Easter Rising Centenary - Good Friday 2016 - Togher Community Centre

On Good Friday 25th March 2016 at 11.00 a.m. a special commemorative event was celebrated at the Togher Community Centre to honour all those who had taken part in the 1916 Rising in Dublin and other parts of Ireland. Alas , through sheer confusion at the time , Cork was to pay no part in the Historic event which marked the birth of a Nation ; although popular mythology has it that an unknown Corkman actually walked to Dublin upon hearing of the news!

Close up shot of 1916 Memorial Placue

1916 Memorial Placue located in Community 

Garden just inside right of main gate

The event was organised and planned by the Togher Community Association with members of the public and some high profile Politicians being invited along - including Fianna Fáil Leader - Michael Martin and Sinn Fein T.D. Donnchadh O'Laoraigh - a Togher native and resident.

 Michael Martin T.D. 

one time resident of Togher circa 1975

 Donnchadh O'Laoraigh T.D. with Pat O'Rourke

The itinerary consisted of a flag raising ceremony conducted by former Lord Mayor - John Dennehy of Westside Estate , Togher ; a reading of the Proclamation by Community Assoc. member Kieran O'Connell and the unveiling of the specially commissioned placue by Community Assoc. Secretary Cllr. Fergal Dennehy. Community Assoc. Chairman Niall McCarthy and Assoc. Member Noreen also gave speeches and laid the wreath. Musical accompaniment was provided by Charlie Horgan ( man with hat ) , Shaun Forde and Donal Heffernan (drums and trumpet). Fr. Brophy P.P. was at hand to officially bless the occasion.

Niall McCarthy T.C.A. Chairman 

with Fr. Brophy P.P. giving official blessing

John Dennehy former Lord Mayor 

from Westside Est. raising the Flag

Shaun Forde ( Drum ) , Donal Heffernan (Trumpet)

Charlie Horgan ( Drum )

Keiran O'Connell Community Assoc. 

reading the Proclamation

Community Assoc. Secretary Cllr. Fergal Dennehy 

performing the unveiling of the 1916 Memorial Placue

Noreen & Niall McCarthy Community Assoc. Chairman

 at podium giving speeches

Noreen Community Assoc. laying the wreath

1916 Placue with Wreath

The Togher Historical Assoc. was present to record the days activities with Pat O'Rourke acting as interviewer with his daughter Alana taking up camerawoman duties while Eamonn Pearse snapped copious amounts of photos for posterity. Below is a gallery of snapshots of the entire proceedings.

Pat O'Rourke with Noreen Community Assoc.

Kathleen O'Keeffe T.H.A. & Pat O'Rourke

Local Resident with Donnchadh O'Laoraigh

Donnchadh O'Laoraigh , Pat O'Rourke 

( with Daughter Alana ) & Kathleen O'Keeffe T.H.A.

Meet & Greet - Michael Martin T.D. , 

Donnchadh O'Laoraigh T.D. , 

Pat O'Rourke T.H.S.

and Cllr Fergal Dennehy

Group photo of T.H.A. with Elected Politicians

Noreen Community Assoc. 

performing Wreath laying ceremony

Local Residents in attendance for historic occasion

Paparazzi with cameras in action in Togher

Alternate view of 1916 Memorial 

in Community Garden

Togher Residents and Representatives - Past & Present

National & Local Representatives - Past & Present

Kathleen O'Keeffe T.H.A. & Pat O'Rourke

with Political Representatives

Pat O'Rourke with Fr. Brophy P.P

Group chat with T.H.A. and Representatives

T.H.A. with Keiran O'Connell Community Assoc.

Pat O'Rourke with Noreen at 1916 Memorial

Alana O'Rourke - 

Camerawoman of the 1916 Event in Togher

As mentioned previously , the Togher Historical Assoc. took the opportunity of such an important historic occasion to interview several notable Citizens beginning with local man Donnchadh O'Laoraigh who was recently elected as a T.D. The Blog would like to apologise for the poor audio quality due to excessive wind on the day. In this first video interview , Pat O'Rourke asks Donnchadh about his early days in Togher and what if any changes he has personally noticed over the last few years. Donnchadh also talks of his time with the Rainbow Club.

Donnchadh O'Laoraigh T.D. Interview

Pat O'Rourke next chatted with Michael Martin and introduced the Togher Historical Assoc. & Blog. Amazingly , Michael informed Pat that he had once been a resident of Togher back in 1975. Michael pointed out that this information had been published in a “ Guess who this is? ” article in the Evening Echo some years ago. Unfortunately the strong background wind and noise picked up by the mic makes most of the interview inaudible.

Michael Martin T.D. with Pat O'Rourke

Lastly , the Togher Historical Assoc. descended upon Noreen of the Community Assoc. where she regaled them with tales and information pertaining to the Placue and the flag. All in all , a truly memorable day for those who attended and a lasting tangible reminder of the day in the shape of the newest addition to the Community Garden - the 1916 Memorial Placue. The Blog would like to thank most sincerely Alana O'Rourke who performed Video Camera duties on the day.

T.H.A. discuss placue with Noreen T.C.C. Manager