Togher's Financial Sector - 02 - Bank of Ireland

The second in the series dealing with Togher's financial houses looks now at the Bank of Ireland which opened in the early 1970s to capitalize on the booming population and its surrounding region populated by farmers.

Bank of Ireland , Hazel Road , Togher 1976

 
While it wasn't Togher's first ever financial institution , it was nonetheless one of it's founding fathers. When plans were put in place to build a second shopping centre - Southside shopping centre ( the first being Togher shopping centre off Togher Road in 1969 ) , the bank was one of the original tenants occupying the corner unit which fronted onto Hazel Road.  Like all other businesses located there it was built on the former site of Hosford's farm. 

Bank of Ireland 1971
Corner building on right next to tree

The Bank of Ireland opened for business in 1970 and was , beside the Credit Union ( then housed in the Muintir na Tire cottage opposite the National School ) , the only business where people could save and borrow. The building was constructed with bricks and a PVC fascia. It was entered from the side near Byrne's butchers and had steps leading up to Hazel Road along its southerly wall. Pedestrians could also use the footpath which rounded its way up and alongside a raised flower bed. Children of the time would often playfully annoy the clerks who worked in offices which were in full view from the footpath which made its way up Hazel Road. All that separated both from each other was a small grass verge.

Alternate view of Bank of Ireland
* Note grass verge on right side off Hazel Road

However it's tenancy was to be short lived as it never came out of the 1970s! Following the completion of Wilton shopping centre , it became clear that a move was on the cards and indeed in early 1979 , the bank closed its doors in Togher for the last time and moved to a unit just inside the main doors of the new Wilton shopping centre ( the centre having opened in 1977 ) while its own new standalone building was under construction. This eventually opened in 1980 ( see below ) and Togher's first and last branch of Bank of Ireland had found a new home where it exists to this very day. The old premises in Togher became Casey's launderette. 

Bank of Ireland conjen box 1970s

 

Interestingly enough , while in Togher , it never suffered a bank raid. In fact the only unit to have an armed robbery was the Five Star! ( read here ). Also , eagle eyed readers will probably have noted the 1970s photograph displays the logo Bank of Ireland Group. The reason for the name was because a year  earlier in 1969 , The National Bank of Ireland , Hibernian and Bank of Ireland merged to form the Bank of Ireland Group. 

Bank of Ireland logo 1970s

The Bank of Ireland was from an historical point of view first created on 5 April 1783 ,  243 years ago in a private house in Dublin. By 1922 , it was appointed as banker to the Government of Ireland. Below are the old Irish currency notes which would have been issued by the Central Bank of Ireland during the 1970s. Interestingly enough , when Ireland transitioned from the old system of Pounds , Shillings and Pence £sp a.k.a. LSD on Monday 15th February 1971 , the notes were retained ( Lady Lavery series introduced as first native Irish currency on 10th September 1928 ) while new coinage was minted. However certain coins such as the old penny were interchangeable almost up to 1980.

Irish One Pound note
10th September 1928 - 30th September 1976

Old One Penny coin ( 1d )

New Irish One Pound note
June 1977 - June 1990

New One Pence coin 1971

Like a ghost which deserted its place of origin , the former Togher branch of Bank of Ireland has since 1980 been sited off Sarsfield Road next to Wilton shopping centre. However people of a certain age will well remember its old home off Hazel Road in Togher.