Townlands - 06 / 15 - Deanrock

Carridiggainge - Sheltering Rock - 91 Acres
a.k.a. Deanrock ( see article below for more )

A natural rocky outcrop which was heavily quarried during the 19th Century and on which the current Deanrock Estate is sited.  

Deanrock - 1927 OSi map

Deanrock is unique amongst the Townlands of Togher in that it is the only Townland to have been rendered completely in English and also the only Townland to traverse the Togher Road. The Down Survey of 1656 - 1658 notes its name as Carridiggainge , an albeit corrupt interpretation of the original Irish which has been lost to the mists of time. However , scholars have declared that it can be deduced from the pronunciation that it could be loosely translated as Sheltering Rock. The term Dean Rock itself first came in to play circa 1841 following the reorganization of the Anglican Church in Ireland and was itself a corruption of the old Irish to fit a new narrative. The Tithe Applotment books of 1823-37 list the Townland as Carrigadranig so it proves that the renaming to Deanrock was relatively late in the Townlands history. The rocky outcrop such as it was in ancient times before being quarried lent its name to the entire Townland. ( It also had a nearby sibling in the form of the locally named " The Mountain " off Hazel Road. ) Due to heavy quarrying , the original rock formation was heavily depleted and by the 1940s , it was reduced to a series of bumps and hollows earning itself the famous name " The Heighties ". All that remains of this landmark following infilling by the landowner Hosford in the 1960s is " Devils Rock ".

Deanrock - Aerial map 1951

Much of her old buildings were demolished following compulsory purchase order in 1967: The Kerry Yard ( a compound of stone buildings complete with duck pond ) , Hosfords bungalow ,  Clashduff House , Bannons house , a lodge which lead to the Clashduff house , Deanrock house and all surrounding cottages , Ardmanning cottages ,  demolished in 1971 , Togher railway bridge 1976 , The Cuttings 1970s/1980s , Murphys cottage , circa 1980s. Plus numerous smaller holdings and stone walls.

Owenaccurra  Court also showing rear of Shounagh Lawn

Deanrock today is home to a mixture of the modern and historical and its ever changing landscape is testament to this.  To date , 3 structures which were erected during the developments of the 1960s and 1970s have been demolished. Owenacurra Court , part of the N.B.A. building scheme and built 1969 was finally demolished in 2007. 2 additional blocks of flats on Shournagh Lawn were also removed. Today the once vacant site is home to Toghers newest Estate , Shournagh Grove. Southside shopping centre and its anchor tenant Five Star which was completed in 1970 was demolished circa 2005 and now is home to Lidl. T.S.B. bank built late 1970s was demolished some years back and is now the site of Abbeyville Veterinary practice. Deanrock Terrace has seen much of its original cottages depleted over the years resulting in an odd mixture of private builds giving the terrace a disjointed appearance.

Denis Irwin displaying his sports memoribilia ( note the hurley! )
Photo © Eddie O'Hare

Perhaps one of its most famous sons is the legendary Denis Irwin of Shournagh Lawn who played soccer for Manchester United and Republic of Ireland. A keen G.A.A. player in his early days he also excelled in chess. He attended Togher National School throughout the 1970s.

Deanrock - ( Data from Townlands.ie )

Addresses ( Modern Era )

 
Elm Road
Hazel Road ( Portion facing on to The Mountain )
Togher Road
( Corner of entrance to Sycamore Place to end of Overpass near Tramore River/Coffeys Field )
Rose Lawn
Clashduv Road ( Junction of Togher Road to Glasheen bridge )
Solas
Vicars Court
Vicars Road ( to end of Vicars Court )
Deanwood Avenue
Deanvale
Market Gardens
Clashduv Park ( portion of )
Abbeyville Veterinary Practice
Deanrock Avenue ( loop road )
Lough Credit Union
Shournagh Grove
Shournagh Lawn
Maglin Grove
Ilen Court
Blackwater Grove
Araglen Court
Leamlara Close
Owenabue Close
Argideen Lawn
Deanrock Terrace
Harley Wood
Deanrock Cottages
St. Finbarrs H&F Club
West Side Estate
Rock Bingo hall
Togher Overpass bridge
South Ring Road ( portion on western approach )

Addresses/Structures ( Historical Era )

The Mountain ( rocky outcrop off  Hazel Road )
The Heighties ( Quarry - present day Deanrock Estate )
The Kerry Yard ( Demolished )
Hosfords House ( Demolished )
Ardmanning Cottages ( Demolished )
Carmelville* ( Listed building )
Summerstown Lane ( gone )
The Bog ( portion of )
Deanrock House ( Demolished )
O'Donnell's Lane ( gone )
Mannings House ( Demolished )
Mannings Lane ( now Barrs Lane though has other local names )
Caravan Park ( now Harleywood )
Abbeyville House *( Still remaining )
Murphys cottage ( Demolished )
McCarthys cottage* ( Still remaining )
The Cutting ( Demolished )
Togher Railway bridge ( Demolished )

Boundary ( Shown in red on aerial photo )

Beginning at a point left of Rose Lawn and continuing through the rear gardens of same to cross Vicars Road and move in a line to the rear of Deanwood Avenue and around Market Gardens to take in the houses to the left of Leaca Ban and across Togher Road to follow a line alongside Deanrock Terrace to the corner of Deanrock Cottages and diagonally across to the Togher Overpass bridge to its end before turning into West Side estate and moving around its rear gardens before following a semi circular line across the South Ring Road and across St. Finbarrs G.A.A. grounds before meeting the Glasheen River and following it all the way back to the footbridge before moving across Clashduv Park in a diagonal line before crossing Clashduv Road to the bottom of Elm Road and traversing Hazel Road to move through the rear gardens of Togher Square to meet up at the point to the left of Rose Lawn.

Boundary of Deanrock

Lehenagh Beg

Deanrock Estate - 1967 ~ 2020

Future Deanrock site 1967 showing original Deanrock House 
and other buildings to top of photo with Caravan Park near bottom

Between 1967 and 1969 , a plot of land in Deanrock was to be forever transformed when the Corporation employed the National Building Society to build a new social housing estate. The contract was given to Sisk builders who in turn contracted various tradesmen to undertake the work for a set fee and not the traditional wage. All land and property ( from a point at Summerstown Lane proceeding along Togher Road and ending at Deanrock Terrace right back to the Glasheen River ) therein was compulsorily purchased by Cork Corporation and former occupants housed elsewhere. Much of the land known as the Heighties was owned by local dairy farmer Henry Hosford who had leveled the land prior to sale. Ironically a short while later he was ordered to sell his own land for the purposes of another building scheme!

Ground level view of site owned by Mr. Hosford

The Blog made contact with Martin Casey , a plasterer , who was contracted by Sisk Builders for the duration of the scheme. He recalls that at the initial stages of construction , the old stone wall to the right of Deanrock Terrace was partially demolished to provide access to the workers and their machinery. He remembers that the housing scheme was begun from the Togher Road end and proceeded back to the Glasheen River. The old Deanrock House and various smaller holdings were immediately knocked and the work began in earnest. The cottages on Togher Road were the last to be demolished and were used as storerooms for the duration of the project.

Deanrock Estate 1969 showing N.B.A. flats 

still under construction

Drains and foundations were the biggest and most time consuming part of the job. However once this was finished , the overall operation proceeded at alarming speed. Cranes were brought onto the site to put in place precast concrete walls for the terraced houses. Once this was completed , work began on the roofs which were fitted with roof tiles. The empty shells were then given a wooden staircase and upper storey. Finally , pre-assembled wooden shells were lifted into place to seal off both front and rear of each unit. The timber was specially treated and imported from Holland. The next stage of the operation saw the insertion of windows and doors into the wooden frames. The front facing sheds were then erected. A whole host of tradesmen including electricians , painters and carpenters completed the work on each block. Each terrace was worked on in turn before moving onto the next. Each block once finished was almost immediately let out to tenants.

Argideen Lawn as seen from Togher Road 1968

Martin remembers leaving work at the end of the day with only the foundations of a particular terrace in place but upon returning the following morning seeing all the walls and roof already in place. Concrete footpaths and off road steps connecting the terraces were laid down while the loop road and access points were tarmacadamed.

Clashduv Road being laid down near old Summerstown Lane 

off Togher Road 1968. Note N.B.A. flats not yet in situ

The flats were the last phase of the scheme and these were composed of concrete shells constructed off site and delivered and lifted into place by cranes with the sheds added thereafter. Concrete steps were next installed and wooden facades fitted front and rear of each unit. The flat roofs were sealed with torch on felt. The original entrance road to the former Deanrock House was preserved as a walkway between the flats with most of the original tress left intact.

Deanrock Estate 1970s showing Bog in foreground

Martin shared two incidents from his time on the scheme which he stated will stay with him for the rest of his life. One was funny whilst the other was not so funny. A fellow worker used to turn up each day dressed in what could only be described as rags. As time wore on , a stores was erected on the site to secure the trademens tools and various materials needed for the day to day operations. The unnamed worker was offered the job of storeman and promptly turned up for work the following morning wearing a nice suit! The other incident involved Martin himself. While working on a terrace roof he heard a strange noise and before he could act found himself falling through and breaking his leg which lost him several months of work.

Deanrock Estate 1973

The builders parting shot to this old part of Togher was to demolish the cottages facing the Togher Road along with the remainder of the stone wall. Local resident Thomas Hayes recalls : " My mother Mrs. Hayes , Mrs McGrath and Mrs Clarke actually cleaned all the houses built in the initial NBA after the builders finished for about 18 months after they were finished. "  

Old cleared N.B.A. site  prior to new building scheme

As time wore on , various infill housing schemes were completed to cut off so called " rat runs " to combat anti-social behaviour. The N.B.A. flats themselves were finally demolished in 2007 effectively wiping out a local address - Owenacurra Court - and in 2020 the new Shournagh Grove was completed forever changing the landscape.

25th Fieldwork Trip - 9th June 2018 - New Fellowship House & Deanrock Site

On Saturday June 9th 2018 , Eamonn Pearse and Eamonn Twomey of the Togher Historical Association undertook the 25th Fieldwork Trip to date , by visiting the new Fellowship House complex at Doughcloyne Hill. The entire site had been upgraded to a high standard with the former Phillipine House being rebuilt as an exact replica. The old enclosed orchard had been completely leveled with the front wall removed and partially re-stoned. The site also boasted a new gateway entrance which added to the overall ambience. Eamonn Pearse photographed key areas within the location and also videod the various new builds.

 Gateway with new signage at entrance

 New builds with titular signage above wooden facia

 Replica of old Phillipine House with extensions

Close up of new Phillipine House with arched doorway

 Ancillary offices and outbuildings

 Rear view of new Phillipine House from courtyard

 Alternate view of new Phillipine House

Various outbuildings and courtyard

 Close up view of new builds

 Interior view of new builds inside orchard grounds

View of side exit from old orchard

Video of new Fellowship House site

Whilst the Fieldwork Trip was mostly concerned with the new Fellowship House complex , a quick visit was also made to the Deanrock site on Togher Road to view the progress of the newly named Shournagh Grove. It is envisaged that work will now be proceeding ahead in the very near future to complete Togher's newest estate.

Panoramic view of Deanrock site showing work in progress