The Sarsfields of Doughcloyne - A History

Coat of Arms

Motto: " Virtue non Virtitur "

The Sarsfields have a pedigree in Togher which stretches back over 2 centuries and only ended as recently as 1947! They were unique in that at one time or another they lived in 3 big houses in the townland of Doughcloyne of which only one remains in its original state* ; Doughcloyne House , Philippine House and *Sarsfield House. The map below shows the 3 houses ( at that time all known by their townland name .i.e " Doughcloyne " rather confusingly ) in the early 19th Century when they dominated the landscape. Each house had its own private gardens and orchards with the remainder given over to farming and tenants. This article will focus on the last generation to hold sway over that part of Togher including their home , Sarsfield House now part of White Oaks housing estate.

 

Sarsfield House in modern times

Interior of Sarsfield House

Billy O'Brien T.H.A.

Stained glass replica of Sarsfields coat of arms

Close up view of stained glass window

 

 

Lodge near Togher Cross 1940s
 

The Sarsfields history in Ireland and indeed Cork is a long and convoluted one with the following a very distilled version to aid in understanding their lineage in Togher. The first of the Sarsfields traveled over from England with King Henry II in the late 12th Century in search of fortune. However the Togher connection didn't surface until 1712 when a dispossessed Dominick Sarsfield luckily married a Catherine Ronayne , niece of Anthony Ronayne owner of Doughcloyne. Of course this brought with it land and property which passed to the Sarsfields when Anthony died. The couples youngest son Edmond , became a Colonel in the Irish Brigade in France where he died unmarried ; their second son Thomas went on to become a Doctor - he died in 1790 but not before marrying a blood relative , Mary Ronayne thus ensuring the Sarsfield/Ronayne bloodline. The eldest son of Thomas and Mary was Dominick Ronayne Sarsfield who became a barrister and married Mary Bonwell , daughter of a banker , thus enlarging the coffers of the Sarsfield estate yet again. They would have 4  children , James . Dominick , Philip and their eldest , the infamous Thomas Sarsfield ( 1793 - 1865 ) , forever linked to the Great Famine of 1845 - 1852. He was the stuff of legend when as a member of the Board of Guardians often made trips to the workhouse in Cork City during the famine years. Tiring of the long commute by horse up the full length of Togher Road to reach his destination , he suggested that peasants be put to work building a connecting road between Togher Road and Pouladuff Road , thus enabling him a shorter journey to and fro. It was the practice at the time that workers were paid in Indian corn for their labors. However , when passing one day to inspect the progress of the new road , he saw men feeding dogs. This so angered him that he threatened to fire everybody unless they stopped feeding the animals when they were supposedly so destitute and hungry. The men not wanting the animals to go though hunger and pain instead hung them from nearby trees , thereby giving the new road a chilling name - Hangdog! This name would not be removed until 1960 when the Corporation by general consensus renamed it Tramore Road. In addition to this local tale , it was also well recorded in newspapers of the time , that Thomas Sarsfield as one of the members of the Togher relief committee , held the honor of being one of the worst in the Country , with a reputation for being mean and empty handed when it came to providing food for the hungry. Thankfully his descendants were much better in character!

Dominic R.P. Sarsfield
1828 - 1892

Mary De La Cour

 

 

His son Dominick Ronayne Patrick Sarsfield was more generous towards Togher people. He married Mary De La Cour and they had 3 sons Thomas ( 1862 - 1943 ) , James ( 1864 - 1941 ) , William ( 1868 - 1914 ) and 8 daughters , only 3 of whom married with the rest living as spinsters in the house ( now Sarsfield House - White Oaks ) until they passed. All 3 sons served in the military with William dying in the Battle of Ainse in France in 1914. He was survived by a son , Patrick , resident in Dublin who became a stockbroker and is important in the story of the Sarsfields or its actual ending as explained later in this article.Thomas and James would forever exonerate the bad name of the Sarsfields by siding with the I.R.A. during the War of Independence , providing a safe house and outbuildings  for the storage of arms and explosives. They also acted as cover for Cumann na mBan on trains traveling to Dublin to deliver messages and pistols. Their English accents were enough to deter any questioning by Soldiers or Police encountered on the trains , with Volunteers in their company acting as servants. They also allowed locals to hunt and collect wood on their lands. Thomas , who was known as Capt. Sarsfield in Togher , like his brother James and most of his sisters never married. By the mid 1940s , all had died and the house was empty with the Sarsfield presence ending forever. It was Williams son , Patrick in Dublin , who acted as agent for his family , selling all property and land to the S.M.A. in 1947. 

 1911 Census

 

Major William Sarsfield
Died 1914 World War I
 

Capt. Thomas Sarsfield 1939

Major James Sarsfield 1939

The S.M.A. promptly renamed it St. Xavier's University Hall as a lodgings for it's Nigerian Priests who had come over to learn English. Thankfully whilst in Togher , they interacted with the local community and took many rare photos of the people and the area which are invaluable from a social and historical viewpoint. However when the African Missions was discontinued , the house fell into disrepair and was for a time in the 1970s used as hostel for members of the Protestant/Catholic community from Northern Ireland during the Troubles under the auspices of the Fellowship group. This group eventually moved to the older Phillipine House which even today is known as Fellowship House having recently undergone a complete refurbishment. Today the old Sarsfield House is hired out as offices and is nestled in White Oaks estate.It should be noted that the original lodge leading to Sarsfield House is still intact and was Togher's first school having being built in 1820. The Sarsfields have a long legacy with the history of Schools in Togher , having also donated land for the building of a National School in 1891 , the present day Community Centre , with adjoining land being given free of charge as a playground. Their name continues to be honoured with a new section of road laid down in the 1980s known as Sarsfield Road with the modern flyover near the Glasheen River also bearing the title.

19th Century map showing Doughcloyne House

1940s OSi map showing newly renamed

St.Xavier's University Hall

Modern day aerial view of Sarsfield House
( Centre Left )

*Research Acknowledgments :

Richard Henchion
Tom O'Keeffe
W.A. Hill ( old portraits / photo of Major Stopford )