Togher National School - A Special Photograph

Togher has many iconic photographs and images associated with it , which instantly stand out as being memorable and unforgettable. The following is no exception and may boast the title of Togher's first colour photograph! Each photograph has a backstory and thankfully the blog was able to make contact with the family behind it. The 3 children depicted are from left to right ; Marion Hoey nee Finn , Eleanor Hurley nee Finn ( white dress and red top ) and Patrick Finn. It was taken by their Uncle , Fr. William Finn towards the end of the 1960s. It was shot from a slightly elevated position on the Togher Railway bridge and shows the then Togher Boys National School. To the left can be seen ( hut painted green with red door ) Mrs. O'Sullivans sweet shop a.k.a. " Mrs.O's ". She lived in Deanrock Villa which is out of shot to the right. To the left of the picture can be seen the site of the future Boys and Girls National Schools which would be built in 1971. Today the old school has been transformed into a Community Centre , with many extensions and the original stone wall being moved out towards the main road to cater for an enclosed car park. The grass verge to the right of the children is the entrance to The Cutting , an enclave of houses which sadly were demolished in the late 1970s. Also in frame are the iron rails of the bridge.

Iconic photograph taken in colour by Fr. William Finn

Eleanor Hurley ( centre of photograph ) attended school in Togher from the late 1950s to the late 1960s. She would have begun in the old National School when it served both boys and girls and would have finished her education in the new Girls National School ( now Youth group centre ) when it opened in 1961. The blog would like to thank Eleanor Hurley for information relating to the photograph.