24th Fieldwork Trip - 30th November 2017 - New Estates , St. James Cemetery & Woulfe Lane

On Thursday 30th November 2017 , the Togher Historical Assoc. undertook its 24th Fieldwork Trip to date. Present were Eamonn Pearse , Kathleen O'Keeffe and Billy O'Brien. First port of call was the site of the old Sexton plot on Doughcloyne Hill. Now in private ownership having been sold off some years back  , the planning form shown below gives all the details of the new structure. Of particular interest to the Blog is Togher's sole remaining Water Pump , which is located to the left of the entrance. Even though the Pump is no longer operational , it must be protected as it is the last original of its kind still in existence in Togher.

Notice for new Structure on Doughcloyne Hill

New structure on site of old Sexton plot

Last Water Pump in Togher!

Close up view of  the last Water Pump

Billy O'Brien poses with Water Pump

The group next journeyed to St. James Cemetery , official graveyard of Togher District and Parish. The site opened in 2005 and is located off Mahers Lane in Chetwynd. Besides possessing a remarkably large car park , it is also home to a wall bank of ashes with seating for visitors. Out of respect , no photographs were taken of this area. Just inside the main gates is an imposing monument depicting an old Irish rowing boat surmounted on a gaggle of wild geese with the inscription " Ark Of Thought And Memory " etched on two sides of its plinth. In keeping with the religious theme , the group next stopped off briefly further up Mahers Lane to photograph the remnants of Togher's old grotto.

Marble placue at entrance to St. James Cemetery

Monument inside gates of St. James Cemetery

Alternate side view of monument

Togher's Old Grotto on Mahers Lane , Chetwynd

Next stop was a brief look at the crumbling remains of the old Allen House on Doughcloyne Hill. Sadly the house is beyond repair and will shortly be demolished being now in private ownership. Another link to Togher's past forgotten and dismissed out of hand.

Old Allen House on Doughcloyne Hill

The group stopped off in Applegreen for refreshments and were fortunate to meet with the Manager , Eileen , who is in negotiations with the Community Association to replace the wall placue denoting the site of Togher's first National School in 1850 which was damaged during renovations. The group were shown an artists rendition of the inscription and crest in preparation for a new placue. The group advised on a glaring mistake which was apparent on the base of the crest , which was a mixture of Irish and English , the original being solely in Irish.

Artists rendition of School Placue

At this juncture , Eamonn Pearse departed , leaving Kathleen O'Keeffe and Billy O'Brien to continue on their Fieldwork Trip. It was decided to visit the plot of scrubland running adjacent to Sarsfield Road and Eagle Valley. Here a short video was shot showing the site which will shortly see the construction of 73 new builds. The photo below gives all the details.

Planning Notice indicating the new Estate

Short video shot from two vantage points

A flying visit was made to the section of the Liberty Stream by Togher Cross to take in the view of the Hallihan house set back from the road by Lane's Cottage and a video showing the watercourse in full flow. It is planned to document a more comprehensive expose of this ancient part of Togher in the near future.

Joseph Hallihan House to rear 
of Togher Cross / Liberty Stream

Angled view of Liberty Stream / Togher Cross

Video showing Liberty Stream / Togher Cross

A simple walk across the road to another site of historical interest brought the former site of Lehenaghmore Lodge into focus. The Planning Notice shown below indicates the construction of 10 new builds. Also shown is the first entrance to a bungalow built for the Daughter of the original Lodge Keeper back in the 1950s. All that remains are the faint outline of the old foundation. Soon the walls will be gone and the site changed for ever. To the right are the legally protected original gates and pillars of the entrance to the former Lehenaghmore House.

Planning Notice for 10 new houses

Entrance to old bungalow which was to left of Lodge

Video showing the complete plot of land

Front view of entrance to Lehenaghmore House

View of left pillar and iron wrought gate

View of right pillar and iron wrought gate

Racing against the clock and fading daylight , the group next decided to travel to Woulfe Lane. This ancient byway of Togher is situated off Ardcahon Drive near Matthews Hill. The title derives its origin from the family name of the former Woulfe House now sadly demolished and replaced by new builds. The start of the old ditchline upon entering the lane has now been cut back and the section of road widened. The group videoed the remains of the former stables and Coach Houses of Lehenagh House , itself demolished 10 years ago which front onto the road. It is believed these will also be destroyed. Moving up further along the road , a brief call was made to another construction site in progress. It should be noted that most of the farm land of Gearys has been sold off with the result that many houses now dot the landscape as far as the Glenmore River and Forge Hill. A chance encounter was made with an old schoolmate of Kathleen O'Keeffe's - Joan Walsh - out walking her dog up Woulfe Lane. A full blown conversation ensued which brought the listeners back to the Togher of her childhood. Joan remarked how fit children were in the 1960s , where she would walk from Woulfe Lane then back up Matthews Hill and then down Lehenaghmore Hill to the Girls School , firstly the old National School ( now Community Centre ) and then the " New " Girls School , built in 1961 ( now Foroige ) and back again every day! She recalled how she would stop by an old Chestnut tree before starting off for school and filling her pockets for sustenance during her long walk. Another tale imparted was the daily incident on Woulfe Lane where a brown bull would eye her suspiciously and rub his horns along the brow of the ditch! She also recalled stories from her Uncle about the old I.R.A. during the War of Independence who would train nearby in subterranean tunnels. It is planned to interview Joan in the new year to archive her fascinating memories.

Looking back on Woulfe Lane

Video showing Stables and Coach Houses

New plot under construction off Woulfe Lane

22nd Fieldwork Trip - 2nd September 2017 - Fulacht Fiadh

On 22nd September at 4 O'Clock in the afternoon , the Togher Historical Assoc. took to the road once more for its 22nd Fieldwork Trip to date. High on the agenda was the locating of a Fulacht Fiadh or Burnt Mound in the Togher townland of Gortagoulane. Several efforts were made to gain access as near as possible to the site which had only been summarily depicted in Richard Henchion's book - Land Of The Finest Drop - which prompted the investigation. However , it was decided to take a more open route through the farmlands of Chetwynd Farmhouse on Doughcloyne Hill. The route was undertaken in torrential rain as the team , made up of Eamonn Twomey , Eamonn Pearse and Billy O'Brien entered the next field which was home to the remnants of Ashgrove House. Sadly all that remains is the Orchard Wall , albeit just two long walls with one arched entrance.

Ashgrove House , Gortagoulane , Togher

The team next traversed the long field seeking out a streamlet which rises nearby and meets up with the Liberty Stream on its right. However it was decided to make a more direct detour to the spot where the two streams meet as shown on G.P.S. due to substantial rainfall and wind. Thankfully the streamlet was discovered almost by accident just short of its merging with the main stream as shown in the photo below. It is thought that it is piped for most of its course up to this point where it daylights.

Streamlet daylighting near Fulacht Fiadh

Area of Fulacht Fiadh showing grassy mound

It was remarked by all present that the ground underfoot suddenly became hard and uneven - evidence of rocks underground which pointed to a possible location of a Fulacht Fiadh. Roughly translated from the old Irish , the ancient Celtic water pit was known as the " Dragon's Breath ".They are typically u - shaped , circa 3 feet high and near sources of water. It is known that a pit is dug of approximately 2 feet , though they may be larger and deeper. A fire is lit nearby and rocks and stones are heated which are then added to the water. As the stones cool or shatter , they are simply extracted and dumped nearby , over time forming a semi - circle around the pit. The soil is usually charcoal rich and obviously over time becomes overgrown with vegetation. There are many schools of thought which differ and agree in equal measure as to their exact purpose. From bathing to cloth dyeing to cooking and even to brewing of beer! The whole area was investigated as much as possible but the team had to move on due to worsening weather. It is planned to return in the future for a more indepth analysis and to study the area more extensively.

Where the two streams meet at Fulacht Fiadh

Close up view of the Fulacht Fiadh showing rocks

The group next walked through two fields composed of marsh and scrubland to enter the land below the former Phillipine House. At this stage the weather grew more windy but miraculously became calmer in mere minutes as shown by the video below.

Marshland and scrubland near Fulacht Fiadh

A brief moment was spent near the new construction of the now Fellowship House complex. Photo opportunities presented themselves as the team made their way up Doughcloyne Hill to their transport. To the right Togher Reservoir could be seen in the near distance. Then a quick look at the former Sexton House site and the last of Togher's water pumps. Then a cursory look at the former Hegarty home whose owners left in the early 1970s to live on Hazel Road. The Fieldwork Trip ended with the group soaked to the skin but all the richer for the experience of walking in the footsteps of their ancestors.

 New drainage being completed below Fellowship

New construction on grounds of former Orchard

Entrance outside Fellowship House

Togher Reservoir as seen from Doughcloyne Hill

Former Sexton House plot with new build

Water pump near former Sexton House

Former Hegarty House on Doughclone Hill