3rd Fieldwork Trip - October 20th 2013

On Sunday October 20th , Billy O'Brien and Eamonn Pearse paid a pre - arranged visit to perhaps one of the most important people on their must - see list. Wife of Author Tom O'Keeffe ( Togher , A Brief History and Togher Past And Present ) - Kathleen O'Keeffe. The team entered her abode with trepidation and left with excitation. In the interim , they were treated very kindly by their host.

Billy O'Brien and Kathleen O'Keeffe

It was originally envisaged that an hour would be given over to the visit with the remainder of the day going towards two locations - Garrane Darragh House ( which would have necessitated a cross field sojourn ) and a fight with severe overgrowth to attain a photo of the remains of the " Tanning Cottage " off Forge Hill. However as soon as the photo albums were glimpsed , it quickly became apparent to the visitors that everything else was going to take a back seat for the forseeable future. Below are just a few of the fantastic images from the Kathleen O'Keeffe Collection which are reproduced here with permission.

Kathleen O'Keeffe centre back row with fellow 

students of Togher Girls National School 

somewhere on Lehenaghmore Hill mid 1960s

Feirm Bawn in its heyday circa 1996

Locals posing by wall of Liberty Stream circa 1968

Field in background would become new 

Togher National Schools in 1971

Old Togher National School early 1960s

Sweetshop in green to right of building

New straight road ( Togher Road near Deanrock Bar ) 

under construction while old Railway Bridge

 is being demolished circa 1976

Tracks from Cork Macroom Direct Railway 

through Togher being lifted circa 1955

School outing aboard Irish Omnibus Company 1930s

Sarsfield Lodge near Togher Cross circa 1940s

Unknown Togher youths 

circa 1920s

The Sarsfields circa 1946 with Maurice Sexton

2nd Fieldwork Trip - October 12th 2013

On October 12th , Billy O'Brien and Eamonn Pearse undertook a second Fieldwork Trip - this time though the event and places to visit were planned in advance. So it was with a 3 hour window for light , that the team headed over the hills and far away. The first objective was a place that many would not even consider , given that it really doesn't exist any more - Doughcloyne House off  Spur Hill. This was listed in OSi maps even in the 19th Century as being in ruins and is not to be confused with another two old houses that also used the name in the area. All that remains of the structure are its boundary walls which follow the road. It is situated directly across from  Spur Hill Farm ( shown below ).

Spur Hill Farm wall signage ( a.k.a. Chetwynd House )

The following 3 photographs give a good indication of the condition of the remains which all front onto the road. Nature has certainly taken its toll on much of that which survives. The actual entrance into the house is shown in the first shot which now serves as a gateway to a grazing field. Originally the doorway to the structure would have been a little in and to the left of the rounded corner wall.

First Doughcloyne House remains - original entrance

First Doughcloyne House - Blocked up Gate 

Entrance to Orchard

First Doughcloyne House - dilapidated Wall

Their next stop was in off the roadside and down to the left side of Doughcloyne Bridge , opposite of the location of St Bart's Well. The trek down is not for the faint hearted and only for the sure footed. The reason for journeying here was to visit the Reservoir located up above Eagle Valley Estate which also gives a commanding view of much of Togher. This structure which supplies water to much of the surrounding region was built back in the 1970s and was initially painted white. Weathering has all but extinguished its once bright coat.

Togher Reservoir above Eagle Valley Estate

Views of Eagle Valley Estate and the 

SRR Flyover in the distance

Back on the road once more , the Team made its way to Sarsfield House ( former Doughcloyne House ) located just off the Sarsfield Road. Now converted to various offices it has since the 1970s been known as the " White House " to locals. Of particular interest was the stained glass window sporting the Family Crest of the long departed landlords.

Front view of the former Sarsfield House

Oblique view showing ancient tree all but denuded

Reverse exterior view of stained glass 

window showing Sarsfield Coat of Arms

Next on their whistlestop tour de force was the famed Wella! Acting on information gained from locals by Eamonn Pearse they traced this " lost gem " to the banks of the Tramore River just below the footbridge before Pouladuff Bridge. Even though the outpouring of its hallowed waters now reside outside the study areas Territory , its source still lies inside the Townland of Freagh & Vicars Acre , marking it as Togher's own. During construction of the South Ring Road , the well was capped and piped into the Tramore River. It extrudes from a concrete base at the bank side of the stream which is all but hidden from the casual daytripper. To view it , you would normally have to get your feet wet! However , some enterprising soul had deposited a wooden pallet in the shallow course of the stream to enable a leisurely looksee. It has been renamed as All Saint's Well and chiseled to that effect. Well worth a look - just remember to bring wellies! The team also took time out to have a look at the wall plaque of the new Pouladuff Bridge erected in 1995 which serves as a physical boundary between Togher and Ballyphehane. The bridge is located just metres back from the new location of the Wella.

The Wella - alive and well in its new location

A birds eye view of the famous Wella

Wall plaque of the new Pouladuff Bridge

As they were in the general area , they made a brief stopoff to pay silent tribute to a bastion of times gone by. The News Brothers was a redistribution centre for imported comics and newspapers from the U.K. and delivered to newsagents the length and breath of the country. Sadly now abandoned , it is apparently on the market looking for a potential buyer.

News Brothers in Togher - comics and 

newspapers distributors of old

Tired but never flagging , the team next made its way back up Lehenaghmore to capture some roadside images of the new Lehenaghmore Park grounds. This project has been possible through the dedication and hard work of the Togher Community Association. Although incomplete and searching for major funding , it certainly looks very impressive.

Left side front wall entrance of Lehenaghmore Park - 

Togher Community Association signage

Right side front wall entrance of Lehenaghmore Park

Panoramic view of the entrance to the new Sports Ground

As the light was now beginning to fade , it was decided to wrap things up with a quick visit to one of the most iconic natural features of Togher. So it was that the team arrived finally at the Glasheen Stream. Looking very ominous in the twilight with its gated banks and metal pipes protruding Chernobyl - like from its sides , this eerie image was softened by a gathering of ducks who swam silently in its placid waters. An end to a day full of memories , which hopefully will never be forgotten.

Scanning Of Archives - Togher Boys National School - Oct 4th 2013

Following on from the meeting with the Principal of Togher Boys N.S. , Billy O'Brien and Eamonn Pearse arrived at the School on a dark Winter's night on Friday October 4th at 7 pm. The school was hosting the Returning Officers for the Seanad Referendum and prior permission had been granted to use the Canteen to scan any available archives. The team was met by the ever helpful Pat - Schools Caretaker. One of the first things to catch their eye was a framed photograph of the Old Cottage School taken before demolition. It was definitely a euphoric moment as this was the last captured image ever taken of the building. This excited them no end and set the mood for the rest of the night.

 Photograph taken circa 1992 of Old Cottage

 School prior to demolition

The team quickly busied ourselves setting up the scanning equipment and began the arduous task of trawling through the old School Registers. Of course , they felt a natural bias towards their own particular entries and a sense of elation was felt when they eventually discovered them! Legalities prevent the Blog from showing most of the entries except for their own. This is a project to which they will certainly return in the future , if only to completely digitize what is available for easier study in the coming years. A lot of the Registers are very old and crumbling in places. Care was taken whilst handling them so as to guard against any possible damage.

School Register which goes up to 1891.

This is from the Old Cottage School!

Aside from old Roll Books and Registers they unearthed some retro film and slides which would have been used as educational aids back in the early to mid 1970s. These were pure gold opening up a World few have seen for nearly 40 years! While much work still needs to be done in order to preserve them in digital format , the following gives some account of these little nuggets of wisdom from the past.

Original Education Board Film Reels from the 1970s

Irish Language lesson film 3rd Class 1976

Reeling in the years with this slide!

They spent a few hours altogether roaming the corridors of time , scanning and photographing much material which the blog will showcase at a later date. Suffice it to say , many thanks to Jack Durkin and Pat for their help and enthusiasm in pandering to the groups needs and providing them with the facilities to study their Archives. They are forever in their debt. This is just the beginning!

1st Fieldwork Trip - September 29th 2013

Following on from the Blog's first Official Open Day , the Blog met with specially invited members of the Togher Facebook page at the  Togher Community Centre on September 29th 2013 for an ad hoc meeting before setting off on the first impromptu Fieldwork Trip. 

Fergal Dennehy was on hand to admit the group to the premises and was then off on business. Scanning equipment was quickly set up and Eamonn Pearse busied himself with the task of digitizing several photographs and parts of books. Mary O'Riordan touched on several items of interest which had been raised on the Facebook forum and ideas and quips were swapped back and forth. A day with something new learned , is never a wasted day.

Mary O'Riordan consulting the " Land 

Of The Finest Drop " by Richard Henchion

Ted O'Riordan musing over 

" 21 Years Of Togher News "

Dan O'Riordan sorting through potential 

scanning material for the Archives

Eamonn Pearse transferring the printed memories

 onto hard drive for future study

Billy O'Brien pointing to the first ever 

aerial photo of Togher taken circa 1944

Wrapping things up , the group then set out on their journey with a view to capturing some of the sites and sights of olde Togher. Dan and Ted accompanied Billy and Eamonn on the first part of the trip before departing , whilst the remaining duo took to the fields , quite literally!

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

The first port of call was Feirm Bawn or Whites Farm on the right junction road up from Togher Cross. This sadly now dilapidated building is apparently condemned so they gingerly intruded to capture its image before it finally succumbs to the wrecking ball. To the left of the building there were originally three workman's huts , reputedly built in the 17th Century but long since gone. Initially Feirm Bawn was two separate cottages which were subsequently joined together with a second story added on , however still retaining two separate front door entrances.  This gave it a slightly spooky appearance. One of the last residents was an Englishwoman - " Lady " Harris who returned to the U.K. in the 1960s. It finally was abandoned in the early 2000's and has since been subject to various forms of vandalism including fire. The site is now closed off with many warning signs in place.

View of Feirm Bawn in the grounds

Close up view of the corbelled entrance and old 

chimney stacks , built of natural stone and brick

Original stone driveway now all but reclaimed by 

nature , as seen coming in off the main road , 

with Society Photographer Eamonn Pearse busy in

the background covering all the angles

One of the teams next stops was the search for the famed St Bartholomew's Well. This Well was renowned in times past for its healing powers and when the Cork Bandon Railway Company laid down their tracks back in the early 19th Century during the height of the Famine and completed it in 1851 , the Well was a casualty of the new line. The tracks ran right past it , so in order to prevent flooding of the line by its seeping waters , it was sealed off with rocks. It is currently located just out from the Doughcloyne Railway Bridge down from Philippine House ( Fellowship ) where legend has it , a giant Oak tree grew in protest from its rocky prison.

Giant Oak Tree to the left of Doughcloyne Railway 

Bridge as viewed from Fellowship House direction

Doughcloyne Railway Bridge , site of St Bart's Well

Billy O'Brien also took the time to video a stunning natural sandstone formation just before the Well. It has quite weird looking trees reminiscent of mangroves sprouting from its rock-face with strange twisted roots. The Blog's first foray into the world of video archiving. It literally cried out to be documented as it is featured on maps of the field going back almost 200 years , though its age is certainly much older than that.

Video of natural sandstone mound near St Barts Well

They also decided to have another look at some replicas and plaques erected by the Community Association over the last number of years. This group has done sterling work in acknowledging some important aspects of Togher's recent past. Many thanks to Fergal Dennehy for supplying information on the various relics.Below is shown the route map the group took with stops highlighted with a red box.

Fieldwork Trip no. 01 route map

The piece which came up for special attention was this beautiful replica of a street Water Pump. Erected by the Community Assoc. with the ground donated by Keiran Whyte of Centra , it is not unlike the one which was originally sited at the entrance to the now Vicar's Road. Such a hand pump would have been used by the locals for drawing water on a daily basis long before the advent of indoor plumbing for the masses. Besides this , other water pumps would have been available , some public , some private around the general area. However some kind Landlords had wells dug on their lands which were then funneled through to water spouts attached to their outside walls where locals could access it free of charge. Dan O'Riordan intimated the existence of other water spouts further up the hill in Lehenaghmore which will be investigated in the new year.

Replica of street Water Pump , Centra Togher

The Blog aims to conduct more Fieldwork research trips in the near future to identify and catalogue all of Togher's fantastic heritage and history. This it is felt deserves a wider audience for what is thankfully still here for the enjoyment of future generations. Keep checking back to keep up to date with future Fieldwork trips.

Visit to Togher Boys & Girls Schools - September 23rd 2013

On Monday , September 23rd 2013 , the Blog paid an official visit to both the Boys and the Girls National Schools in Togher. Fergal Dennehy had set up the meeting with the Boys Principal Jack Durkin and Vice Principal Teresa Allen had contacted the Togher Historical Association through Facebook to arrange a meeting with the Principal of the Girls School - Mrs. O'Driscoll. So it was at 12 O'Clock that Billy O'Brien Past Pupil ( 1971 - 1979 ) entered the grounds of Togher BNS for the first time in over 30 years!

The meeting with Jack Durkin was very pleasant and rewarding , as he entertained with tales of various Teachers and gave some valuable insight into the Board of Management. Jack was very enthralled by the Association's research to date and more than impressed by their collection of old photographs and maps. Of course most of the interview will have to remain private , but special mention was given to Author Tom O'Keeffe and Past Principal Flor Dullea. He suggested a possible end of 3rd Term tour for the 5th and 6th Classes. This is now in the pipeline with hopes to extend it to a full day of events with the Togher Historical Association for hopefully March - 2015.

Billy O'Brien was next introduced to the Schools Caretaker - Pat. An incredibly amiable and likeable character , he went out of his way to be helpful - giving the Blog full access to the Schools Archives. A promise was made to return to scan as much of this material as possible.

Next port of call was the Principal of the Togher GNS - Mrs. O'Driscoll . Having first been met by Vice Principal Teresa Allen , Billy O'Brien had an in-depth conversation in the Principals Office where the Blog's Portfolio was discussed and poured over by both. Mrs. O'Driscoll is a native of Togher and has many a story to share and tell. Again , a plan to host a tour and talk with the students of 5th and 6th Classes for March 2015 is being worked on.

All in all , the experience was a good one and hopefully will be of mutual benefit to the Schools and the Historical Association. It also served as a primer for future Fieldwork Research Trips.

Official Open Day - September 14th 2013

On Saturday 14th September at 2.30 the Blog held its first official Open Day at the Community Centre in Togher. Fergal Dennehy gave an introductory speech to those present and Billy O'Brien as Speaker for the event gave a talk on " Togher - An Introduction to Local History " which was well received.

 ***Full text transcript of talk to be included here soon***

The audience was then entertained by a 12 minute video slideshow ( see below ) compiled by Eamonn Pearse and Billy O'Brien which ended in a round of applause. People were then free to browse the photo display ( see below ) and look at the books which have so inspired the Blog - 3 authored by Richard Henchion and 2 by Tom O'Keeffe plus other local works and a selection of handouts written by Mary O'Riordan ( Big Houses Handout ) on various aspects of local history. Coffee was to hand for one and all and nostalgia reared its surreal head as tales were swapped back and forth. An enjoyable day all in all and the Blog thanks everybody who made the effort and found the time to share their kowledge. People travelled not only from parts of Togher but from the Northside and from the County to be part of the event. Eddie Lyons , photographer and journalist from the Bishopstown News was present to witness the event and left being very impressed with the whole proceedings. Those in attendance were also honoured to have a representative from the Cork Mason's Historical Society present - Jim Fahy. Jim regularly gives talks , has appeared on stage at the Opera House in the 100% Cork Show and has been instrumental in restoring his trade's original hundreds years old banner. The day closed with a plan to elevate the Blog's activities and research which is still ongoing.

Billy O'Brien delivering the talk -
" Togher History - An Introduction "

Viewing of Togher History Slideshow
From Left clockwise : Karen Flanagan Fahy ,
Eamonn Pearse , Ian Harrington and Daughter ,
Jim Fahy , Eoin Desmond , Dan O'Riordan ,
Pat O'Rourke , Mary O'Riordan and Billy O'Brien.
Also present but not in photo : Fergal Dennehy -
 Community Secretary Togher C. C.
and Eddie Lyons - Editor Bishopstown News

The first slideshow documenting Togher's past and comparing it 

to its present. Many thanks to the Earlwood Facebook group 

 for some fantastic photos and to everybody who contributed.

These are the Photos which were on display at the Blog's Open Day. Many are quite rare and would not have been seen before. Quite a few appeared in the slideshow video. And the Blog is frequently unearthing even more lost gems and forgotten nuggets.

Togher Road 15-10-1961 
O'Bannion's house on the right and Long's house on the left

 Togher Road 15-10-1961 near Rose Lawn

Togher Road 15-10-1961

Trees at the Entrance to Ardmanning House

 Togher Road Sept 1968 bottom of Earlwood Est 01
Old House ( Kerry Yard )

 Togher Road Sept 1968 bottom of Earlwood Est 02
House demolished and new houses under construction

Togher Road Sept 1968 

original Ardmanning Cottages ( demolished 1970 ) near Rose Lawn on left

and Hosfords Farm on right

 Start of Summerstown Lane 
from Togher Road Sept 1968

The Cutting Cottages on the western side 
of the road just south of the railway bridge. Sept 1968

 

 Deanrock Bar and Togher Railway Bridge 1969

 Demolishing Togher Railway Bridge 1976

The end for Togher Railway Bridge

Of course many many more photographs were on show that day and this is but a small selection. The blog will feature heavily with more images from yesteryear in subsequent posts. As always , anybody reading this post is reminded that old photographs of Togher are always highly sought after for inclusion to flesh out various future articles.