Togher's Financial Sector - 03 - Credit Union

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

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. 

Muintir na Tire cottage , Togher Road
Original home of Credit Union in Togher

Muintir na Tire site in present day

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

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 )

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.

Jamie O'Leary CEO
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.