Local Interviews - 08 - Orla O'Callaghan - Ardmanning Avenue

The Togher Historical Association recently interviewed Orla O'Callaghan who now resides in the State of Maryland , U.S.A. but originally hailed from Ardmanning Avenue. While back home she unearthed her families past to share with the Blog. The story is filled with great tragedy and special memories.

 

Orla O'Callaghan , Maryland , U.S.A.

Orla's parents married on July 16th 1958 and moved to No.5 Ardmanning Avenue in the mid 1960s. Finbarr Alfred O’Callaghan better known as Barry was a builder/plasterer/roofer by trade and originally hailed from No.68 Blarney Street. He worked on the restoration of the steep roof of St. Vincents Church on Sunday's Well. He went to school with Val O'Connor of O'Connor Funeral Home who was known as " Weeping Jesus " as he could cry on queue. Barry loved his Sweet Afton and a drop of whiskey. Anna Theresa O’Neill known as Theresa ran a clothing manufacturers and drapery business on Grand Parade known as Styline. Her Tailor was Mr. Armstein one of the few Jewish men in Cork at the time. Because of her fashion , she became known as " Lady Ardmanning ". The couple had two children , Victor and Orla who was born in 1966. Both initially attended Togher National School , with Orla transferring to St. Maries of the Isle later on. 

 

Barry and Theresa's Wedding 1958

Ardmanning Avenue was a privately built Estate which first saw construction in the early 1950s but stalled due to the company going bankrupt with only a few houses being completed. Some locals also attest to lightning striking one of the houses which may have been a harbinger of doom! It wouldn't be until the 1960s when work would resume to complete the Estate , at which time an additional Estate by the name of Ardmanning Lawn was also completed. They were going to buy in Earlwood Estate and then found out that Ardmanning would be a cul-de-sac which would be a safe place for the children to play in. However as building commenced during the 1960s this was not to be.

Styline Drapers headed paper

Hugh and Breda O’Kelly lived across the street. Uncle Hugh was Orla's Godfather and Breda was her Aunt ( her Father's Sister ). Hugh O’Kelly was the vice principal at Christian’s. They moved to Orchard House, Montennotte during the 1970s. Other neighbours at the time were the Cullinanes and the Downeys , a large family ( which included Zita , Pat , Miriam , Barry and Michael ) who lived at No.10. A lifelong friend of Orla's , Cara lived at No.17 with her siblings , Jimmy , Aoife and Nuala. They moved to Old Blackrock Road in the 1980s. Thereafter , Cara traveled the world where she had a fantastic career as an Opera singer. Sadly she passed away in January 2021. Orla recalls her fathers niece Anne who he loved like a daughter. Sadly she passed away at a young age. Orla notes that when her father passed that his old friend Val O'Connor attended to him personally. Over 500 people turned up for his removal. Orla maintains that her father would have loved his own funeral.

Barry O'Callaghan & Victor with cousins at the beach 1960s

 

 

Orlan with brother Victor 1967

 

Christmas 1971 ~ Orla , Victor and Mother

Family photo at Victor's communion
L: Victor and R: Orla

 

Orla & Victor 1969
in front of number 5 Ardmanning Ave

Orla ( aged 14 ) with Mother and Grandmother 

Rose at No.5 Ardmanning Ave. 1980

 

 

Orla's certificate from Cork Gas Company 1983
 

Aunt Mai , Orla and Mother in kitchen

Barry O'Callaghan with niece Anne

Orla O'Callaghan , Ursula Cullinane
& Cara O'Sullivan
( ex-Ardmanning Avenue , Togher )
outside White House December 2016

 Theresa O'Callaghan and daughter Orla

Local Interviews - 07 - Murphy's of Togher Road

 Deanvale site of former Murphy cottages

On Saturday 25th February 2019 , the Togher Historical Association paid a visit to the home of Bryan and Anne Murphy in Deanvale off Togher Road. Bryan and Anne shared their memories and stories of bygone days in Togher. What unfolded was a trip back through time to unearth a section of Togher Road which sadly is no more.

Murphy Houses on Togher Road

Mary Murphy ( House on left )

Michael Murphy ( House on right ) seen in doorway

Bryan Murphy's family have a legacy in Togher going back centuries , primarily as Market Gardeners. The earliest historical entry following subsequent research by the Historical Association which mentions the Murphy family is in 1833 where a Michael Murphy is stated as living in the Townland of Deanrock. Later still , a Timothy Murphy appears in 1850 as part of Griffith's Evaluations. The 1901 Census reveals a Timothy Murphy as one of the occupants of the Cottages. Previously the Cottages were subdivided into four small homes between Margaret Brien , Simon Leary and Michael Canty in addition to the Murphys ; however by the 1920s they had become the sole occupancy of the Murphy family along with 2 acres of land to the rear of their holding. Michael Murphy , father of Bryan Murphy was born in 1921 and by the time he married in the 1940s , he and his sister Mary had become the owners of the " Long " Cottage which they divided into two homes. Bryan Murphy was born in 1948 and grew up in the Murphy household with his three siblings Teddy ( known as Togher Ted ) , Peggy and Kay. Bryans father grew ill as the years passed and the market garden fell out of use. In his heyday , Michael Murphy was known as the Ceili King due to his work as M.C. for platform dancing events.

Togher Ted & brother Bryan Murphy

with Barry & Mary Cremin at side of Cottage 
20th March 1951

Bryan Murphy with his Cousin Terri Desmond ( R.I.P. ) Nuns Walk

Bryan Murphy - Confirmation late 1950s

All of the Murphy household attended Togher National School and except for Peggy who moved to England , still live locally. In fact both Bryan and his Sister Kay now live on the former site of their Market Garden , the land being sold off in the early 1980s and their original home , then beyond repair , being demolished. Bryan and his wife Anne are accomplished bowlers as members of the Barrs Bowling Club.

Bryan Murphy with Tom McCabe &  Danny Dineen 1970s

Barry Lynch , Micky Daly , Bryan Murphy 1980s

Barrs Bowlers Hall of Fame trophy

Bryan reminisced about his former neighbours and their homes , most of which are now sadly gone:

Jim and Julia Sullivan lived in the house left of the Murphy cottages where Deanwood Avenue would later be built .They had three children - Jim , Donie and Jer ( ambulance driver ). They later moved to Pouladuff Road.
 

Jane , Thomas , Gerome and Pearl Riordan ( who married Charlie Hipwell from Tramore Road ) lived in Carmelville ( listed building ). Just beyond their house where Vicars Road is now situated was a water handle pump which vanished when work commenced on the new road.

Pata Cronin and Bunny ( Jack Roberts used come over from Turners Cross to till the garden ) lived in the next bungalow demolished in the early 1980s. The photo below shows their corner bungalow in 1972 during the opening of Vicar's Road. They and Bryans father and Seanie O'Brien ( who lived next door to the McCarthy house ) were all market gardeners.

Bryan also made mention of Hosford's who ran a Dairy Farm where the " Mountain " and Lidl is. He remarked how Mr. Hosford always wore a tweed 3-piece suit and a hat. The laneway which came in off Togher Road lead past his Bungalow and into the big farmyard where Clashduff House was situated.

Pata and Bunny Cronin's corner bungalow 1972

Bryan Murphy February 2019

Local Interviews - 06 - Mrs. Dalton - Togher Road

 San Ray , Togher Road

On Thursday afternoon 6th December 2018 , the Togher Historical Association paid a visit to the home of Mrs. Frances Dalton on Togher Road. She was joined by her daughter Sandra and for the next hour took the team on a trip down memory lane to a Togher now long gone. Their house is named after the two siblings Sandra and Ray , hence San-Ray. It is part of a privately built section of Togher Road between Edward Walsh Road and Rose Lawn comprised of two Dutch Bungalows with four additional one storey bungalows. The other part of the privately sold plots comprises the part of Ardmanning Hill between the Russell House and the corner of Edward Walsh Road.

 Dalton house on Togher Road

Originally the Dalton family lived on Father Matthew Street in Cork City. Ironically their neighbor Mrs. Healy who hailed from Gurranabraher was soon to become the same again in Togher. A private building scheme was enacted for a section of Togher Road on land formally owned by Paddy Long and known as Togher Farm. This stretched from the Russell house on Ardmanning Hill down to the now entrance to Rose Lawn ( built in 1965 ). The Corporation gave tradesmen the option of buying a site with a 3% down payment of the overall asking price which had to be paid back in 10 to 12 years. This translated into £7 a month. If the mortgage was repaid earlier than this a sum of money as a bonus was paid back. So it was that the Daltons ( Carpenters ) and the Healys ( Electricians ) built their two homes together based on plans submitted to an Architect. All of the adjoining sites were quickly sold off and soon buildings of radically different designs appeared on the landscape.  Frances hailed originally from Vicars Street and went to St Mary's of the Isle school and later worked in O'Gormans hat factory in Shandon. Her Husband Charlie Dalton was from Tower Street and was a qualified Carpenter later becoming a Joiner.

Mrs. Dalton Togher Road 1962 to present

Togher in 1962 was undergoing rapid change and the Dalton's were witness to it all. When they first arrived , there was no Edward Walsh Road or Vicar's Road. Ardmanning Cottages ( which occupied the road frontage from the now corner of Rose Lawn up as far as the now turn off onto Vicar's Road ) were their immediate neighbours with the Kerry Yard and Hosford's Farm directly across the road from them. Sandra celebrated her first birthday in her new home soon after settling in. Both children attended Togher National Schools , with Ray attending the old school while Sandra later went to the new Girls school which had been built in 1961. One of Mrs. Dalton's earliest memories is of Mr. Kelly , Principal of the boy's school scouting for pupils and knocking on her door inquiring about the children's ages. When told that Ray was only three years old , he asked her to quickly register him for school. This was an informal affair with the stipulation that the child bring with him the following , a pencil and jotter , milk and a slice of bread. Ray had Ted O'Sullivan as teacher from Junior Infants right up to 6th Class! Mrs. Dalton recalls the radical difference between the two schools. The boys had no running water and dry toilets whilst the girls had tapped water and flush toilets including radiators. The younger boys were sent out to gather firewood for the stove and the older boys collected water from the pump located outside the school wall which was handed back in a train of hands to be emptied into the cisterns which they had to fill on a daily basis. Children from Lehenaghmore would bring fresh milk to the school for lunch and they would toast bread on the fire stove. The original two rooms of the school were later divided into three smaller rooms due to the high number of children now attending. Playtime after school for local children on Togher Road was a trip down Summerstown Lane to the Heighties after which they would return wearing daisy chains.

Ardmanning Cottages 1962 located right of San Ray

Frances mentioned that back in 1962 , Edward Walsh Road and Vicar's Road did not yet exist so access to Pouladuff Road was by either Pearse Road or Tramore Road. She remembers a neighbour from Ardmanning Cottages named John Buckley. She has many memories of Henry Hosford ( who lived on the opposite side of the road behind a high stone wall ) and his family including Mrs. Hosford carrying heavy crates of milk down the laneway to the roadside for collection. She also recalls the time when the land was sold and the Hosfords were leaving their former home. They were literally left on the roadside while trucks arrived to take away the cattle and the old house and walls were demolished in little or no time. The remaining buildings on the land , including Clashduff House , the Kerry Yard - a small compound of stone houses - Bannion's and other smaller buildings were knocked soon after. Frances recalls that the Corporation brought in a French explosives expert to blow up the Mountain ( rocky outcrop on Hazel Road ) but that he gave up after several failed attempts!  Mrs. Dalton also officially clarified the anomaly that is the triangular section of road which tapers off from Rose Lawn entrance ( see photo below ). Ardmanning Cottages which were finally removed circa 1970 and were sited to the right side of entrance to Rose Lawn prevented the widening of Togher Road towards Carmelville House. However by the time of the removal , the developers decided to cancel the road widening and a green with footpath was set down instead.

Togher Road 1967 view across from San Ray

Ray & Sandra at Nan's house in Tory Top Road , 1960s

Immediately work began on the new housing schemes which lasted up to 1971. The scheme went under the name of Ardmanning Beg and as soon as a terrace was finished new residents arrived to fill them. Such was the demand for housing , that families were living in a virtual building site , as the Direct Labour unit of Cork Corporation forged ahead with erecting homes as quickly as possible. Frances remembers Togher Square ( began in 1968 and finished the following year ) was originally meant to be three rows of terraced houses but due to the high demand for accommodation , the Corporation decided to include maisonettes ( ground floor units with two story units and balcony above them ). A row of one bedroomed apartments were constructed at the entrance to Sycamore Place for senior citizens living on their own. 

Togher Road 1968 view across road from Rose Lawn

Frances recalls a Priest in Lough Church approaching her to ask her to join a committee to collect money for a new church in Togher. Mrs Healy , her next door neighbour went through her phone book to ask factories and businesses for donations. Mrs Dalton was given the task of calling to neighbours from Ardmanning Hill down to Rose Lawn for donations. A shilling per household was the going rate. Charlie managed to acquire the hall in City Hall free of charge for a bazaar. The gentry and Corporation officials in robes arrived and around £4,000 was collected from them that day! She also recalls how Fr. O'Connor would have all the women in Togher Square go out and sweep the square to have it clean for mass on Sunday! Frances recounts how her husband Charlie worked on many Grottos around Togher. She remembers there used to be an old grotto next to Murphy's at end of Manning's Lane , the statue later being reused for the new grotto in Deanrock Estate ( see below ). Charlie later built a grotto off Edward Walsh Road plus one off  Marieville. Mrs Dalton used to joke he would become the next Pope or that he was going around thinking he was St. Peter.

Grotto in Marieville Togher

Grotto ( a.k.a. Devils' Rock ) under construction in 1988 in Deanrock

Sandra Dalton was chairwoman of the Teenage club when she was 16 or 17 ( roughly 1978 ). The Teenage clubhouse became known as the " snot in the bog " due to its timber being painted in green. She recalls how Fr. Hodnett went off to Lourdes and gave instructions that the Teenage club was to be closed while he was away. However Fr. Daly was unaware and a disco was held for the children of Between. He was not happy when he came back!  A sculpted wooden hand was presented to Togher Teenage club by lord mayor Paudie Black in 1981 as acknowledgement of their fundraising efforts for various charities which Sandra proudly displays in her home. Togher Teenage club gave money to buy the first four beds for Marymount hospice. Many years later following Fr. Hodnett's departure from the Parish, the Togher Teenage club presented him with a placue. Following his death a few years ago , the placue was discovered amongst his effects and offered to Sandra.

Sandra Dalton with 1982 Fundraising Award for Teenage Club

Remnants of Ardmanning Cottages circa 1970 

shortly before demolition

In 2019 , Sandra travelled to South America with her family to meet her brother Ray who had settled there many years previously. This entailed a surprise visit arranged beforehand and was captured on video ( see below ) by her daughter Megan for posterity. Ray trained to be a priest at St. Patrick's College in Maynooth but later left and now lives in South America. Sandra is a professional hairdresser.

 

Ray Dalton during his time as a Priest

Sandra Dalton

 

Sandra and her brother Ray in South America 2019

Togher Historical Association would like to thank the Dalton family for sharing their memories of Togher which now spans almost 60 years and for giving an insight into a Togher which now seems so distant but for also enlightening people on an ever changing landscape.

 

Local Interviews - 05 - Mrs. Pat McCarthy - Togher Cross

On the last day of September 2015 , Billy O'Brien on behalf of the Togher Historical Assoc. and with the brilliant assistance of Ken McCarthy , Secretary of the Tidy Towns Committee , paid a visit to the home of Mrs. Pat McCarthy ( Ken's Mother ) near Togher Cross. Pat has been resident there since moving from Evergreen Street in 1957 and has been witness to incredible changes in the locale over the last 60 years.

Mrs. Pat McCarthy - Togher - 1957 to Present

Born in 1933 , Pat originally hailed from Nicholas Hill in the City before moving to Togher shortly after marrying James " Jas " McCarthy at the age of 24. Since then Pat , an only child herself , has gone on to rear a Family of 8 boys and girls.

Pat McCarthy with her children at Togher Cross 
in front garden circa 1960 with original wall 
of Liberty Stream on the main Togher Road to rear

Life back then in 1950s Togher was worlds away from the City ( albeit only a short distance away ) and the area was deemed to be in the " Countryside ". The region still had its many " Big Houses " including Clashduff House and Deanrock House ( not to be confused with the Pub of the same name which wouldn't be built until the late 1960s ) and the nearby Lehenaghmore House. The main Togher Road was a narrow affair with much of its frontage either walled or tree lined with a disparate hotch potch of old terraced houses from Ardmanning Hill all the way to Togher Cross and save for Feirm Bawn and Blue Bag , this absence of modern structures continued up both Lehenaghmore Hill and Doughcloyne Hill.

John McCarthy and Daughter

 in front garden on Togher Road 

circa 1960

The Togher that Pat found herself in almost 60 years ago was markedly different from that of today though no less quite. Pat recalls that there was a constant murmur from the flow of the Liberty Stream to the front of her house ( still walled all the way back to the old National School ) and a regular rattle from the passing trains of the Cork Bandon Railway to the rear of her house. This was in marked contrast to the relative quite of the City. One unfortunate consequence of dwelling so near a waterway , was the constant flooding which at times saw the stream literally flow past the front gate! Other distractions would be the weekly rantings around midnight of a passing drunk deriding the Royal Ulster Constabulary far away in the North of Ireland. One character of note was a lady known to many as " Erin's Ghost " who frequently journeyed around the roads up to and including Forge Hill at the dead of night alone. It is not known if she ever strayed inside Togher's boundaries.

John McCarthy on Togher 

Road with old wall of  Liberty
 Stream on left ( early 1980s )

Pat recalls many episodes of pushing a pram up both hills near her home for many years to take in the fresh air and escape the " noise " of the stream and the trains by Togher Cross. Her eldest child , Juliette would go on to be one of the first pupils at the then new Girls School built in 1961 on land donated by the Ryan Family. Several of her boys would attend the old National School ( now Community Centre ) and later the modern Togher B.N.S. when that was completed in 1971.

Pat McCarthy ( 7th from left ) with Drama Group

in Muintir na Tire Cottage circa 1963

Many years before the arrival of the Shopping Centres of the early 1970s - Southside ( Five Star ) and Togher ( V.G. near Ardmanning Pub ) and indeed the units near Greenwood Estate were available , buying the groceries was a far simpler task. This was accomplished by a short walk to the nearby Mrs. Murphys. Originally a " House Shop " , it quickly developed into a proper establishment and has seen many owners over the Decades , including Lehane and Keohane to its present incarnation as a Turkish Barbers. Ken recalls during his childhood days , that the shop switched between two owners over a short period of time , namely Jack Twomey and a Foreign Gentleman , so that it took on the local moniker of " Jacks to Packs ". The other Grocers to surface all those years ago were Morgans on Deanrock Terrace ( selling everything from coal to potatoes it was a lifeline to the original inhabitants of Togher ) and Mrs. O'Sullivans near the old National School. It is believed that she gave the plot of land which would serve as the entrance to the new Westside Estate in the mid 1960s free of charge to the Developers - who obviously were only too happy to accept!  To supplement the dinner table , Pat vividly recalls how they kept some hens to the rear of their home and how Jas would frequently tend to a small vegetable patch , more for some peace and quite than for any actual benefits that might accrue!

Doughcloyne Inn under construction circa 1985

Pat's neighbours back in those halcyon days were the Sullivans , Cronins , Sheehans ( who famously won the sweepstakes with Ryan back in the 1930s ) , Ena Barry nee Lane ( preserved Cottage by Togher Cross ) , Emerys and Hallahans ( daughter Brenda presently involved in Tidy Towns ). She also makes mention of Maxie who ran the Garage near the old Forge.

Doughcloyne Hotel under flood water circa 1990s

Besides spending many Sundays walking the hills with the children , Pat also regularly journeyed up the African Missions Lane to the S.M.A. Orchards where she could purchase bags of apples relatively cheaply. She recounts the Spillanes who lived in the Lodge which ran adjacent to the high iron entrance gates which lead to the old Sarsfield Estate , sold off to the S.M.A. in the early 1940s. Pat recalls the swan song of the Platform Dance near Togher Cross before it was superseded by the Dancehalls and Showbands of the 1960s. One other important outlet for entertainment was the Munitir na Tire. This small bungalow which was originally a family home became a much used outlet for the activities of the organisation , with different nights dedicated to various activities including Cards , Table Tennis and Irish Dancing. Pat attended on many occasions with her Mother and neighbours. Jim O'Keeffe ( Lough ) and Mr. and Mrs. Ronayne ( Leaca Ban ) - house in front of present day Market Gardens Est. were heavily involved in the running of Muintir na Tire. Later on the much used structure would double as an impromptu Credit Union. She also became involved with the local Drama Group around 1963 and took part in their first production of a play entitled " The Mere Man ".

Religious services back then required a long trek up to the Lough Church or over to the Church of Ease in Wilton. To facilitate this , a local Protestant man by the name of Mr. Daunt , ran a mini bus to convey the Catholic worshippers to and fro. The irony was completely lost on the locals of the time.

Two other characters of note from the 1950s and indeed the 1960s both from an Adult and a childhood perspective were Lady Harris and Mrs. Regan. Mrs. Harris originally hailed from England and because of her accent was dubbed " Lady " by the locals. The other woman , very much a Togher woman , was Nellie Regan and by all accounts was feared by the then children in the neighbourhood. Mrs. Harris lived in Feirm Bawn and Nellie lived in one of the three bungalows fronting on to the road which collectively went by the name of Blue Bag. Nellie looked after Mrs. Harris' house whenever she returned to England on holidays. Pat's son , John , recalls being caught red handed up an apple tree at the rear of Mrs. Harris' house and being rewarded with sweets and lemonade for his efforts. Suffice to say , Nellie Regan incited dread in any young miscreants! Such were the innocent memories of children who perhaps unwittingly brought out the best and the worst of their peers.

  Pat in 1963

The Togher Historical Assoc. would like to thank Mrs. Pat McCarthy for the privilege of interviewing her in her home and for being gracious in sharing some of her many wonderful memories of Togher from so long ago. The window which she opened into the past will serve us all well. A time before the massive Housing Schemes which would quickly subsume the land. A world of railways , streams , platform dancing and market gardening. A world sadly now lost to us all.

Local Interviews - 04 - Kathleen O'Keeffe - Westside Estate , Togher

Jimmy & Margaret Roche 1940s

 

On Saturday the 13th September 2014 at 6.00 p.m. at her home in Westside Estate , Billy O'Brien had the pleasure of interviewing a Togher legend - Kathleen O'Keeffe. The meeting was poignant and long awaited for two reasons ; Kathleen is the wife of the late Tom O'Keeffe - author of " Togher , A Brief History " and " Togher , Past & Present " plus her family tree on the Maternal side in Togher extends through an unbroken line all the way back to the mid 19th Century.

Roche Family group photograph 

( Kathleen on right )

Her Grandfather , Michael O'Donovan was born in 1881 in Ashgrove , Togher and was a pupil of the old Cottage School ( now demolished ) located next to Muintir na Tire Cottage ( also demolished ) which has a family link as well. His occupation all his life was as a Horse Handler and he worked for the Hayes in the present Marion House ( previously called Hayseleigh ). Sadly he passed away at the ripe old age of 85 in 1966. One historical footnote worthy of mention , is that Michael was a cousin of the famous O'Donovan Rossa!

Michael O'Donovan's former home in Ashgrove

Kathleen with family and relations in 1960s

at her Communion ( left at Front ) - 
Michael O'Donovan on right

 

Her Mother , Margaret O'Donovan , was born in 1926 and attended the old National School ( Now Community Centre ) which had been built in 1891 to replace the over crowded Cottage School across the road. The land and adjoining playground had been donated free of charge by the Sarsfields , prominent local landowners , with a pedigree themselves stretching back over two Centuries. She married local man Jimmy Roche ( born 1919 in Doughcloyne ) in 1947 , a Farmer's Labourer who later turned Builder's Labourer to work on the future Deanrock Estate in the late 1960s!

Maggie Roche , Mossy Roche , unknown and Jimmy Roche
Early 1920s Doughcloyne

He also had a turn as Nightwatchman on the Estate with his hut located near the Devil's Rock ( The Citadel ) , where he possibly played as a child when the area was known as the Heighties and the shored up Glasheen River bore the title of the Rampart. Kathleen recalls visiting him by walking down the walled Summerstown Lane past the Workmens Houses and skirting Deanrock House itself , resplendent in its brightly painted hue of Yellow! Prior to that in the 1930s Jimmy had even helped to plant the trees leading into the now Palmbury Estate!

Jimmy and Margaret Roche 

1947

James & Kathleen Roche ( Grandparents )

 

 

Kathleen's Great Grandmother
( and one of her Aunts ) 1920s

Jimmy Roche and Margaret
Wedding Day 16th August 1947

 

Jimmy Roche with baby Seamus and Michael 1949

Jimmy Roche late 1960s

 

 Kathleen's Father , Jimmy was the nephew of Ciss , who was married to Paddy Ryan who won the National Sweepstakes , which saw him buy Lehenaghmore House in the 1930s and adjoining lands all  the way back to the present Togher Flyover near the Deanrock Pub. It was one of his new properties , Muintir na Tire which became the home of the Roches and saw the birth of Kathleen's brother in 1949 and sister in 1951. In the mid 1950s , the Family moved to Rochestown and a lodge where Jimmy worked on the farm for a while. But they were destined to return once more to Togher making Glenanaar in Lehenaghmore their new abode with baby Kathleen.

Kathleen outside her former home - Glenanaar

Kathleen and Grandfather Michael - Communion

Jimmy Roche also served his Country during the Second World War ( known as The Emergency in Ireland ) from 1939 to 1945 as a member of the Local Security Force or LSF. Though not armed as their successors the Local Defence Force or LDF ( forerunners to the F.C.A. and now R.D.F. ) were , they nevertheless played a vital part in security operations in Togher during those turbulent years acting as ad hoc Postmen , patrolling the neighbourhood and directing traffic. Jimmy along with many of his comrades who came from all parts of Togher and beyond was awarded the Emergency Medal and Ribbon upon being demobbed in 1945.

James Roche LSF with Medal and Ribbon

Kathleen Communion studio photo

 

 

Kathleen started her studies , like her Parents ( Mother - 1930s ; Father - 1920s ) and her Grandfather ( 1880s ) before her , in the Togher National School as Ireland entered the 1960s. However , with the start of a new Decade came the exciting prospect of a brand new school built on a pocket of private land adjacent to Muintir na Tire and the old Cottage School.

Kathleen's Confirmation Day

The Girls Principal of both the Old National School ( which with the transfer of the Girls became solely a Boy's School in 1961 ) and the new Girls National School was Ms. McCarthy. Another Teacher from those days was Mrs. Deasy. Besides the usual lessons learned at School during those days , the Girls also were instructed in Needle work , crocheting and occasional Cookery classes. To that end , Ms. Bridgit McCarthy from the Cork Gas Company paid a one off visit centred around safety in the use of gas while preparing culinary delights.

 

Kathleen in an Irish Stepdancing Class

Kathleen recalls that even with the new larger School , that overcrowding rapidly became a problem and to help combat this , the cloakroom was converted into a makeshift classroom! However , as the 1960s progressed and the influx of people settling in Togher in the newly built Estates grew exponentially , even the cloakroom became insufficient to meet their needs , and 3 Prefabs had to be brought on site to cope with the deluge.

Kathleen with neighbours ( left of doll )

Kathleen O'Keeffe and classmates outside home 1960s

L- R Marian O'Brien , Marie Roche , Kathleen Roche ,
Teresa Hayes , Eileen Crowley
In front Mary Hayes

Kathleen related how as a child one of their favourite games was sitting in the garden and making daisy chains besides scampering off to great adventures in the nearby fields with her friends. Other games would have included hop scotch , blind man's bluff and skipping. One abiding memory though wasn't so pleasant and that was the trek home from school under the Snotty Bridge particularly in the darkness of Winter time!  From walled up Lehenaghmore House right up to the ominous overpass , the trees on both sides arched over like skeletal phantoms and bathed the walk in perpetual twilight even during Summer. Children only breathed a collective sigh of relief once past this location and out into the open countryside again. There was also a makeshift dirt track on the right past the bridge which lead up to the railway track. To further worsen affairs for the local students making their tentative steps towards home was the prospect of strangers lurking above them as they passed under the Bridge! Indeed different dubious characters used to loiter about on the top of the railway track overlooking the road beneath! This dangerous location was made all the more safer when in 1977 it was finally demolished.

Kathleen with friend Marian Crowley 

up the African Missions lane

Another popular feature of Togher back in he 1960s was the Community Games , hosted in the neighbouring Coffey's Field ,which ran for the latter part of the decade and was eventually reinstated as the Togher Festival in the late 1970s and early 1980s , only to be discontinued thereafter. Many a future athlete had his or hers start on the turf that bordered the Tramore River as it wound its way past the hallowed grounds of Togher. Another venue which acted as an outlet for youthful pursuits was the Munitir na Tire , which organised outings , table tennis and activities of all kinds for kids and adults alike. It also became a meeting house for many local groups as well as serving as an impromptu Credit Union in its formative years.

Kathleen O'Keeffe as a teenager at rear of home early 1970s

Togher Sports Day - 1967 - Coffey's Field

Kathleen and Marian Crowley on wall 

of Liberty Stream near Greenwood Estate

Kathleen fondly recalls the emergence of the new Local Authority Estates and Private Developers Builds during the 1960s  especially those closer to home , such as Greenwood Estate ( built on land sold by her Grand Uncle Paddy Ryan ) , constructed in two phases , known locally as the Old Part and the New Part ( across from the now Community Centre ) . Indeed , her own father , Jimmy would go on to switch trades and assist in the building of Deanrock Estate in the late 1960s. Kathleen's Parents eventually lived out their lives in Sandown Crest.

Tom and Katheen O'Keeffe 

- Wedding Day 1975

Kathleen and Tom 1976

Kathleen would go on to work in Guy's Printing in 1969 off Patricks Street until she married Tom O'Keeffe - future local History Author in 1975 making Westside Estate her home in Togher in which she resides to this day. It is perhaps poignant to note , that with the graduation of her Daughter , Alex in 2014 - a link with all Togher Schools has finally been broken. A record had been set which saw members of the Family serving in the Cottage School , the old National School ( both as an integrated School and a Boys School ) , the old Girls National School and the new Boys and Girls National Schools - from 1880s to 2014 - crossing 3 Centuries!

Kathleen and Tom - Lourdes 2005

The Blog would like to thank Kathleen O'Keeffe and her family for being so generous with their time during the researching of this article. It is hoped that it will shine some more light on the past of Togher before and during its remarkable transformation from a rural agricultural community into one of Corks modern suburbs complete with its own traditions and those which have since been imported and made its own. Tribute must also be made to Tom O'Keeffe for his complete devotion to preserving the local history of Togher through his research and his books. Our eternal thanks ... TOGHER HISTORICAL ASSOC. & BLOG.

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