The Walsh Family - The Cutting

Billy O'Brien & Mary Walsh July 2018

On Tuesday evening 10th July 2018 at 7 O'Clock , the Togher Historical Association paid a visit to the home of Ann O'Callaghan Keating in Ballincollig. Billy O'Brien and Kathleen O'Keeffe were there to interview Mary Walsh , Ann's Aunt , about her memories of her life in The Cutting. The opportunity also presented itself to speak with Ann about her Mother , Eileen and her time in the now gone community that laughed , loved and played there for so long before the 1970s and the subsequent demolition of the Railway Bridge and the Cutting itself.

Michael Snr , Wife Margaret ,

 Tommy , twins Michael Jnr. & Billy

The Walsh Family story began strangely enough not in Togher but in Saskatoon , Canada when newly weds Michael Walsh ( born 1898 ) and his wife Margaret ( born 1908 ) emigrated to start a new life in the mid 1920s. Margaret came from Strabane , Co. Tyrone and her marriage to Michael who originally hailed from Pouladuff was a major scandal at the time because of her Protestant faith! Their first three children , all boys , Tommy and twins Michael Jnr. & Billy were born in Canada. The image above shows a passport photograph supposedly taken to identify the Family on their departure from Canada to Ireland in the late 1930s. Here the Togher association begins with the Walsh's moving to The Cuttings and renting the cottage for Half a Crown from the Marshall's which was situated to the left of the house. Michael Snr. soon found work in Dunlops where he worked for 35 years until his retirement. The arrival of three more children ; Eileen in 1938 , John in 1945 and Mary in 1947 completed the Family unit. It is well known that Michael Snr. referred to the local Gardai as " the  Sheriffs " possibly because of his Canadian past. He himself was known as the " Captain ".

Togher Rovers 1948 - Jimmy Walsh ( bottom right )

( Photo supplied by Dan O'Riordan )

All children attended Togher National School. The boys were very involved in sports with Tommy playing for Togher Rovers in 1947. Mary describes her childhood in Togher as magical and a wonderful place in which to grow up. She recalls many characters in the area , all of whom had a nickname. One such person was known as the Quilter who seemed to have a cure for every ailment. One funny anecdote revolves around a popular cleaning liquid by the name of B-Spray. Whenever anybody asked for this product in the local shop , the conversation always ended the same way: " Can a B-Spray " - " Can a wasp fart? ". Togher wit at its best! Eldest son Tommy was encouraged at the tender age of 14 by his Mother to travel to England in search of work with his brothers Michael Jnr. and Billy following soon after. Tommy soon became successful so much so that future Togher men traveling over to England would seek out employment with his company , none of which he refused.

Brother & Sister

Michael Walsh & Eileen Walsh

Michael Jnr. , Mother Margaret ,

Mary and John

Tommy aged 14 in England

Mother Margaret & Mary outside their home

Weekly Tenant's Rent books from 1951 and 1961

Inside view of amounts paid in rent

Additional pages of Rent Book

Unknown youths at Togher Cross

Mary Walsh attended Togher National School from 1951 to 1964 where she recalls children had to attend school up to the age of 14 so she and others stayed an extra year in 6th Class to qualify them to leave. She proudly stated that she received her first kiss at the tender age of 12. After leaving school she soon found work cleaning local houses more often than not for free as she simply had a passion for the job. In 1974 Mary was married in Togher Church before moving to start a new life in Kinsale.

Tommy & Mary Walsh

Michael Snr. , daughter Mary , sons Michael and John

Michael ( Brother ) and Mary Walsh
outside home in The Cuttings

Mary Walsh & Anthony O'Brien 

during electrification scheme 1950s

( Photo supplied by Helena Cogan )

Tommy and Michael Jnr. in England

Togher National School circa 1950s
John Walsh bottom left

Michael Walsh snr. ( on right ) outside Celias Pub early 1960s

Mary's eldest sister Eileen Walsh moved to Patrick O'Donoghue Place in 1961 and soon after her Daughter , Ann was born. Ann herself went to Togher Girl's National School from 1968 to 1976. In 1972 she was transferred to the new Girls School across the road. Ann became the first Paper Girl when she began work for Dawson's newsagents in Ballyphehane in 1975! She also worked for a time at the local Post Office on Togher Road during 4th Year. Ann O'Callaghan also went on to work in Fitzgerald’s Bakery for 17 years , where she met her future husband Ger Keating who grew up in Argideen Lawn.

 Eileen Walsh in shortcut to Cottage

Eileen Walsh as seen today

 Ann's Communion class Old Girls School 1971

Ann and fellow class mates Old Girls School 1970s
with Mrs. Breen

Ann's Confirmation class New Girl's School 1975

Eileen & Ann O'Callaghan Keating
Patrick O'Donaghue Place , Togher

The Blog would like to thank most sincerely Ann O'Callaghan Keating for her warm hospitality and for arranging the meeting with her Aunt , Mary Walsh. A very pleasant evening and many wonderful memories shared which will last a lifetime. The Cutting may be gone but its memory has a permanent home on this blog.

Mary Walsh , Ann O'Callaghan Keating & Kathleen O'Keeffe