Joe Murphy Family Visit - Shirley Kelleher - 29th October 2016

On 29th October 2016 , the Blog played host at the Community Centre to a very special speaker. The Grand Niece - Shirley Kelleher - of Volunteer Joe Murphy who died on Hunger Strike after seventy-six days without food on 25 October 1920 - gave an exclusive talk to those present. Such was the occasion , that it was decided to video the event for posterity. Although heavily edited , it showcases the main points raised during the meeting which encompasses many diverse topics as can be seen in the video below.

Video of meeting with Blog & Joe Murphy's grand niece Shirley Kelleher

Previous to the Blog's historic meeting with a relative of Joe Murphy , Billy O'Brien had the honour of briefly speaking with Henry " Harry " Delaney , Shirley's Father , in Ballincollig , whose own Mother was Joe Murphy's sister.

Henry Delaney , son of Joe Murphy's sister 

pictured at St. Finbarr's cemetery 2006

Shirley Kelleher ( nee Delaney ) traveled to several poignant locations in Togher where many memories were reopened and much rare information was disclosed. Togher Girls National School , the Community Centre ( original National School which Joe attended ) and of course Joe Murphy house on Pouladuff Road were each visited.

Portrait of Joe Murphy

Joe Murphy's sister 1972

A complete collation of the Joe Murphy archives in conjunction with his family will now be undertaken by the Blog. Also penciled in for a future project will be the digitization of the entire school roll books of Togher going back to 1850! The Blog would like to thank most sincerely Shirley Kelleher for being so gracious with her time. A full biography of Joe Murphy and his lineage to date will feature here in the very near future.

 Kathleen O'Keeffe , Dan O'Riordan , James O'Brien , 

Shirley Kelleher & Billy O'Brien at Togher Community Centre

 Billy O'Brien & Shirley Kelleher

outside Community Centre

 Shirley Kelleher posing with historic 

family photographs in Togher

Shirley Kelleher outside Togher Girls National School

which she attended from 1971 to 1979

 Shirley Kelleher at Joe Murphy House

Billy O'Brien paid an equally historic visit to SuperValu shopping centre to present a copy of a 1970 article from the Evening Echo showing the construction of the original building to Store Manager Kevin Morgan. It subsequently transpired that Kevin and Billy both hailed from Togher Square. A small world indeed!

Kevin Morgan & Billy O'Brien at SuperValu Togher

article courtesy of Ronnie Herlihey and Evening Echo

20th Fieldwork Trip - 15th October 2016

On Saturday 15th October 2016 the Blog met with Kathleen O'Keeffe and Eamonn Pearse to discuss future projects. Time was given to viewing handwritten documentation proving the Togher connection with certain Townlands going back as recently as the 1950s , such as Doughcloyne , Lehenaghmore and Chetwynd etc. Business of the day concluded , they made their way the short distance to the beginning of Doughcloyne Hill to undertake the shortest Fieldwork Trip to date. The objective was to look at the new 5 House Estate built on the former lands of Feirm Bawn and to investigate the now cleared site of the former Allen Family. The legacy of this Family is inestimable in that the head of the house was a close friend of Michael Collins and was also extremely active in the formation of a Development Association for Togher back in the early part of the 20th Century.

 Corner view of new Feirm Bawn development

View from main road showing exit in background

Kathleen remarked how overgrown the house had become down through the years and also how as a child the house could be seen in its entirety from Togher Cross , the surrounding area being open fields. The team took time to photograph the house from several angles and also videoed the site for archival purposes. As the video shows , the house is in a severely dilapidated condition with vegetation growing out of the chimney. The grounds have many outhouses including an original stone walled shed. It is believed that the house is slated for demolition in the very near future - another sad end to Togher's past.

 Cleared site of Allen house on Doughcloyne Hill

 Rear view of Allen house showing lean to

Togher Cross as seen from Allen house

Panoramic Video of Allen House , Togher

Togher News Newsletter - Issue 05 December 1975

From 1975 through to the late 1980s , the Togher Community Association published a monthly newsletter entitled Togher News. This modestly priced periodical ( 3 Pence! ) covered any and all issues of the day as they pertained to Togher back then. An interesting snapshot of life in the preceeding decades of the district. The following raw images are shown unedited but legible being shot on HD camera by the Blog on a visit to the Archives of Cork City Library. Enjoy the almost complete 5th Issue from December 1975 which sadly is missing Page 8 of 9.

Togher News Issue 5

December 1975

 Page 01

 Page 02

 Page 03

 Page 04

 Page 05

 Page 06

 Page 07

( *Page 8 Missing* )

Page 09