Southside Shopping Centre - Togher - Five Star & Other Units

In 1971 , the Southside Shopping Centre positioned between the Hazel and Elm Roads was formally opened to much fanfare as being the second only such structure outside of the inner City , the first being its close neighbour , the Togher Shopping Centre ( a.k.a. The V.G. ) which was completed a year earlier off the main Togher Road in 1969 with the anchor tenant actually trading in 1968. This gave Togher the distinct record of having the first two suburban shopping centres in Cork.

Aerial view of Clashduff House in 1951

However , another building existed on the site which had a much longer tenancy - Clashduff House - which dated back to the early 18th Century. The large house had been unoccupied since 1959 when its owner Ms. Ellen Sarah Ellis died leaving the estate to her niece Martha Trinder and her husband Henry W. Hosford who resided in a bungalow near the main Togher Road . The big house and all outhouses and other smaller privately owned dwellings were promptly demolished between 1967 and early 1968 following compulsory purchase order of the lands by the Cork Corporation and bulldozed into a hollow in the nearby bog. It is believed some of the masonry can still be seen near the waters edge of the Glasheen River. Soon thereafter the connecting road from the new concrete bridge over the Glasheen River was built to join with the Togher Road and new Vicar's Road intersection. It should be noted that the site of the new shopping centre and public park to its rear was part of Hosford's dairy farm which stretched right up to Earlwood Estate and over to Togher Road.

Site cleared for construction 1969 ( centre of photo )

 

The Irish Land Company was invited by Cork Corporation to formulate plans for the development of the site. They engaged with Patrick O'Sullivan , Architects to design the complex with the construction undertaken by Daniel Hegarty & Sons Ltd. The design of the site included one large unit which was leased out to Five Star Supermarkets Ltd. with an adjacent Coffee Bar and several terraced units rented out to a wide selection of services with the corner unit reserved for Bank of Ireland ( with steps and curved walkway leading from the footpath on Hazel Road ) with the entire complex arranged in a curved pattern and completely sheltered from the elements. The area between the larger unit and the terraced units ( which also housed a postbox built into the wall and access to the rear of the shops ) was fitted with steps and a ramp for trolleys and prams which lead to the upper elevation where another 3 units were available with a central courtyard and steps leading onto Elm Road. The land to the rear of the complex was excavated to provide access route for delivery trucks to the shops and the Five Star back store. A high retaining wall was built below the new public park ( a connecting footpath was built across the field from Hazel Road to Elm Road which also led onto the courtyard to the rear of the Five Star ) with a generator house providing electricity to the shops. The original trees which once stood by the old Clashduff House were retained and enclosed by kerbing at both entrances to the car park which had space for 80 cars with a low brick wall surrounding the area. Additionally street lighting was installed at both entrances. Although located within the district of Togher , the new complex had to settle on the title of Southside Shopping Centre as Togher Shopping Centre was already in use off Ardmanning Hill. It should be noted that all house fronting onto Togher Road from and including Sycamore Place and much of Hazel Road were built and occupied before the shopping centre was constructed. Cherry Tree Road , Whitebeam Road , Birch Place and Maple Place would be built in tandem with the new complex.

 

Winner of trolley dash in 1971
Mrs. O'Shea with daughter Anna Marie
Garda Bill Daley ( left ) - All Ireland bowling champion 

& Hurler Charlie McCarthy ( right ) - St. Finbarrs & Cork hurler
Mr. McCarthy - Five Star manager ( centre )

 

The following is a list of the original tenants as of 1975 -

The Lower Level consisted of:

 Five Star Supermarket & Coffee Dock , 

 

Iris Ladies Fashions , 

Harrington Wallpaper & Paint ,

 

 John O'Riordan Chemist , 

 T.C.C. O'Brien Newsagents , 

 

Colour T.V. Services , 

Tony Bernard Hairdressers , 

Springtime Laundrette , 

Byrnes Butchers 

 

and Bank of Ireland.

The Upper Level consisted of : 

Our Children Boutique , 

Driving Test Centre 

and Dr. O'Flynns.

Of course many would leave to be replaced by others as time wore on. Byrnes Butchers was replaced in 1982 by Maurice Kelly who remained until the very last when the complex was slated for demolition in the late 1990s. However the wrecking ball wouldn't arrive until 2007 when the entire site was erazed from all memory to be replaced by Lidl Supermarket. The shopping complex still holds many fond memories for local residents and ex-pats from traders selling christmas trees under the lights in the car park to several youths being sent to the butchers for a bucket of steam and the frequent mishaps by steerna drivers racing off Hazel Road towards the rear of the shopping centre and the many late night football matches in the car park. Below is a selection of photographs featuring the " Fiva " which look back at the 1970s and 1980s.

Still from 1970s T.V. ad showing actor wearing
typical Five Star coat

 View of entrance from Elm Road

View of entrance from Hazel Road

Green Shield Stamps Flyer 

from late 1970s

Shopping Centre as seen from Clashduv Road 1971

Alternate view of shopping centre

Local residents protesting at location of Test Center 1973

Santa Claus visit to rear of Southside S.C. 1971
( Mr. T.C.C. O'Brien doing the honours )

Local youths on upper tier of shopping centre early 1980s
( Note: steps leading down in right background )

Eamonn Pearse ( Togher Historical Association )

& Brian Kent outside Five Star 1986

Mid 1980s view from Clashduv Road
showing removal of open air roof

1999 Aerial view of Five Star pre - demolition

Maurice Kelly Butcher Shop - Southside Shopping Centre

The Togher Historical Association had the pleasure of speaking with a former owner of Maurice Kelly's on the phone where he shared some memories about his tenure there. Also a former employee and some customers were gracious enough to enlighten the blog with some stories.

Maurice Kelly's Butcher Shop

Maurice Kelly opened his Butcher shop in the Southside Shopping Centre in 1982. He took over the premises of the previous occupant - Byrnes Butchers who had been in situ since the initial opening in 1970. Maurice himself eventually closed operations in 1998 along with many other establishments. In the interim he and his staff provided much of the nearby Togher district with their meat supplies for close on 17 years and fostered a close relationship with the community of which he spoke highly. Maurice stated that Ray Murray Ltd. were the main stakeholders of the Complex still known affectionately as the Five Star or " Fiva " even though the anchor tenant had long since gone. The company eventually sold off the site to Lidl circa 2003 due in no small part to lack of business and intense competition from other Shopping Centres in the vicinity.


While there Maurice witnessed the closure of original tenants T.C.C. O'Brien's whose premises were next occupied by O'Sullivan's who traded as a Grocery store. The original Launderette to the left of his shop closed and the building converted to a T.V. repair shop operated by Gus Healy. Ironically , the former Bank Of Ireland premises which ceased business in the late 1970s became a Launderette headed up by Jim Casey. Other traders were the Chipper on the top level of the site and a Chemist run by O'Riordan's until retirement.


Maurice was one of the last to shut up shop in the once thriving Shopping Centre which had opened to such promise all those years ago in 1970. Even though the entire site was demolished in 2005 it has entered the folklore of many Togher residents both home and abroad and is still spoken of fondly to this day. The Blog would like to thank Maurice for his memories of those far off days which live on in the minds of all associated with Togher.

Carol Brown

Employee Carol Brown ( nee Molloy ) from Togher Square:  I worked there since I was 15 till I got married and had my son Ian...Maurice was great to work for...like everyone's daddy...himself and Pauline were actually at our wedding...I knew everyone coming in obviously...he ran saving clubs for Easter and Christmas...used to dread school holidays with all the penny sweets...it was like a little supermarket...I started in 83 /84 and left In 91...great shortcut through the lane by flats.

Mags Murphy

Customer Mags Murphy from Sycamore Place:  Maurice used to cash my cheque from work at Togher Community Development where Swan Beds is now where we made rain gear! Everyone else got theirs cashed at the TSB bank on Clashduv Road but I had to take mine home to the mother for her to see what I got every week as she didn't trust me hahaha! She took most of it too for my 'keep' and I got a few bob back. Jeez you'd be lucky to be handed up a few quid off them nowadays if they are still living at home.!...Maurice Kelly never failed to cash my cheques! Lovely man. And many a time I had to buy the chops out of it for the dinner lol!

Imelda Twomey Murphy

Customer Imelda Twomey Murphy from Tramore Road :  It was like a family tradition for my family as we all worked there at some stage. It was our Saturday job while going to school. My sister got mugged one day coming from the TSB bank with coins for the weekend. From what I can remember there was a lad called Tony O Sullivan and a full time butcher called Vincent. Can't remember his last name

The Five Star - A Special Photograph

While the Blog will endeavor to publish many articles in the future on the now defunct Southside Shopping Centre which was once located on the site that Lidl now occupies , perhaps its original anchor tenant is the one which elicits most memories from Togher residents and ex-Pats - the Five Star - which also went by the local moniker of the " Fiva ". This Supermarket chain opened in 1970 heralding a new localised shopping experience for the suburb which was still in its infant stage as a modern district. Rising , like its sister units which ran adjacent to it , from the ashes of the former Clashduff House , it soon became an important feature of Togher. Managed by Mr. Charlie McCarthy a.k.a. " Macker " and staffed by locals on a full and part time basis , it integrated into the community seamlessly. Complete with its coffee dock and up to date stock , it was viewed as a Metropolis by long time residents all over Togher , who could now shop nearer to home. It rightfully lays claim to being the first suburban Shopping Centre in Cork City!

Five Star in its prime back in the 1970s

Sadly , with the advent of competition , in the wake of the new Togher Shopping Centre next to Ardmanning House which opened the following year in 1971 and the new gigantic Wilton Shopping Centre which opened its doors to Cork City in 1977 , the end was in sight for the " Fiva " and it pulled down its shutters for the last time as it entered the 1980s. As quickly as it had emerged , so too did it disappear. Aside from several local enterprise schemes which utilised the empty husk , it finally submitted to the wrecking ball in 2005 and another Togher institution was erased forever from the landscape.

Former Five Star seen on left in the 1990s

While outside photographs of the Supermarket are thin on the ground , it could be declared that inside ones are ultra rare! However , Anna Marie O'Shea was kind enough to loan the Historical Association an absolute gem! Back in 1971 , the Five Star ran a local promotion ( thought to celebrate its official opening ) by staging a supermarket trolley run , with the grand prize being a new oven. The winner was Mrs. O'Shea , Anna Maries Mother and part of the fantastic gift was a large black and white photograph , showing the Manager , Mrs O'Shea and her Daughter , Anna Marie , with Garda Bill Daley on left ( All Ireland road bowling champion ) & Charlie McCarthy on the right ( St. Finbarrs & Cork hurler ) on hand to present the prize. In the background are some locals , unknown at this time , though speculation is rife as to who they actually are.

Eamonn Pearse posing on exact location 

of old Five Star with original photograph

Eamonn Pearse , photographer with the Historical Association undertook a labour of love in restoring the 40 plus years old artifact to as pristine a condition as was possible with the aid of modern technology. Many hours were spent taping the badly damaged paper back together and photoshopping completed the task to bring it literally back to life. Below can be seen the process as it transformed from mere pieces to ultimately a piece of history which can now be enjoyed by all. The Blog would like to extend their gratitude and thanks to Anna Marie O'Shea and Eamonn Pearse.

 Original condition photograph

 High quality restored darkened version

Lightened version to show 

background detail in more clarity