Estate.

End portion of Lehenagh House Orchard Wall

The group next moved to the site of the original Cottage School , sadly demolished in the early 1990s. Some enterprising souls from the Community Association had previously erected a plaque commemorating the school , with permission from the owner of the present day Garage, which ironically is now closed down. This pays tribute to Togher's first ever national School - the old Cottage School - used between 1850 and 1891.

   Plaque commemorating old Cottage School on 

wall of garage

Despite the intense heat of the day , the group was in fine spirits and moved onward following the course of the Liberty Stream , with many a story of old schooldays being swapped back and forth. They then entered Coffey's Field via a turnstile and embarked down the pedestrian walkway built astride the radically altered Tramore River. The concrete channel was imposed during the late 1980s and denuded the former river of its bed and banks. It should be noted that the Liberty Stream once it passes under the road entrance by Greenwood Estate changes its name to Tramore River. A pleasant stroll was enjoyed by all before setting back towards the old National School.

A pause for thought by the Liberty Stream just 

before the entrance to Greenwood Estate

Overview of the gully which transports the Liberty 

Stream past Greenwood Estate and under the road

Dan O'Riordan in this shot of the gully alongside 

Greenwood Estate and Togher Road

Entrance to Coffey's Field with Togher Flyover 

Bridge in background

The Tramore River is now corralled into a narrow 

concrete channel with the extended footprint 

built on by Griffins Pianos shop

Devoid of its once fast flowing waters 

and natural banks and riverbed

The group congregated around the now Community Centre which had been the main School since 1891 for both boys ( up until 1971 ) and girls ( up to 1961 ) , not only in Togher , but for much of the outlying region. It can be stated quite truthfully that it has been occupied for over 120 years! Since 1972 , it has been home to various action groups and many diverse activities. Two plaques decorate the wall of the Community Centre - in English and Irish - denoting the fact that this substantially refurbished and extended building was originally the Boy's and Girl's National School from 1891 until 1971 , upon which it converted to its present usage , when the new National Schools were constructed in the field adjoining the property.

Plaques commemorating the past and the present

The next piece of street furniture they looked at was the remarkable replica of a children's foot stile. This would have been originally built into the dividing wall between the old National School ( now Community Centre ) and the common ground located next to it which was gifted to the children of Togher as a playground ( boggy land which could not be cultivated ) by Capt. Sarsfield , one of the original landowners of the region. The stones used in its reconstruction are the original item ; only the mortar is new. A lovely plaque adorns the centrepiece located just inside the wall of the Community Centre. This was re-positioned following the knocking of the old wall when a Car Park was created.

Reconstructed original foot stile and plaque 

commemorating same

The group then made a pit stop at the old Girl's National School erected in 1961 , only to be discontinued as an educational establishment a little over a decade later. In the background are two of the three Prefabs erected for boys in 1969 to facilitate overcrowding in the original Boys School. These double Prefabs were part of three structures which housed many boys back then - the other , a single build  - now gone , was originally situated just beyond the concrete structure on the left and tucked into the corner. These Prefabs would have had a 3 step concrete stair leading up to the doorway and into the wooden floor.

Old Girl's National School with Prefabs in background

The tour was then concluded with a quick look at the present day Togher Boys and Girls National Schools. Comment was made about the dividing wall between the playgrounds of the Boys and Girls Schools , scene of many a Confirmation and Communion photograph down the years , until 1983 , when an Assembly Hall and additional classrooms intruded on the space.

Togher Boys National School built 1971

Togher Girls National School built 1971

 Original dividing wall between boys and 
girls playground areas