12th Fieldwork Trip - 8th March 2015 - Sandbrook & Glasheen River

On Sunday 8th March 2015 , Eamonn Pearse on behalf of the Togher Historical Association undertook a solo excursion of the site of Sandbrook Estate which is located directly across from the Sarsfield Road Roundabout. This Private Apartment Complex is bounded to the south by the main Sarsfield Road motorway and has the Glasheen River , which serves as its natural physical boundary to the North , curving gently around it on its way to Deanrock with the St Finbarr's sports ground to its immediate East.

Sandbrook circa 2009 showing Glasheen to North 

and St. Finbarrs grounds to East 

with old Sarsfield Road Roundabout to West

The Bridge which acts as the access point to the quietly secluded location has been altered in recent times from a square box shape to a rounded concrete overpass. Eamonn reminisced about childhood memories from the 1970s where children from Deanrock and other areas in Togher would travel under this Bridge in makeshift rafts on their way to the now E.S.B. Station.

 Tree lined Glasheen River marking 

the boundary around Sandbrook

 Entrance road into Sandbrook showing Bridge

Passing over bridge into Sandbrook

Approach to enclave showing Apartments 

Complex and Sarsfield Road Overpass

It was noted by Eamonn that the Glasheen River at this junction is extremely overgrown with Trees and other heavy vegetation which is in stark contrast with the scene at Woodhaven ( see here ). Below are some shots of the access bridge into Sandbrook to illustrate the current situation as it stands. It was reported to the Blog that the shell of an older Bridge existed near the E.S.B. Station and investigations are underway to locate its former location.

Overview photo of Footbridge

Close up shot of Footbridge