Garrán Darach - Grove Of Oaks - 169 Acres
Garrane Darragh as a Townland is perhaps one of the most mysterious of the group of 15 which comprise Togher. It seems to refuse to give up its ghostly past and secrets. However , closer examination of this area reveals that it once hosted 2 ring forts which in and of itself means ancient habitation. Sadly one of the ring forts has since the 19th Century been subsumed by agriculture and completely removed. One other possibly still exists to the rear of Bishopscourt Shopping Centre. Historically it was the abode of the Right Honourable Mr. Carey as shown by George Taylor and Andrew Skinner's
"Maps of the Roads of Ireland", as Surveyed during 1777. It would seem that the entirety of the Townland was in the hands of same for many years. The 1911 Census shows the Barrett , O'Driscoll and Brien families as tenants on the farmland of the Careys.
However bridging the gap in the ownership was a Mr. O'Leary
who farmed the land until quite recently when it fell into receivership
and lies in limbo. The outhouses are demolished whilst the big house is
now boarded up. It would seem that the Townland was one massive farm
used primarily for dairy farming. The Cork Bandon railway line once ran through the Townland and much of its former track can still be seen today ( see aerial photo below ). Today , part of Eagle Valley , Woodhaven and Garrane Dara makes up a portion of its Northern region with the Western portion of Doughcloyne Industrial Estate. The rest of the Townland is largely undeveloped.
Addresses ( Modern Era )
Woodhaven
South Ring Road ( portion )
Garrane Dara
Eagle Valley ( western portion )
Doughcloyne Industrial Estate ( western portion )
Garrane Darragh House ( Derelict )
Addresses/Structures ( Historical Era )
Garrane Darragh House ( Mr. Carey )
Tenant Farmers ( Barretts , O'Driscolls & Briens )
2 Ring Forts
Bandon Railway Line ( portion of )
Lodge ( Demolished )
Boundary
From a point on the western corner of Woodhaven following the Glasheen River in an easterly direction before taking a sharp turn across the South Ring Road and bisecting Doughcloyne Industrial Estate and Eagle Valley and moving south in an irregular fashion before turning westwards to the rear of St.James Cemetery crossing the Bandon Road briefly before moving again in a northerly direction following the Glasheen Stream and passing Bishopscourt Shopping Centre before ending at the point started from at Woodhaven.
