Togher Historical Association: Glasheen River ~ A Brief History of Drainage Schemes in Togher

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Glasheen River ~ A Brief History of Drainage Schemes in Togher

While the Glasheen River has been in the news due to localized flooding over the last number of years , it may surprise some to know that it had been the focus and attention of Landlords in the 19th Century desperate to reclaim their land from the scourge of flooding. What may surprise some even more is that there are still remnants of the scheme they enacted! This article looks over the history of a bog which impacted on 4 of Togher's townlands and which still presents problems right up to modern times.

1655 Down Survey map of South Liberties
Showing Bogland surrounded by townlands ( see text below )

To fully understand the overall historical context of the subject under discussion , it is necessary to go back many centuries. After the last Ice Age ended circa 10,000 years ago , the resulting outwash from the melting of the glaciers brought to life myriad streams and lakes which in turn created a vast wetland or marsh especially as the climate warmed. However , even though our ancestors thrived in them , later invaders looked on them with disdain. Even the Down Survey of 1655 which mapped Ireland for the first time simply referred to the region north of Garrane Darragh , Doughcloyne , Deanrock & Clashduff ( southern portion ) as Bogg or Bogland ( denoted by " (b) " shown in map above ). Of course their only interest was in good quality agricultural land which could turn a profit. However the map is a priceless relic of an area which would cause so many headaches for future developers right up to the modern era!

1830s map showing Garrane Darragh & Doughcloyne
Note : No culverts or railway line

In the early part of the 19th Century the landlords of Garrane Darragh and Doughcloyne decided to take action and attempt to drain the northern portions of their lands. A plan was enacted to cut out 7 parallel channels ( see below ) with some adjacent feeder channels and divert any runoff from the marshland into the local Glasheen River. * It must be stated that this would have been done by a workforce using picks and shovels! They also diverted a local spring which emanated from Togher Cross to act as a conduit to help wick moisture away from the bog. To prevent the Glasheen River from taking water back or flooding they shored up the banks with roughly shaped slabs of stone which gave it a castellated appearance earning itself the nickname " The Ramparts ".

Late 19th Century map showing Cork Macroom line
Note mini culverts and how close to Glasheen River the line runs

The age of railways encroached upon Togher in the 19th Century with the Cork Bandon line cutting through Garrane Darragh and Doughcloyne. However the later Cork Macroom line decided to traverse the 2 townlands boggy terrain directly. To enable the workers to lay down tracks , trees were first laid down and covered by stone to prevent the line from sinking. To overcome the obstacle of the various channels linked to the Glasheen River , 6 mini stone arched culverts ( see map above ) had to be built to carry the railway line across.

Example of typical stone arched mini culvert

As time wore on a new form of transport entered the arena and spelled the death of the Cork Macroom Direct Railway. C.I.E. , which was formed in 1945 introduced Togher to its first bus service in 1946. Less than 10 years later they were tearing up the Cork Macroom railway tracks circa 1953 with its close neighbour the Cork Bandon line being removed in 1961. It left a ghostly permanent way in its wake which quickly became the playground for countless children in the vicinity who reveled in the excitement and danger of the area. Numerous bog holes , streamlets and the Glasheen River itself were places of adventure where locals hunted for frogs and constructed small rafts on which to navigate the wetlands.

1990s constructed riverbed channel
Note : No mature treeline on embankment

However time waits for no man or boy and nothing stays the same forever. An idea first mooted in the 1950s was about to become a reality. A new National Road was to be laid down in lieu of the old Railway line. So it was that the Cork South Ring Road began construction in the early 1990s. The builders wisely chose to follow the old route of the Cork Macroom railway line. But to achieve this , first work had to commence on clearing the channels which had been cut out in the 19th Century. This also meant removing all the old stone culverts ( see above ).

Newspaper account of objection to diverting of Glasheen River
Note : Photo shows original course of Glasheen River
with its original mature treeline in background

Only 1 channel was allowed to remain based on the fact that it had a source back near Togher Cross which ran into the Glasheen River and can still be seen today. Perhaps the most incredible part of all the work of creating the Cork South Ring Road was the decision to move a portion of the Glasheen River further north to facilitate road widening. This met with much opposition from the residents north of the Glasheen River in Donscourt in the townland of Farrandahadore More. A new riverbed and embankment was dug out by heavy machinery to form a straighter course and a portion of the original route of the Glasheen River along with its original mature treeline was gone forever. This new portion is very much evident by the lack of mature trees on its banks when compared to the original sections it joins. The photo above shows that original section of the Glasheen River which is now gone forever.

Course of spring near Spur Hill to channel
adjacent to The Headlands

Course of spring alongside Sarsfield Lane

Treeline at top shows course of spring from Spur Hill
Treeline running at right angles shows channel
which meets up with Glasheen River at bottom

Of course other natural features and man made solutions to the never ending problem of drainage enter the narrative as well. Firstly , a drainage pit was created during the construction of Garrane Darra housing complex. It is thought this was piped through to a natural stream which emanated from the bogland just south of the N40. In turn this stream was diverted back into the Glasheen River north of the N40 and under the Sarsfield Road Flyover. And just east of that is a natural boghole north of The Headlands. Added to all of this is the mysterious culvert which runs along the entrance to Elm Park. It consists of 2 entrance bridges. It is not known to date if this was again a modern drainage scheme.