Toghers Financial Sector - 05 - Post Offices - Part 2 - Togher Road / Tramore Road

In this our final article on our Financial Sector series of Togher , we look back at arguably Togher's oldest institution - Togher Post Office. First opened in 1946 , it is a tale ( much like it's younger sister Pouladuff Road P.O. ) of 2 Post Offices and 2 Roads.

 

Late 1940s OSi map
P.O. marked on Togher Road

Togher Road Post Office
Aerial view 1951

Ai reconstruction of interior of Togher Post Office
* based on memories , may be slightly incorrect

Following the end of World War II a.k.a. The Emergency , Togher was lifted out of its slumber by the introduction of not only street lighting , public transport , sewage and water works , but also it's first Post Office. Located on market garden land owned by Sheila Roche , it opened for business in 1946 quickly becoming the hub for all local gossip and news. It also doubled as a small grocery shop. Newspapers , mail and pensions were its mainstay and it acted as the central communications hub of the larger Togher area.

Togher Road P.O. 1971
Top centre of photograph

It must be remembered that when it initially opened , it stood at the crossroads of Togher's very lifeblood. Positioned on the main arterial route , Togher Road , it also fed into the then Hangdog Road ( later Tramore Road ) and into Manning's Lane. Literally ahead of it was the Togher Railway Bridge which saw frequent passenger and delivery trains whistle their way under the bridge. Originally run by Ms. Lily O'Sullivan , whom many locals recall seeing on her bicycle as she went to work , she was its Postmistress for many decades. John O'Callaghan , her Nephew whose parents owned the actual building and who themselves lived up near The Lough ran the grocery side of things , selling amongst other things bread , newspapers , tobacco , confectionery and milk. When Lily retired in the early 1980s , John took over the running of the Post Office himself. It was during this decade that the Post Office was subject to a raid. However following a tip off , Armed Gardai were already waiting inside and the raiders upon entering surrendered immediately!

Togher Road P.O. 1980s

Many local schoolgirls worked part time at the establishment during the 1970s and 1980s. Many children of the era remember well the high wooden counter as you entered on the right hand side. A big dip in the counter displayed loose unwrapped bread which many children helped themselves to. A big feature of the Post Office was it's public telephone which acted as a lifeline for Parents keeping in touch with loved ones abroad. 

Irwin's chemist June 2009 ( Sheila Roche's former market garden )
Medical practice on left ( site of Old P.O. )

Irwin's Chemist opened for business at the old Post Office on Togher Road in August 2005 following a relocation of the P.O. to Tramore Road ( see below ). It would hold that tenure until 2011 when a new purpose built premises was constructed following the demolition of the old Post Office building. Irwins would take lease of most of the entire ground floor whilst the top story would be occupied by Smile Stores circa late 2011 with a Medical Centre taking residence in a left corner unit of the new complex. * This complex will be explored more fully in a separate article in the near future.

Morgans & Togher Post Office

Morgan's shop Hangdog Road 1951 ( beneath letter M )

The Morgan's have run a small shop which was attached to their house on Tramore Road ( formally Hangdog Road ) for many decades and it was they who took up the mantle of providing a new location for the Post Office ( see above ). To that end they gave over the ground floor of their 2 story house and ran the postal service in tandem with their shop. John O'Callaghan with his years of experience was retained as the Postmaster until his retirement when John McCarthy took over. Mrs. Mary Morgan the original owner was born in 1922 and had celebrated her 102nd birthday in 2024 before sadly passing away in February 2025. One Postman who took delivery of the mail from Togher Post Office on Tramore Road was Denis Dunscombe who retired in 2009 after 27 years in the job. He delivered the mail on foot in the Togher , Wilton & Glasheen region. He would originally have started his job in 1982 working out of the old Post Office on Togher Road.

*Mrs. Morgan shop 1960s

*Mrs. Morgan born 1922!

Morgan's shop ( L ) & Togher Post Office , Tramore Road

* Despite moving to its new location in 2005 , Togher Post Office has the distinction of being the oldest P.O. in Togher and indeed the immediate postal area ( Bishopstown P.O. opened in 1948 , two years later ) having come into being in 1946. While primarily used as a Postal hub for the greater Togher area , it is also used by people from neighboring districts such as Wilton and Glasheen having a large catchment area ( like its sister P.O. on Edward Walsh Road which serves Togher and Ballyphehane  ). This year 2026 marks its 80th Anniversary!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

* Images from Morgans Daybreak Facebook Page