Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Townlands - 05 / 15 - Freagh & Vicars Acre

An Fraoch - The Place of Heather - 22 Acres
Vicars Acre -  ( Appended Mid 18th Century - see article below )


 Freagh & Vicars Acre - 1890 OSi Map


Freagh as mentioned above was a heathery bog almost devoid of trees due to its waterlogged state. It acquired its English appendage circa mid 18th Century during the Penal Laws and the reorganisation of the Anglican Church in Ireland. It is the only Townland in Togher to have both an Irish name and an English name. In more modern times Vicars is used to denote the road which passes through its northern section ( with bizarrely Vicars Court Estate lying inside Deanrock ). The Townland is host to the modern housing estate Sheridan Park off Tramore Road , Togher Garda Station , Youngline Shoe Company ( now defunct ) and South Cork Industrial Estate and other smaller units. In the past its southern fringes which bordered the Tramore River were used as an osiery , having the local name of the Well Field ( or Wella ) due to a natural spring which erupted nearby ( today it is capped and piped into the Tramore River ). Its eastern terminus is marked by Casey's Cross.


Freagh & Vicars Acre - Aerial map 1951


Some of its past residents include a Ms. Edwards , Sullivan's and Fitzgeralds. However its most famous resident is Joe Murphy , 1920s hunger striker , who dwelt in the house which carries his name , just before Lee Metals. He was posthumously awarded the Service (1917-1921) Medal with Bar by the Lord Mayor of Cork in respect of his service during the War of Independence after campaigning by his grandniece Shirley Kelleher and the Togher Historical Association , some 99 years after his death at a ceremony in Cork's City Hall attended by the Chief of Staff of the defence forces and his family on 9 May 2019. A memorial was erected on his house in 1960 by former comrades.


Joe Murphy 1895 - 1920
Freagh & Vicars Acre , Togher



In the past Hangdog Road traversed its territory ( now Tramore Road ) and the Cork Macroom Direct Railway ( now South Ring Road ). Both have been reconditioned over the last 50 years to upgrade them from a dirt track and disused railway line respectively. A portion of the nearby Tramore River serves as its southern boundary. A portion of the old osiery is still intact as wet scrubland adjacent to Coffey's Field.


Freagh & Vicars Acre - ( Data from Townlands.ie )



Addresses ( Modern Era )

Tramore Road ( section of houses adjacent to Garda Stn. )
Sheridan Park
Togher Garda Station
South Cork Industrial Estate
U.C.C. Park & Ride ( former Youngline )
Casey's Cross
 
 
Addresses/Structures ( Historical Era )


O'Sullivans
Caseys
Fitzgeralds
Murphys ( Joe Murphy House )
Delaneys
Edwards
Well Field
Cork Macroom Railway
Hangdog Road ( now Tramore Road )


Boundary ( shown in red on aerial photo )


From a point at Joe Murphy house on Pouladuff Road moving in a southerly direction towards Casey's Cross and over Pouladuff Overpass to meet with the Tramore River following its course westwards before turning north across the South Ring Road and Tramore Road before moving through the rear gardens of Sheridan Park before skirting the filling station on Vicars Road and moving diagonally until it ends at the rear garden of Joe Murphy house on Pouladuff Road.


Boundary of Freagh & Vicars Acre

Click on link below for the next Townland in the series.

Deanrock

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