From humble beginnings in the old Muintir na Tire cottage to its present location since the early 1980s , the Blog looks back at the history of the Togher branch of the Lough Credit Union.
The Lough Credit Union
100 - 103 Bandon Road , The Lough
100 - 103 Bandon Road , The Lough
The Lough Credit Union opened for business at the junction of Bandon Road and McCurtains Villas at The Lough parish in 1966. Almost immediately , it opened a sub office in Togher which was housed in the old Muintir na Tire house and operated by local members of the community there.
Original home of Credit Union in Togher
Circa 1980/81 , a new purpose built sub office of The Lough Credit Union was opened on the corner of Shournagh Lawn fronting onto the Togher Road. In 1989 , it applied for planning permission to extend its footprint. As of 2026 , its area has increased again with an internal staff car park with enclosed customer parking spaces on the main Togher Road outside its premises. This year marks its 60th Anniversary since its founding! Nowadays its nestled inside Togher's newest estate , Shournagh Grove.
Future site of Credit Union 1971
* right of transformer Owenacurra Court
* right of transformer Owenacurra Court
Future site of the Credit Union 1976
Photo shows members of the Pearse , Wilkinson
& Carroll families
Aerial view of Credit Union 1996
( corner of Shournagh Lawn on Togher Road )
Photo shows members of the Pearse , Wilkinson
& Carroll families
( corner of Shournagh Lawn on Togher Road )
Location of " new " Credit Union 2009
Extended footprint to right of Credit Union 2019
Aerial view of The Lough Credit Union , Togher Road
To date The Lough Credit Unions have a combined asset size of €115m with 14,000 members and a staff of 19 across its 2 branches under the leadership of Jamie O'Leary.
The Lough Credit Unions
Old Credit Union signage
Updated Credit Union signage 2026
Why the " Lough " Credit Union?
People would be forgiven for thinking they were in another Parish when they pass the " Lough " Credit Union in Togher. The reason for the name lies in the fact that when The Lough Credit Union opened a sub-office in Togher to cover a wider demographic distinct from its catchment area on Bandon Road , it did so under its registered business name. Allied to that was the fact that Togher at the time was a part of The Lough R.C. Parish.
