26th Fieldwork Trip - 16th June 2018 - Chetwynd , Doughcloyne & Lehenaghmore

On Saturday afternoon on June 6th 2018 , the Togher Historical Association undertook its 26th Fieldwork Trip to date. The plan was to visit some of Togher's eateries and also visit some of her more iconic locations. First stop was to the site of the former Chetwynd House off Meagher's Lane. Acting on information from the Togher Facebook page concerning its demolition , the group decided to investigate the location. Sadly what greeted them was proof positive that the centuries old structure was indeed now gone , in its place a heap of rubble to make way for a garden extension. This coupled with the former Phillipine House off Doughcloyne Hill saw two of Togher's oldest buildings erased forever within months of each other.

 Initial view of demolished Chetwynd House

 Outbuildings which formed courtyard with House

 Remains of Chetwynd House showing new build

Outbuilding at end of Meagher's Lane

Site of former Chetwynd House , Meaghers Lane

Next stop for the group was the site of the former Phillipine House now completely upgraded to the Fellowship House complex which is devoted to assisting those suffering with addiction. A brand new metal gate with the " Fellowship House " title cut into its frame guards the way to the site. Aside from some ancillary buildings constructed by AnCO in 1985 , everything else is newly constructed including an exact replica of the old Phillipine House. The old orchard walls have been pared back and its grounds excavated to house several buildings. This was a unique opportunity to photograph the grounds while still unoccupied.

Newly landscaped and tarmacced 

entrance lane to Fellowship House

New titular entrance gates to Fellowship House

 Replica build of Phillipine House

 Additional structure with titular signage on paneled facia

Angled view of new Phillipine House

 New ancillary buildings in old Orchard grounds

Front view of replica of iconic building

Upgraded Fellowship House off Doughcloyne Hill 

The group next headed for Applegreen on Togher Road to hand deliver a copy of the original placue for the old cottage school which was once sited at that location and which was damaged during construction of the garage. The proprietors of Applegreen are to shortly commission a replacement. Below can be seen an archive photograph of the original placue which hopefully will be reinstated soon.

Photograph of old cottage school placue

The group next made their to the gully by the Airport where the Glenmore River rises. The reason was to gauge the practicalities of attempting a climb down its ravine to video the area in question. Unfortunately it was deemed impossible given the dangerous overgrowth and the cordoning off of the location due to a private build which is in progress to its immediate left which will include a house , driveway and water treatment plant. It is planned to hopefully negotiate with the new owners in the future for a possible trip into the gully. A few of the blocks making up the hidden bridge under which the Glenmore River flows could be seen to have been dislodged. While there , a fun blast from the past presented itself in the form of a long trailing plant known to many Togher children as " stickybacks ". The name derived from the plants ability to quite literally stick to garments. The actual name of the plant is Cleaver and it is both a medicinal herb and an edible food used in salads.

 Stone Bridge all but hidden by overgrowth

 View of river concealed by heavy foliage

 Alternate view of bridge showing dislodged stones

Cleavers or Stickybacks growing near gully

Billy O'Brien posing with Stickybacks

The group next made its way to Stalks & Stems florist and Mad Hatters Cafe on Tramore Road but regrettably found the shop to be closing trade for the day. It is hoped to make a return visit again at an earlier time. It was decided to stop off for coffee at the Viaduct Bar and take in the ambience which included the famous viaduct of the same name and the wonderful Glasheen River which flows alongside.

Chetwynd Viaduct as seen from Viaduct Bar

Glasheen River showing culvert and rubble banks

Chetwynd Viaduct as seen from the Glasheen River

Frontal signage of Viaduct Bar & Restaurant

Scenic beer garden outside Viaduct Bar

Glasheen River near Viaduct Bar/Chetwynd Viaduct

The Fieldwork Trip concluded with a brief look at the now cleared site of the former Allan home on Doughcloyne Hill before viewing one of Togher's newest signs erected by Tidy Towns in the grounds of the Funeral Home on Sarsfield Road. Previously the sign had been removed but has since been reinstated and adds to the beautiful ambience of Togher.

Cleared site of former Allan House

Togher Tidy Towns sign outside Funeral Home

6th Fieldwork Trip - July 6th 2014 : The Chetwynd Viaduct

An unexpected phone call to the Blog lead to an impromptu journey to the very top of the Chetwynd Viaduct on a muggy Sunday afternoon on 6th July 2014. The modus operandi was to ascertain the viability of leading an interested group there in the near future and to iron out any safety issues or pitfalls that might ensue from undertaking such a venture. So it was that the team of Billy O'Brien and Eamonn Pearse arrived in the car park of the Viaduct Bar at approximately 5 O'Clock.

The Chetwynd Viaduct in all its glory

Surveying the scene which lay before them quickly brought to light two types of terrain : a high grassy wetland and a steep vertical climb. No time was lost as the Team climbed over a gate and down past a gabion ( rocks enclosed by a square wire basket ) near the Glasheen River before gingerly making their way across the scrubland.

Gabion near the Glasheen River

Keeping the Glasheen River to their right ( which serves as Chetwynds and indeed Toghers natural left hand boundary ) the Team proceeded onwards through densely packed vegetation before happening upon a streamlet almost hidden from view which bisected the tract of land before emptying into the main body of water which itself flowed just left of the middle parapet of the imposing Viaduct. It is important to note that the river like so many others in the Togher region has been altered many times over the Centuries and indeed even to date is having its banks shored up with rock at this very venue.

Glasheen River flowing near the middle parapet

Braving nettles and thorns , the Team psyched themselves up for the onerous vertical climb to come. The area is extremely overgrown and wooded and many wild bushes and clumps of ferns were used as leverage. However , as they elevated themselves slowly but surely , a rope tied off to a tree further up , presented itself. Making full use of this gift from the Gods , the team gratefully pulled themselves ever higher up the track. What greeted them next was surreal to say the least. About halfway up , a makeshift swing was discovered which was soon being tested out by Eamonn Pearse!

Passing under the overhanging steel structure

The steel arch looming through the overgrowth 

on the upward journey

Eamonn decides to test drive a log swing

After a brief rest , the journey was resumed with the easternmost parapet soon coming into view. This appeared to rest on a bedrock of natural sandstone. The last hurdle made itself known in the form of an almost vertical peak which was navigated by clinging onto weeds and tree trunks. However , finally the Team were able to walk along a less graduated surface and turned up and onto the parapet itself.

At the face of the easternmost parapet 70 feet up

The view almost at the top of a long climb

What greeted them was beyond words as the full scale of the Viaduct was unleashed and the sheer height became apparent. Passing under an iron overhang , they made their way onto the edge of the steel arched frame of this magnificent structure. Fierce crosswinds and intermittent bouts of vertigo served to hamper the operation but fears were temporarily dismissed to capture some images and uncover some relics from the past. Despite having its original sleepers , trackbed and side shutterings dismantled decades previously , there was still evidence of the once presence of the horseless carriages as they made their way across the gulf of the valley in the form of coke which would have been deposited accidentally as the iron horse trundled its way across the void. These were found embedded in the topsoil , still perfectly preserved. A sobering look back towards Togher showed the absence of the original embankment which would have elevated the former trackbed over the undulating countryside in order to mate with the Viaduct.

Almost there : 

an emotional and rewarding experience

The Chetwynd Viaduct looking from Togher

View of the Glasheen River and Viaduct Bar carpark

Teetering on the parapet of the Chetwynd Viaduct

Coke embedded in the topsoil just before the iron 

archway almost 100 feet above ground level

The view from the top looking back towards Togher

After capturing a token video of the event , the Team gladly made their descent back down , much more quickly than they had initially ascended. The trek to ground level proved as hazardous as the exhaustive march up to the top , but soon they found themselves on terra firma once more. The streamlet which they had quickly run across at the beginning of the venture was now leaped in one bound. A final climb back over the gate and the adventure drew to a close. One last look back at the towering monolith which Togher boasts as one if its iconic landmarks and the Team departed with a promise to return soon with a much larger expedition.

The vertical descent back down begins

Side view of the arch on the downward trek

A final look back at Toghers finest achievement

The famous swing in the sky - almost 60 feet high

Down to earth with more than a bang

All in all , this test Fieldwork Trip undertaken by the Togher Historical Association proved to be a rich and rewarding experience. Health and Safety concerns while raised should not deter any future trips by qualified personnel. However , the Blog officially declares that anybody unfit or underage should not attempt this trek and accepts no liability for the actions of others.

Video of the Chetwynd Viaduct field Trip by the Togher Historical Association