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.
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.
