On Sunday 21st February 2016 , Billy O'Brien and Eamonn Pearse met with fellow Togher Historical Assoc. member Kathleen O'Keeffe to once more trawl through her Private Collection. It never fails to amaze that on each visit something new and wonderful presents itself for inclusion in the Archives. This visit would turn out to be no exception to the rule.
Billy O'Brien with Draft copy of
Togher , A Brief History by Tom O'Keeffe
First up for viewing was this exclusive draft copy of Tom O'Keeffe's first book - " Togher , A Brief History " (
see photo above ) which was the brilliant precursor for " Togher Past And Present ". Whilst there were many similarities with the second book in terms of content , there was also enough of difference to consider it as a fantastic work in its own right and a much sought after collectors item.
Kathleen poses with two of her paintings
depicting scenes from bygone days of Togher
The group was next treated to two hidden gems from Kathleen O'Keeffe's Private Collection. These took the form of two original Paintings - The Snotty Bridge and The Forge at Togher Cross (
see above and below ) using old photos as source material composed by Kathleen herself. Kathleen utilised local knowledge to embellish the canvas giving extra detail such as the bend in the road above the old Railway Bridge. Eamonn also commented on the fact that a crabapple tree overhung from the archway. Mention was also made by Kathleen of a woman who used to wait next to the bridge with a stick to warn children if a stranger was loitering nearby back in the 1960s.
Snotty Bridge - Cork Bandon Railway - Togher
The Forge - Togher Cross
The following are a fascinating trip through time and show some amazing snapshots of life as it was then. The first photograph shows some unknown youths playing in the pool of Lehenagh House off Matthews Hill. The pool was fed by a channel being cut through the grounds which allowed the waters of the Liberty Stream to flow through into a dug out plot and back out again to rejoin the stream. The pool is now long gone.
Unknown youths playing in pool
- Lehenagh House 1960s
The next photograph is a rare capture of Cottrells House in Lehenaghmore , which was later demolished in the early 1960s in order to accommodate the building of Cork Airport.
Cottrells House - Lehenaghmore , Togher
These three ladies posed for the camera back in the 1940s as evidenced by their hairstyles and clothes. Hannie Roche is the Aunt of Kathleen O'Keeffe. It is thought this was taken somewhere on Doughcloyne Hill.
Hannie Roche ( nee O'Donovan ) ,
Ann/May Hosford
& Joan Sexton from Doughcloyne
circa 1940s
This photograph was taken circa 1939. The house was located off Woulfes Lanes , Lehenagh and sadly is long demolished. The youth in the pram - Pat Walsh - turns 80 years of age soon. The lady holding the baby is Kathleen's Grand Aunt.
Katie Walsh( nee Donovan )
with baby John in arms
and Pat in pram ,
Woulfe Lane , Lehenagh late 1930s
These three young ladies show what costumes for Hallowe'en looked like back in the 1950s. Far simpler affairs than those of today. The shot was taken in the grounds of Lehenagh House off Matthew's Hill.
Eileen Porter , Annie Quinn & Edie Cottrell
Hallowe'en costumes 1950s near Lehenagh House
This photograph was given to Kathleen O'Keeffe by the Devery Family and shows two of their siblings in a pram on the main Togher Road in 1947. The location is slightly up from the Cross and depicts the stream wall on the left and the footpath and wall of Lehenaghmore House on the right.
Neil Devery's siblings in pram , Togher Road 1947
A bowling group shot taken by Togher Cross in 1955. The bowlers are posing outside the entrance gates ( see pillars ) of Sarsfield House across from the site of the Forge. The houses immediately to the right are still present - i.e. the two yellow houses at the beginning of Doughcloyne Hill.
Bowling photograph in Togher 1955
The trip down memory lane concluded with an up to date photograph of the in progress construction of the new porch for the Community Centre. Tastefully executed , it should enhance this ancient hub of education in Togher.
Porch under construction at Togher Community Centre
