Tales From The Cutting

Over the course of the last few years , the Blog has had the pleasure of meeting up with both the late Ann Sisk and Mary Walsh of The Cutting. Both of their stories were related and published here on the blog , links below. However following information from Ann Sisk in our archives and ongoing conversations with Mary Walsh , the actual whole story of The Cuttings can now be told. These take the form of simple memories , anecdotes and recollections which paint a rich canvas of a magical past that can now be brought back to life.

The Cutting

The numbered map below outlines the 2 principal landowners of The Cutting , with Sullivan of Deanrock Villa owning the land south of the railway line and Marshall owning the land north of the railway line together with the rest of the occupants. These were the final residents up to the 1960s and into the early 1980s.

Legend of The Cutting
( Number=Name below )

 

1: Sullivan - Principal Landowner
2: Sexton/Hourigan
3: Sullivan
4: Cronin
5: Storage shed ( later lived in by Cronin Bros. )

6: Daly

7: Sisk
8: O'Sullivan/Nyhan/Spillane
9: Cronin

10: Madden
11: Cronin

12: Club house
13: Walsh
14: Marshall - Principal landowner

15: Shanahan - on marshall land ( removed 1950 )
16: Roche - on marshall land ( removed 1950 )

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These are the personal memories and thoughts of Ann Sisk ( m.O'Neill ) of her time in The Cutting and after. Ann had many aunts and cousins living in close proximity , Kearney's were cousins , Mrs. Roche ( Hangdog Road ) was her Aunt and she was related to the Allens on Doughcloyne Hill though her Mother.

Ann Sisk

Ann recalls : " Jackie O'Sullivan ( nickname Jackobin ) formally of Deanrock Terrace used to boil spuds over an open fire on the railway line for us all , in the dark evenings , god , the innocent fun we all had. He was an older man than the rest of the guys , but he hung around everyday with the lads , in my time he came over from Glasheen every day , ( something that would be frowned on today. ) 

Ann's hand drawn map
showing important locations

When we were young, to have water we had to go to the pump by my old school for water, we had to take turns , so I would try to stay out on the railway line when it was my turn , the line was a bit deep and I was little so I'd watch to see if one of my brothers came home , he'd get the job , because I was the only girl at the time.

Ann's hand drawn map
indicating other locations

 

We picked Mrs Dalys gooseberries , and she would have a glass of juice and gooseberry tart for us after , her front gate opened onto the cutting in front of the steps up to the road.  A beautiful lady , her daughter Jeanette and I were very good friends , but she moved to England to a nursing job.

Ann circa 1967

We had such fun on the railway bridge , a meeting place you could say , even my own Father chatted my Mum up on that bridge as she rode home on her bike.

Mr. Sisk ( on left ) on Togher Railway bridge
circa 1940s

 

Dad built a kitchen on to the right and back of the house and when he was doing the holes for the handles for the door , I was about 3 years , he asked me to look through the hole at him , of course I did , and he blew the sawdust , which went into my eye , ( he was young then thinking it was fun, but he knew better after my mother was finished with him , poor Dad. )

 

Road being realigned 1975

So many regrets , it was all on my Mum's shoulders , to sell to the sharks , and in her innocence , she took the pittance she was offered , we didn't know at the time. She was a proud Lady , always even when we had nothing , but she always made sure we didn't go without. I remember her face to this day , 7 of us waiting to see what the gas man took out of the meter , but I'd prefer thinking of her when there was some coins left over , her smile , she looked so beautiful. But to get to the point of her having to sell her home , she took the first offer , even though they would have given her anything she asked for their new road ( BASTARDS ) they knew what they were doing , but they actually went for a hell of a lot more , and I mean a lot more. "

 

Bridge being demolished 1975

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These are the personal memories of Mary Walsh and tie in with Ann Sisk who was her best friend.

Mary Walsh 1950s

Mary recalls a story her father told her when as a child living on Pouladuff Road he would often go up to play at the Teampelleen. On this occasion he accidentally knocked over a headstone and uncovered a baby's body. He would also have gone to the original school house in Togher ( demolished 1891 )

Johnny Walsh , Denis Sisk & Robbie Dineen
Leprechaun Valley , Liberty Stream
Rear of lady Harris' land

Mary's mother was good friends with Mrs. Sexton who lived in the cottage next to Deanrock Villa. She recalls one night in 1957 when she was 12 as she and her mother were walking back from the Sextons in the dark and crossing the former railway track ( lifted in 1955 ) an almighty shriek broke the silence. Her mother informed her that it was a banshee. Next morning they learned of the passing of Ann Sisk's grandmother!

Honora Sisk
Ann's Grandmother

Tommy , the eldest brother went to England in the 1950s to set up a company. His younger brothers , twins Michael and Billy worked for Sonny Barretts thinning turnips. In time Michael a.k.a. Micka was to join his brother in England ; Johnny drove Micka up to the airport. It was there that he saw an extremely small plane and promptly remarked :  " It looks like a seagull , I'm not going up in that , take me back home , I'll get the boat! " Which he duly did.

Mary's brothers with Tommy Marshall's
greyhounds in his back garden

Mary recalls that Tommy Marshall was a very stern man and employed a worker called Lynch who drove a Volkswagon van. Mary used to mock him and angered Tommy Marshall who yelled at his worker to " nettle the arse off her! " On another occasion , Mary pushed him into a pig sty!

Mary has many memories from her childhood and adolescent years. Two incidents revolve around Lady Harris's house Feirm Bawn up Doughcloyne or Spur as most locals knew it. Eileen , Mary's sister used to mind the house when Lady Harris went off to England. One night a cat jumped through an open bedroom window and scared the life out of her! Another more bizarre incident involved Robbie Dineen from Barrs Lane and a local woman called Kay Foley who used to live in Lady Harris's house. ( She wore so many layers of clothes that one time she was knocked down by a bus and survived due to the many layers absorbing the impact! ) She was rather unkindly known as " Dracula " and one day when she was not at home Robbie imitated her by dressing up and scaring the local children by staring out at them through a window!

Mary's brother's proudly displaying
their catch from the stream

Mary's childhood was full of local drama as she and her friends explored the area. One incident centered around Mr. Ryan who used to watch his crop of corn through binoculars for any intruders. Mary and her friends would be running around his field knocking over the corn in the process which resulted in him chasing them all the way back to The Cutting! He used to shoot crows with his shotgun and at one time injured his arm as a result. Nellie O'Reagan who lived in the cottages near Feirm Bawn was another target of their playacting and she would give chase after them , not even stopping when the kids ran into the stream to escape her as she too ran after them soaking wet trying to catch them , but all in vain , as they easily outran her!

Mary recalls her sister Eileen's husband showing a map of a new proposed motorway through Togher and uttering the prophetic words " One day all these houses will be gone ". This was 1957! Mr. Walsh replied that that would never happen. Eileen's husband was also something of a plumber and as Mary's house had no indoor water supply , decided to connect the pump outside the post office to the back of Mary's house. So he quickly dug up the main road and laid a connecting pipe right up to an outdoor tap at the back of the house , filling the road in as fast as he had dug it! Mr. Walsh duly arrived home and asked what was the tap doing there but was calmed down by his wife saying how handy it was having their own water supply. The house in common with many others in the area was connected to the electricity supply in 1957/8.

Mary recalls several characters associated with the Bridge or line. One such man was a vagrant who lived literally under the bridge! Here he lived , slept and cooked for himself and this carried on for about two years - 1963 to 1964 before he mysteriously vanished. Locals knew him as" Trampas " named after a popular character from the then T.V. series - The Virginian played by the actor Doug McClure possibly because of his likeness to him.

Doug McClure as Trampas

Another man used to dig ground with his hands , then shovels , go up Han's steps , across the bridge and wash his hands under the pump! Local myth suggests he was either digging for God , trying to get to Hell or looking for his wife! He originally lived on Albert Road in Cork City. In their innocence Ann and Mary used to taunt him by throwing stones off the bridge at him and he'd throw them right back up at them! Finally the Sisters came one day and took him away to hospital.

Mary's mother used to warn them of a strange man with a suitcase who used to walk the tracks saying he was a Doctor and to beware of him. One day Ann and Mary actually saw him and ran for their lives!

 

Mary Walsh in the grounds of Lady Harris'  house
 

 

Mary recalls how she and her best friend Ann Sisk were so excited by the arrival of T.V. that on one occasion whilst in town , they noticed a T.V. on in the window of a shop and ran across the road to look at it. So quick were they that they nearly knocked a shawlie over who screamed after them " You're two thoroughbred bastards! "  

Mr Walsh was not somebody for change. However when Eily Hourigan became the first in The Cutting to have a T.V. , Johnny ( Mary's brother ) rented out one for 7s6d a week. Mr. Walsh at first was not impressed but his love of westerns and detective shows won him over ; watching The Fugitives , Hawaai 5-0 and Wagon Train which was his favorite show.

Helen Lavallan , Mr. Walsh's Mother

Ann Sisk and Mary ( her best friend ) once encountered an otter in the stream. Ann thought it was a dog! She recalls that big fish caught in the stream were called collies , medium size were known as red breast fish with smaller types being known as torneens.

In common with almost every person in Togher at the time , Mary's Father and Brothers had nicknames : Mr. Walsh was known as the Captain. Tommy had a job working in Clancy's pub in Cork City and was forever after known as Clancy , Billy became known as the Gripper  being left handed when bowling and Michael was known as Tiny , because he kept using the word and Johnny being long and skinny became known as Long John Silver. Mary was known as Nancy Coppery or Biddy Early ( who was accused of witchcraft in the 19th century. )

Mr. Walsh outside Celia's pub
a.k.a. The High Chaparral

The Cutting - A History

The Cutting early 1970s

Marshall House on right

 

This article will highlight The Cutting as it was pre-Cork Macroom railway line , it's heyday in the 1950s and its eventual demise from the 1980s on. Many thanks to Mary Walsh and the late Ann O'Neill ( n. Sisk ) for their invaluable contributions in making much of this possible.

The Cutting aerial view 1951 boundary

The 3 numbered maps below show the study area both before and after the creation of The Cutting. Of interest is the Togher Road as it was 2 centuries ago and the structures which were demolished during the building of the Cork Macroom railway line and the addition of newer homes in the following years.

 Map No.1

1841 Map showing study area pre-Railway Line

The above map shows the study area in 1841. The Macroom Railway line did not pass through Togher until circa 1865 when The Cutting was created. Note however that Deanrock Villa and its adjoining cottages were already in situ as was the site of the future Marshalls house ( old house demolished to build new 2 storey house in late 1920s? ) and the future Mary Walsh's cottage. One residence just past the Deanrock Villa cottages was demolished as was a residence in the field opposite. ( Map outlining plot numbers of Griffith's Valuations from 1847 – 1864 namechecks original occupants of extant houses and more importantly houses which were demolished to create The Cutting ).

Griffith's Valuations Plot Numbers

Griffiths Valuations 1847-1864

The above map shows houses of original occupants of study area before The Cutting was created. Plot numbers which went on to be included in The Cutting are 21 , 22 , 16 and 23 ( south of future railway line which was included to show impact on local terrain and existing housing stock ). 2 houses left and right of the southern embankment would be demolished to facilitate the railway bridge and railway track.

Original Occupants
Pre - The Cutting

Landlord - Elizabeth Barter

Plot 21 - Maurice Mahoney
Plot 21 - Daniel Sullivan

Plot 22 - Mary Long
Plot 22 - Jeremiah Shea - sublet by Mary Long

Plot 16 - John Kelleher
Plot 16 - Joseph Shea - sublet by John Kelleher

Landlord - Mary Breton

Plot 23 - William Bateman - Deanrock Villa
Plot 23 - Eugene Sullivan - sublet by William Bateman

William Bateman also leased plot 24 which is the present day St. Finbarrs playing fields.


* Of interest is Plot 62 , the present day Coffey's Field which saw the demolition of the residence of tenant - Margaret Murphy sold by compulsory purchase order by the representatives of absentee Landlord Geo Piggott. This was to facilitate the construction of the southern portion of the railway embankment*

 Map No.2

1900 Map showing The Cuttings now in place

The above map shows The Cutting in place circa 1900. Besides adding an embankment to allow locals to walk over the Macroom Railway line , the company also built 2 railway cottages whose small back yards fronted onto the line. Note also the new school in neighbouring Lehenaghmore which was built in 1891. Of particular interest is the fact that Barrs Lane had no cottages at that point in time.

 Map No.3

1950 Map of The Cutting

The above map from 1950 shows the addition of 4 more residences between Deanrock Villa cottages and the 2 Railway cottages. Note also the 6 cottages on Barrs Lane. It is conjectured that the new kids on the block in The Cutting were most probably built circa 1920s.

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The Cutting

The Cutting ( as mentioned above ) came into being between 1861 and 1866 when the Cork Macroom Direct Railway line was laid down in Togher. To accomplish this an embankment was created either side of the railway bridge to enable people and horse and carts to travel along the Togher Road. The structures to its western side ; Deanrock Villa and its adjoining workmens cottages were supplemented by 2 new railway cottages and along with Marshall house and its privately owned properties all became known as The Cutting. So it was essentially any residence which was alongside the western side of the embankment. The embankment was fenced on both sides ( using actual rails! ) and had two sets of steps south of the railway line which allowed access both down from and up to the bridge. Access to Marshall house and nearby rented properties was via a natural dirt track laneway. This little community was boosted when in the 1920s , 3 more cottages were built to the west of the 2 railway cottages and the second of Togher's 2 timber built homes ( the other being Birdie Buckley's on the corner of Hangdog Road ) completed the line up. This would remain the situation until the late 1960s.

Lifting tracks in 1955

Residents
( South of railway track )

The Cutting was bookended by Deanrock Villa to its south and Marshall house to its north. Today these are the only extant structures still in place. All else has been demolished. Below is a list of the residents and some backstory and selected anecdotes.

Deanrock Villa

Deanrock Villa was the home of Con the Tacker a.k.a. Con the Yank as he had spent a long time in America. The 4 workmens cottages which were adjoined to his property were used initially by the employees who worked his dairy farm but he would over time rent them out. His wife also ran a tuck shop next to the school house. Con ran a coal business and his 2 horses knew their way out from town without any prompting.

Deanrock Villa ( renovation ) & demolition

of adjoining cottages September 1968

View of The Cutting early 1970s

Workmens Cottages ( adjoined )

1st house - home to the Sextons ; born in Doughcloyne and  related to Mossy  Sexton who was a land Stewart for the Sarsfields.

2nd house - home to the Sullivans - from Macroom ; Elly Hourigan ( m.Ted Murray - co-founder of Togher A.C. ) moved in mid 1960s. She originally came from Kelly's Lane ( modern day Willow Place ).

3rd house - home to Paddy Cronin *

4th house - Storage shed for Con - ( later lived in by Hannah Cronin's brothers - Paddy and Mick )

Aerial view 1971
Centre Right shows new carpark ,
Dalys , Madden & Cronin Cottages
Sisk , Nyhan & Cronin terrace
Walsh & Marshall ( north of line )

Railway Cottages

These were built by the Macroom railway company for its employees. However over time they were let out to families.

1st railway cottage - Hannah Cronin - sister to Paddy Cronin *

Hannah had four brothers - Tadgh & Humphrey who always lived with her and Paddy* and Mick who had left the family home. Being the matriarchal head of the house , Hannah had a habit of always having the oven on , so much so in fact , that one night her drunken brother was coming down the steps off the embankment and roared out : " If you're standing behind that oven when i come in , I'll fuck it out in the ditch! " The brothers had two horses for working and many times would go into town for a night of drinking and having finished would fall drunk into the butt and the horse would transport them safely back home! Hannah kept two timber barrels full of nuts to feed the horses. She also had a huge hen house where she kept ducks and geese. Mary Walsh would have the task of cleaning the eggs ready for market.


2nd railway cottage - O'Connors/Madden.


O'Connors - Their cottage was butted right up to the railway bridge. It is not known if they were the original occupants as the railway employee for whom it and its neighbour were initially constructed for may have passed on or moved out. Mary Walsh recalls 2 boys Derry and Michael. One day they were cutting hedges for the Marshalls and nearly cut Marys finger off. They moved out early 1960/61. 

 

Hannah Madden - She moved in circa 1961. Mary recalls a story Hannah related to her when one night after coming home from a night of drinking she was awoken by an almighty racket in her kitchen. Getting out of bed to investigate she saw bottles of beer being chased around her kitchen by tiny policemen! Whether this was an actual occurrence or the result of an overactive imagination has been lost to history. Hannah was the frequent object of unwanted attention by local lads who would taunt her. One day she fired back with the immortal words : " Go away or I'll break your face with a kiss! "

3 New Cottages

View from car park early 1970s

As mentioned previously ( see maps above ) , 3 new cottages were erected close to the railway line circa 1920s , though may have been earlier. Over time , the owners embellished them by adding second floors or converting to dormer bungalows. In addition a timber built house was erected south of the original railway cottages.

1st House - home to the Sisks. Ann O'Neill : " My mum left in 1981 after selling to the Corporation. She was the last resident of The Cutting. The house was demolished shortly thereafter. " Ann ( m.O'Neill ) Sisk's story is told here.

2nd house - home to the O'Sullivans/Nyhans/Spillanes.  

*O'Sullivans - They were a family of 9.

*Nyhans - moved in early 1962/4

*Siobhan Spillane : " We bought the house from the Nyhans circa 1977/78. We were however denied permission to renovate it. The Corporation eventually bought it on 18th January 1980. "

3rd House - home to the Cronins.

Daly's Cottage

Daly's cottage came into being circa 1920s and was the second timber built structure in the immediate vicinity , the other being Birdie Buckley's on the corner of Hangdog Road. Mr. Bill Daly was a founder member of Togher A.C. with Ted Murray and Mr. Morgan. * The Daly cottage was the epicenter of Togher pirate radio back in the early 1980s.  The 3 siblings were Janette , Pat and Micky Daly who ran a local radio station called Radio Caroline from a caravan on site and attracted all the local talent from the area , including Trevor Welch , later to become better known as a sports presenter on TV3 and even drew the attention of future correspondent Paul Byrne. More luminaries from near and far had their start at Daly's ( read more here! ). In common with others , they moved out of The Cutting circa 1983 to a little cottage on Barrs Lane.

Residents
( North of railway track )

The land north of the railway line was owned by the Marshalls and they let out several small cottages to various residents over the years.

Marshall House

Home to the Marshall family up to the early 1980s , it is now a Vets. The Marshalls are absent on the 1901 Census but appear on the 1911 Census ( see below ) , so it is during that decade that they purchased the land which stretched from the corner of Barrs Lane down to the railway track. Tommy Marshall , head of the house was a market gardener and builder , he also kept greyhounds. He had one daughter Mary Rose. His wife was Joan Sullivan from Ballygarvan and she ran a small cafe in town called The Cozy Kitchen. * Mrs. Marshall , Tommy's mother lived in what would become the Walsh house while the big house was being built in the early 1930s. * Mary Walsh often picked cabbages for the Marshalls and cleaned their house. She remembers polishing Mrs. Joan Marshalls hallway entrance which was tiled and being told to put a good shine on it to impress calling guests.

1911 Census
Showing Tommy Marshall as a 2 year  old

The Cutting ( looking south ) early 1970s
Marshall house on right

Walsh house

aerial view 1971
Marshall house and Walsh house ( N. of old railway line )
& Madden and Cronin cotttages , Dalys & Terraced houses
( S. of old railway line )
Note new car park

Home to the Walsh family from late 1930s to 1968. Their story is told here. Mary remembers that the front door of their house was always open and that evening , a drunken man appeared out of nowhere and asked for a cup of tea! She recalls a man who lived up Lehenaghmore in his 50s who passed over the bridge once a week at night much the worse for wear chanting : " The R.I.C. , the R.I.C. , the power of the devil , to the R.I.C.! "

 

 ** There were also 2 other small cottages past the Walsh house lived in by the Shanahans and Roches. These cottages were located on Marshall's rear garden but were removed circa 1950 * Mary's brother Michael was good friends with Michael Shanahan and the standing joke was sending each other christmas cards saying " from Micka to Micka ". There was also a small club house located just north of the railway line where locals would play cards , darts and rings. This leafy bower in time would become a well used shortcut for children going to and from school. **

 

Post - The Cutting

Hannah Maddens cottage demolished ( on right ) 1975

Child in photo unknown

The Cutting , as mentioned previously came into existence during the construction of the Cork Macroom Direct Railway which was completed in 1866. However by 1968 , that sleepy hamlet in the heart of Togher would begin to change , slowly at first , then more rapidly so that by 1975 , all but a few remnants of this once cozy nucleus were gone. The process started when Murphy's brewery purchased Deanrock Villa in 1968 and besides upgrading it , also demolished the workmens cottages nearby to expand the new Pub and build a car park.

Removal of Bridge 1975

& alignment of Togher Road

1975 saw the demolition of the Railway bridge and the removal of the embankment which gave The Cutting it's name and identity. The main Togher Road was now aligned again for the first time in almost 109 years! Soon after Cork Corporation put in place offers to the remaining residents to leave which was accomplished by 1981.

Dismantling of bridge as seen from embankment 1975

Removal of embankment 1975
Looking towards school & church

Complete removal of bridge & embankment early 1976
Looking towards corner of Tramore Road

Newly re-aligned Togher Road 1977

Note Daly's cottage beyond Deanrock pub

Re-aligned Togher Road early 1980s

Note former site of The Cutting centre left of photo

*Site fenced off

South Ring Road nearing completion late 1993

Mary Walsh and her parents had already moved out of The Cutting in 1968 to Pouladuff Road ( photo below ). They lived in the corner house just off Edward Walsh Road which was one of a block of 3 houses that were originally builders offices during the housing schemes nearby in the early 1960s. The Walsh's moved in to the first house on the corner with Mary ( she would babysit for the Welchs on Edward Walsh Road including future sports presenter Trevor Welch! , who would get married in 1974 and moved out to Kinsale. The Meaghans ( not from Togher ) lived in the middle house while Paki Cronin , his wife Noreen and their three kids from Deanrock Terrace lived in the third house. Mary remembers the Husseys lived in a two storey house nearby.

Mr. & Mrs. Walsh formally of The Cutting

New house on Pouladuff Road 1968

The Marshalls had already begun selling off land and in 1971 a power plant was built on their land supplying electricity to the hundreds of new homes in Deanrock. The early 1990s saw the Marshalls gone out of Togher and the completion of the South Ring Road through the former Cuttings , forever erasing their existence. A new concrete overpass was built to facilitate pedestrians and traffic. Bar the former Deanrock Villa , now a pub and the Marshall house , now a vets , The Cutting is no more. The old Marshall land is now an Industrial Park but the ghosts of The Cutting are said to still be there if you know where to look and if you listen hard enough.

Remnants of The Cutting in modern times
Deanrock pub south of and Abbeyville Vets
north of South Ring Road

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The blog and Togher Historical Association in addition to its own independent research would like to thank the late Ann Sisk and especially Mary Walsh for sharing their knowledge of old Togher.

Ann Sisk - The Cutting

On August 4th 2018 , the Togher Historical Association caught up with a former resident of The Cutting , now sadly consigned to memory in Togher. Billy O'Brien had the privilege of interviewing Ann O'Neill ( nee Sisk ) in Ballincollig and archiving her life story of which only a small portion is being committed to the blog. 

Ann O'Neill & Billy O'Brien

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** Sadly Ann passed away on October 12th 2021. This article stands as a tribute to her and her life in Togher. Because of her generosity in sharing her memories , much of the 1950s and 1960s from a small part of Togher are forever archived here. M.S.R.I.P. **

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Ann's home ( first at centre ) 1971

Ann's home ( first centre left ) 1971

Ann's house on left as seen from Mrs. O'Sullivan's yard

 

John Sisk & Theresa Allen

The Sisk family connection with the Cutting didn't take place until the erection of the 3 terraced houses in the late 1920s. Ann's paternal Grandfather Denis Sisk was a stoker in the Royal Navy whilst his Father John Sisk was a farmer living on Togher Road. Ann's paternal Grandmother Norah Sullivan a.k.a. Honora was the daughter of John Sullivan who was a labourer who lived on Togher Road. The couple married in 1905. It is unknown where they resided until the 1920s when their final home was built in the Cutting.
 

Paternal Grandparents Marriage Certificate 1905
Denis Sisk & Honora Sullivan

Honora Sisk

Ann mentions that her parents were married in 1941 and like all couples were very much in love. John Sisk who was born in the Cuttings first began seeing Theresa Allen who lived with her sisters in the family home on Doughcloyne Hill. Sadly that house was only recently demolished. Their relationship was not looked on favourably and Theresa decided to leave home and eventually settled in the Sisk house on The Cuttings. After marrying , John's mother Honora continued to live in the house with many improvements and extensions being added on over the course of time. John and Theresa would have 7 children : Denis , Alan , Colum , Barry , Ann , Frank , Valerie and Bernie.  Sadly John passed away in the 1970s. Fate would have it that as time wore on and the Bridge was demolished , plans by developers were in place to build a future motorway which meant the forced sale of the family home. Ann's mother Theresa finally moved out in 1981 and into Sandown Crest. Theresa herself would pass away at the age of 92 on 24th June 2013 at Marymount Hospice.

John Sisk outside Lough Church 1920s

John Sisk ( left ) on Togher Railway bridge 1940s

Parents Marriage Certificate 1941
John Sisk & Theresa Allen

Theresa Allen ( m.Sisk ) 1920s with siblings

Theresa Allen in her youth

Theresa Allens old home 2017 before demolition

The photo below shows the family in the early 1960s outside the family home in The Cuttings and was taken by Ann's Brother , Denis. The photo above shows Theresa ( circled ) in the 1920s as a child with her siblings in the garden of their home on Spur Hill. Her father , David Allen ( see more here ) was instrumental in setting up what would become the Togher Community Association which ensured public lighting , a bus service and a post office for the region in the 1940s.

Rear: Colum , Alan , Front : Ann ( Valerie on lap ) ,
 Bernie/ Theresa ( on Mrs. Sisk's lap ) , Frank

John & Theresa Sisk 1960s
Daly's cottage in background

John Sisk at The Cuttings

John & Theresa at wedding

Theresa Sisk in later years

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Ann Sisk & Paul O'Neill

Ann Sisk was born in 1948 and lived in the last house of three to the rear of The Cuttings. Her siblings include Denis , Barry ( who passed away at 6 months old ) , Alan (  who passed on ) , Colum , Frank ( who passed on ) , Valerie, and Bernie/Theresa. She attended Togher National School from 1953 to 1961 in the old School which now serves as the Community Centre. Her two Principals during her time there were Mrs. McCarthy who was succeeded by Ms. McSwiney.

Ann Sisk - Communion 1955

Ann with siblings and local children 1955

Ann has many fond memories of growing up in Togher which ranged from playing by the Liberty Stream and running along the Railway Track and teasing the chickens to the rear of Birdie's house ( now front part of Scout Hall ) and darting quickly under the Snotty Bridge on Lehenaghmore Hill in order to avoid the drips. Ann has always identified herself as a railway kid with the line running parallel to the rear of her home. She was also present during the lifting of the Macroom track in 1955 along with other children who marveled at the spectacle. The event was captured for posterity by a reporter from the Railway Bridge at the time ( photo shown above ).  All attended Togher National School , with the younger Girls studying at the newly opened Girls National School after 1961 ( now home to Foroige ). Ann fondly remembers working behind the counter of her cousins , the Hegartys shop on Pouladuff Road - The Laurels. ( story told here ). One of her best friends growing up was Mary Walsh who lived on the opposite side of the Cutting next to the old Marshall house ( story told here ). For a more in-depth article on the Cutting go here.

Ann Sisk 1960s

Ann recounts the following event from her school days back in the old National School :

" I lived around corner from the school , but was always last in ( not late ). One day in a hurry I ran off to school and realised I had forgotten to put on my knickers. I was about 6 years old. I was in the horrors and told the teacher. She was shocked , ( this was late 1950's ) and told me to stand out in the back ( this was a space between the two class rooms ). I was a small thing with all these eyes on me , so I ran home. My Mother was very protective of me being the only girl at the time. She put on my underwear and actually marched me down to the school. She called the teacher out so as not to upset the girls. I don't know what was said , but when Mum had gone , the teacher got my sack and turned it upside down. She took my beloved scrap book which was full from relations , told me to pick up my stuff and I wasn't going to see that book again! I didn't tell Mum as I felt I was a very bad girl.  But I cried inside when the girls were playing with theirs. I know this sounds silly , but as I got older I looked in secondhand bookshops for it..... "

Ann outside family home mid 1960s

Ann Sisk outside home in 1960s

Ann 1968

Ann 1969

Ann started a romantic relationship in the late 1960s with Paul O'Neill who came from Maymount on Friar's Walk. Ann takes up the story : " I was at a match in Turners Cross in 1969. On the way out I looked down to the pitch and just then this fellow looked right at me , as if no one else was there. That night I went to a dance on the number 14 bus to the Stardust and he was there. He asked me to dance , and we have been together since. " 

Paul O'Neill ,  Friars Walk

 with his future sisters-in-law

Valerie and Theresa Sisk outside Cuttings

Ann & Paul at The Cutting 1969

Ann with friend at Turners Cross 1969

 

Paul O'Neill with Theresa , Valerie & Mr. John Sisk

inside Sisk family home at The Cuttings 1970

She always remembers being walked home with Paul stopping on the Railway Bridge until she had safely arrived indoors and blowing kisses to each other and not leaving until he saw her attic light come on. Ann left Togher in 1970 eventually settling in Ballincollig where she lives to this day. She was married at the Parish Church in the Lough in 1971.

Mrs. Sisk , Paul & Ann , Mr. Sisk
Wedding Day at Lough Church 1971

Ann with her father Mr. Sisk
Lough Church 1971

Ann & Paul
Wedding Day 1971

Paul & Ann 
Wedding Day 1971

Ann & Paul 1971

Ann & Paul

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Colum Sisk

Ann's Brother Colum ( shown below ) was a keen runner and member of Togher Athletics Club from its formation in 1966. He had studied in Maynooth to become a Priest but opted out and pursued a career in Teaching eventually ending up as Principal of Blarney Boy's School. He is married with two children.

Colum Sisk ( Centre ) with Togher A.C. 

1967 in Coffey's Field

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Frank Sisk

Frank Sisk , another Brother of Ann's went on to join the Army and originally moved into the N.B.A. scheme before finally settling in Ballyphehane with his Wife , Mary. He had a love for the sport of darts which he regularly played at the Ardmanning pub. Sadly he passed away in 2000. Ann remembers him as a fun child who was easy to mind and full of love.

 Frank aged 6

Frank Sisk ( left back ) Ardmanning Darts team

Frank Sisk ( 3rd from right  back row )

Frank Sisk ( left holding darts ) in Ardmanning Pub 1980s

Frank Sisk in later years

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Alan Sisk

Photo above shows the late Alan Sisk in the 1960s. As Ann recalls : " He looked more like the Allens than any of us. "

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Denis Sisk

Denis Sisk who lives in West Cork

Denis Sisk who is the eldest worked as a breadman and lived for a time in Greenwood Estate but now resides in West Cork. In Togher he was famous for his adult rendition of the song " Ruby , Don't Take Your Love To Town ".

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Ann further recounts the following memories from her days in the Cutting and her life in general and that of her Family: 

" .... My father has memories as a young boy of hearing shots off in the distance and of seeing the black and tans and of bodies being taken out of the marshes over by the African Missions land!

 

 ....My Dad had cancer of the eye when young and had use of only one eye and so never owned a car. He used to take me to mass in Wilton up the train track and over a tree trunk of Glasheen River.

Aunt Crissie ( Mrs. Sisks sister ) on right

....My Aunt Crissie Allen ( see photo above ) , loved her , she took me every where. I waited on the steps in the cutting for her every Wednesday when she visited mum.

 ....One time when I was very young , my two brothers were messing with a pellet gun and shot me across my eyebrow. I still have a piece of the pellet there. When my Dad found out , he smashed the gun off our front wall. It wasn't even ours!

....We'd sneak around Nanna Cronies ( Hannah Cronin ) , and out her gate to the cutting. She'd hit us with a floor brush if we were caught! It only took a minute off our way home but it was the dare of course! 

....We would sneak in through the hedge from the Railway track to see the match in the Barrs instead of going up Dineen's Lane and paying. 

Mr. Sisk at The Cutting 1970s

....My Dad , he kept the steps in good condition in the Cuttings through weeding and cleaning. One day after working on it , he said to my sister and Mary Cronin , that he felt he had lost 5 pounds that day. When he had gone up home , Bernie/ Theresa and Mary Cronin spent the rest of the day looking for it! haha. That was about 50 years ago. The innocence back then.

....When I was very young, most of the Togher families got together in the Barrs playing field , and the women brought soft drinks and biscuits etc. for us children , and we'd sing and dance and play in front of a huge fire , the men talking sport and the women exchanging gossip, when it was time for the children to go home , the women would clean up, and we'd all head off leaving the men to doing their thing, and seeing to the fire , no fighting, just the one night we all met up.
  
....Next to my old school was Miss O's shop ( red door ).  At lunch time she would bring out packets of biscuits to sell to us over the wall.  She would open the pack slowly and sell a biscuit for half a penny. If anyone wanted change she would stroll back into the shop for it.

Paul with Mrs. Sisk


....I loved Mrs. O though through the years , I would wait in her little shop , for the bus or a date. I loved the smell of the heater she had. There was a very high wall between her shop and her farm house so I would stay if she wanted something from the house. The shop wouldn't always be open as she got older. So we would knock on a little high window and God love her , she would go down to the shop for us , never said no. It was from that window we got our milk every day. Would you believe , I never knew if they were married or brother and sister. Never saw him out and about , only in the farm yard. Our front gate was next to the farms gate, and the cows used to gather there at times , and the smell of manure! When my uncle Jim Allen went blind from shingles , his sense of smell was intensified! But I won't repeat what he would say! My Dad never used bad language!

....Jim Allen lived at Mams own home. David Allen was their Dads name. It was the first house up in Spur Hill. It was beautiful then , beautiful gardens , large orchard , but when Jim died , it went to bits. David his son had no interest in gardening , and Frank had married and lived elsewhere. 

....When my Mam fell in love with my Dad ( he was a handsome man and a gentleman ) her father disowned her because he was just working in Dunlop , so my poor Mam came from money to a cottage. She was a wonderful Mother , 7 of us, and she wouldn't let us lift a finger , fire lighting every morning before we got up , never saw our clothes line without a line of sheets , after she kneeling on the kitchen floor washing them over a tin bath , which she had to fill from dozens of hot water kettles of water , and so sad we all took it for granted , but we cared for her after we all got married , still not enough though...."

....There was a character who used to hang around the railway tracks called Jackie. He wore a soft hat and an overcoat. He would boil spuds on the track! He actually lived in Glasheen but was often seen by the track , where Teddy Murphy , the Dineens and my brothers would chat to him. "

Sisk family home shortly before demolition 1983

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The Sisk Family

Sisk Family gathering 1990s

Ann , Valerie , Theresa ( Bernie ) & Colum 2019

Paul O'Neill with Ann's cousin Jim Hegarty

 

 

The Blog would like to thank most sincerely the entire Sisk/O'Neill Family for their contributions to this article. A whole world which many had never even known existed in Togher has finally been brought back to life. So next time you walk over the Togher Overpass bridge , just think that many moons ago , between the Deanrock pub and the Industrial Estate , a thriving community full of hopes and dreams and laughter once dwelt there! 

 

 

Acknowledgements :

 

Ann O'Neill
Paul O'Neill
Jim Hegarty
Mary Cooney  

 Malcolm Dollery