Only photograph of Lehenaghmore House
Paddy Ryan died in 1973 while his wife " Ciss " passed away in the 1980s.
Paddy's son Jimmy still lives in Doughcloyne and his two Daughters Noreen and Margaret now live in Bishopstown. All are in their 70s now. One other sibling - Patrick jnr - lives in Kilcully. Two siblings Jerry and Thomas passed away some years ago.
Kathleen O'Keeffe: " ....I remember my Father coming home with a bucket full of rosy apples that my Grand Aunt had given him....was so honest he wouldn't take them himself....I loved going up there as a child....It was like being in a different era...I was always fascinated by that house , the very size of it alone . I can still see my Grand Aunt Ciss and Paddy sitting at each side of the fireplace. "
All that remains of the once great house are the Pillars and several remnants of the Orchard walls and partial segments of the roadside wall which can still be seen today in Palmbury Orchard Estate and at intervals along Lehenaghmore Hill. At present the Tidy Towns committee are undertaking a long overdue restoration of the Pillars and Gate.
In 1857 the House and 57 Acres were sold to John Gibbings under the Encumbered Estates Act who passed the house onto William Gibbings who died in 1912. As before the house was let out to various tenants including the Brownes and Cotters. In 1919 Lunham Bros. and Henry Denny & Sons leased some of the land for disposal of slaughterhouse waste which resulted in an influx of rats. In May 1924 the House and 16 Acres were sold to John Collins , an Accountant who lived on Togher Road. In June 1932 he sold the House and some land around the House to Cecil Guy Marlow.
In November 1941 , Patrick Ryan who had come home from America after winning the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes , bought Lehenaghmore House and 14 Acres plus another 63 Acres from A.H. Good which included a milk round known as Lehenaghmore Dairies. They employed a lot of local people on the farm and in the House , including their cousin Jimmy Roche , Father of local Kathleen O'Keeffe of Westside Estate ( Jimmy's Aunt " Ciss " was married to Paddy ) .
During the Emergency ( a.k.a. World War II ) the entrance pillars leading into the house had the titular " Lehenaghmore House " removed for fear of invading British or Germans so as not to inform them of their location , as did all other Big Houses in Togher. It should be noted that Jimmy Roche helped plant the row of palm trees with Patrick Ryan in the early 1940s which like the pillars are still there. It should also be noted that the Pillars are one of only two structures in Togher legally protected and listed! In the early 1960s Patrick Ryan sold some of his land to Bradley Bros. who built Greenwood Estate. In May 1973 , the house and lands were finally sold off and ultimately in 1979 , Palmbury Orchard was under construction. During this interim , the house fell into disrepair and was subject to vandalism and inevitably was demolished by O'Brien & Flynn builders.
Nora ( Ciss ) Ryan 1970
In November 1941 , Patrick Ryan who had come home from America after winning the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes , bought Lehenaghmore House and 14 Acres plus another 63 Acres from A.H. Good which included a milk round known as Lehenaghmore Dairies. They employed a lot of local people on the farm and in the House , including their cousin Jimmy Roche , Father of local Kathleen O'Keeffe of Westside Estate ( Jimmy's Aunt " Ciss " was married to Paddy ) .
Original wooden milk crate found in House
( Photo courtesy of Derek Good )
During the Emergency ( a.k.a. World War II ) the entrance pillars leading into the house had the titular " Lehenaghmore House " removed for fear of invading British or Germans so as not to inform them of their location , as did all other Big Houses in Togher. It should be noted that Jimmy Roche helped plant the row of palm trees with Patrick Ryan in the early 1940s which like the pillars are still there. It should also be noted that the Pillars are one of only two structures in Togher legally protected and listed! In the early 1960s Patrick Ryan sold some of his land to Bradley Bros. who built Greenwood Estate. In May 1973 , the house and lands were finally sold off and ultimately in 1979 , Palmbury Orchard was under construction. During this interim , the house fell into disrepair and was subject to vandalism and inevitably was demolished by O'Brien & Flynn builders.
Noreen Ryan 1960s inside
walls of Lehenaghmore House
Paddy Ryan died in 1973 while his wife " Ciss " passed away in the 1980s.
Paddy's son Jimmy still lives in Doughcloyne and his two Daughters Noreen and Margaret now live in Bishopstown. All are in their 70s now. One other sibling - Patrick jnr - lives in Kilcully. Two siblings Jerry and Thomas passed away some years ago.
Jimmy Roche with Patrick Ryan jnr.
Gates to former
Lehenaghmore House
All that remains of the once great house are the Pillars and several remnants of the Orchard walls and partial segments of the roadside wall which can still be seen today in Palmbury Orchard Estate and at intervals along Lehenaghmore Hill. At present the Tidy Towns committee are undertaking a long overdue restoration of the Pillars and Gate.
Palm trees from 1940s
Southern Fruit premises
3 comments:
A great article Kathleen
Lovely pictures!
Where did you get your sources for this?
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