Allens Of Doughcloyne

There is a site on Doughcloyne Hill directly across from Feirm Bawn which has a legacy and history going back to the very foundation of the Nation. It is Togher's link with the distant past and an iconic marker for all to see until recently. The building is no more but the story of the man who once lived there can now be told.

 David Allen 1883 ~ 1950

 Allen House Doughcloyne , Togher 2016

Allen House inside gateway showing orchard wall to right

David Allen was born on October 8th 1883 in Ballinaclashet , Belgooley , Co. Cork. He was a qualified Carpenter and lived in and around the Kinsale district for much of his earlier life. He married Mary O'Halloran from Carrigaline in 1907. They had eight children ; Frances b.1908, Margaret ( Birdie ) b.1910 , Nellie b.1911 , Kathleen ( Kitty ) b.1913 , Christine b.1914 , Jim b.1917 , Theresa b.1921 and Robert b.1923.

 David with mother Margaret 1890

The family initially made their home in Kinsale but later moved to Blackrock and finally about 1916 arrived in Doughcloyne , Togher where David purchased a plot of land and built a house overlooking Togher Cross. Their home was surrounded by a high stone wall and a beautiful garden with orchard which held commanding views of the area. Their nearest neighbour was Feirm Bawn directly across the road and further down Sarsfield Lodge and the Forge. Back in the 1920s and up to recently the land between the Allen House and Sarsfield Lodge was the property firstly of the Sarsfields and then the S.M.A. and was marked by high ditches. Today the modern Estates of Forest Ridge Crescent and Sandown Crescent are sited there.

 Nellie , Theresa , Chrissie & Kitty

Allen House , Doughcloyne , Togher 1920s

The family was marked by great personal tragedy as several of the Children died very young. Frances , the eldest passed away while they still lived in Kinsale when only 2 years of age. Kitty passed away when she was 13 years old , Nellie passed away when she was 16 years old and baby Robert , the youngest passed away at only 3 days old on March 3rd 1923. The last 3 of the children were born in Togher ; Jim , Theresa and Robert. Sadly , David's wife , Mary died on 12th March 1923 from a brain  tumour , just a week after the death of her last baby.

Chrissie Allen ( on right ) circa 1940

Theresa Allen with husband John Sisk at the Cuttings

David  , in common with other people in Togher , was actively involved with the struggle for freedom during the War of Independence and was a close personal friend of Michael Collins. An old abandoned building across the road from the Allen House known as Coventry House was used for storing guns and ammunition which were hidden under the floor boards. The house was booby trapped and had to be blown up following a raid by the Authorities. It was only demolished as recently as 1950. The owners of Sarsfield House allowed its outbuildings to be used for secret storage as well which found favour with the I.R.A. David also served as a Judge on the Sinn Fein Courts during the conflict and later became a member of the old Cumann Na nGaedheal party. He would go on to become Foreman at Ford's Factory during the 1920s and 1930s and eventually started his own building firm. During the Emergency of 1939 ~ 1945 , he was a member of the L.S.F. ( Local Security Force ) which was based in Togher. David was also very much involved in Public Life as he served on the Fisheries Board , Allied Builders Board and was Chairman of the Cork Branch of Fine Gael.

1920s OSi Map showing location

David Allen L.S.F. ( seated right of Garda Sergeant )

David Allen giving speech

1948 general election candidates FG 

David Allen ( Togher ) , Tom O'Higgins & Stephen Barrett

Report on Funeral in Cork Examiner 1950

 

Letter sent to David's grandson in 1969

Perhaps his most lasting legacy was his founding of the Togher Community Association in 1946 where he served as its first Chairman. Through this body , he was instrumental in securing street lighting and sewerage pipes for Togher as well as providing a dedicated bus service for the area , all within a short period of time. Togher Road was tarmacced for  the first time and in 1947 , a Post Office was opened. In 1948 , he contested the General Election as a Fine Gael candidate but was unsuccessful. He passed away 2 years later in 1950 at the age of 67.

 David Allen with eldest daughter 
Birdie in later life

The eldest girl Margaret ( Birdie ) went to live with a friend of the family , Mrs. O'Donovan in Kinsale following her Mother's death. Theresa went on to marry John Sisk of The Cuttings. Her sister Christine ( Chrissie ) was a regular visitor and is fondly remembered by her Niece , Ann O'Neill ( nee Sisk ). Sadly Chrissie passed away at only 42 years old in 1964 from a brain tumour. Jim Allen , David's son , took over the family home in 1950 after the death of his father and was himself a Carpenter by trade. He married Carrie Hewetson from Crookstown and they had 2 children , Dave and Frank. Jim passed away in 1980 and Carrie , his wife died in 1999. The house was finally sold off and demolished in 2018 bringing to an end a Century of local Togher history.

 1951 aerial photo of Allen House ( bottom left )

showing unimpeded view of Togher Cross

1967 aerial photo of Allen House with new

private builds across road

Allen House being demolished 2019

Allen House finally gone 2020

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Donal O'Keeffe : " Was very friendly with both Dave and Frank Allen growing up in Togher.
Their house was full of unusual memorabilia like spears and shields from darkest Africa. Unusual wall hangings, a didgeridoo if I remember correctly. A totem pole. Samurai swords , accordions, a piano.
And guns of course. As a young boy I was allowed to fire a few shots from various guns kept in the house. This was a great thrill for a young fella. They were very musical also. Hens were everywhere.
Apple Trees and flowers. Mrs. Allen used to come down to our house to use the phone. She became good friends with my mother. They were nice people and I was always very welcome in the house.
I often think of them still. "

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Maureen Kiely ( shown below ) is related to David Allen , her Father being his Nephew. As a child Maureen lived on the Bandon Road but her family moved to Clareville , Pouladuff Road in the Lough Parish where her Father built a house for them. Below are her recollections of her visits back in the 1940s to the Allen house.

Maureen Kiely

Maureen Kiely : " David Allen of Doughcloyne was My Fathers Uncle. They had a lot in common as my Dad was also a Carpenter. I can remember going with my Older Sister and Father to the Big House behind the gates up the Hill from from were the Bus stopped and turned to go back to Town. The House was on the left hand-side , inside the gate and also on the left were lovely gardens , leading to Uncle Davids workshop. I have memories of Saws hanging on the Wall and wood shavings on the floor. But the favourite place was the Orchard right by the House. When no one was looking , we would shake the tree to get the best Apples. We always went home with a bag of Apples. My only memory of the House , is a big room with a China Cabinet with very pretty China. Uncle David was always very nice to us and from the kitchen he would bring some biscuits and milk out and we would sit on the steps leading to the garden. I was very young , I remember Jimmy Allen , Davids Son. He came to our House a lot and played the Fiddle at my Wedding. Our Family has a lot of Davids , including my Brother and my Son , I would think all called after David Allen of Doughcloyne .

Maureen Kiely ( centre ) 1948 aged 4

with her Brother and Sister

We used go to the house regularly as kids in the 1940s/50s. Uncle David was always in his workshop. He was widowed early in life. But his Son Jimmy played the fiddle and we danced around that kitchen and always went home with bags of apples even out of season as he kept them in one of the sheds in straw. He also kept greyhounds. That House was amazing. It had beautiful Orchards and gardens. Loved going up there as a child. Most of the land would eventually be bought for housing schemes. "

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 The blog would like to thank the following for their invaluable assistance which included information , photographs and memories in researching this article: Gerard Allen , Tom Allen , Adam Duggan , Maureen Kiely , Donal O'Keeffe & Kathleen O'Keeffe.