Protected Structures Meeting - Togher Community Centre - 20th July 2015

At 8.45 p.m. on a rainy Monday evening the Togher Historical Association represented by Pat O'Rourke , Kathleen O'Keeffe and Billy O'Brien gathered at the Togher Community Centre for an important meeting with Cllr. Fergal Dennehy FF and Cllr. Donncadh Ó  Laoghaire SF ( who suggested the meeting ). It was an historic event for two reasons : it would be the first time that the Historical Association would be purposely engaging with members of both City Council and County Council and it would mark the first time that a concerted effort had been made to stem the ongoing destruction of historical structures in and around the Togher region. It should be stated also that Independent Cllr. Thomas Moloney additionally is active in promoting this venture on behalf of Togher. All Councillors have a very strong bond with Togher being extremely active in their localities in promoting the Community at large. The catalyst for such a decision was the recent surprising Culvert works undertaken near Griffins Pianos shop and the Gully near the entrance to Greenwood Estate which saw the partial removal of the old stone wall which it can be argued dates back to the 1840s and is an integral part of the history of Togher. Whilst the Blog acknowledges the need for flood preventative measures in the region , it feels that these can be incorporated without demolition of artifacts and alternatives can be put in place to accomplish this task. Photographs showing the updated works are shown throughout the article.

Cllr. Fergal Dennehy FF, 

Cllr. Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire SF,

Kathleen O'Keeffe & Pat O' Rourke 

in Togher Community Centre

Cllr Fergal Dennehy FF , Kathleen O'Keeffe ,

Cllr. Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire & Billy O' Brien

beside new railings of Gully , Liberty Stream

Cllr Fergal Dennehy FF , Kathleen O'Keeffe ,

Pat O' Rourke &  Cllr. Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

beside new railings of Gully , Liberty Stream

 Councillors and Historical Assoc. by remnants of wall

Photo opportunity with Pascal McCarthy 

, resident of house near Gully

The Meeting began with Billy O'Brien heading up the debate with a brief introduction to the reasons for the compilation of deserving artifacts ( in light of the recent Culvert works and any future more extensive diggings ) and their future preservation. Due to the onset of inclement weather the services of a prearranged slideshow showcasing some of the structures deemed worthy of protection were shown to the Councillors. It has been noted that not only in recent times but in the near past that various structures in the wider Togher region have been demolished without due consideration as to their potential for education , be it of an historical , archaeological or folkloric nature. From former Big Houses , Workmens Cottages , Army Pill Boxes to Railway Bridges , Water Pumps and Private Residences ; all for one reason or another have been excised from memory.

 View of new railings of Gully , Liberty Stream

 Side view showing pipes , heightened wall 

and clearance of vegetation

 View of additional road drains in situ by Gully

 Alternate long shot view of Gully

It is the opinion of the Historical Assoc. that many if not all could and should have been spared and incorporated into the Community as Heritage Centres or simple Historical Artifacts of a tangible form. From the early 1960s with the Compulsory Purchase of lands , examples of the preceding structures have been systematically demolished. The Historical Assoc. acts on the mantra that once it's gone , it's gone forever! It also noted how the process of demolition has begun to increase with alarming rapidity in the last two years. Sites which have been encountered on Field Trips have been discovered to be demolished only weeks after being documented!

 Front view of new railings near Griffins Pianos

 Side view of road side drains near Griffins Pianos

Side view of Railings near Griffins Pianos

The Councillors were very sympathetic to the requests of the Historical Assoc. and put forward some insightful suggestions. Fergal Dennehy also made mention of the last remaining Market Garden on Togher Road , whilst Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire mentioned that a future meeting with the heritage Dept. would be in order. He additionally motioned that attaching Personages of an Historical bent to various structures would perhaps be the best way in securing preservation. Kathleen O'Keeffe  felt the last remaining original public Water Pump on Doughcloyne Hill should be included. All in all , the meeting was a success , with much banter to and fro between those present. It was decided , that Fergal would inquire into the items on the list on the City side of Togher , with Donnchadh doing likewise for those on the County side. It is felt that this is a step in the right direction with the future meeting of Council representatives hopefully capping it off and saving as much as possible for the Generations to come.

 View of old stream wall near Community Centre

partially restored due to wear and tear

 View of original section of old Stream Wall 

near Community Centre

Alternate view of original section of old Stream

Wall near Community Centre

Below is the email sent to Councillors for their consideration on behalf of the Togher Historical Assoc. ( with response from Cllr. Thomas Moloney ). Following that is the slideshow that was presented at the meeting. Any developments will be published in future blog posts as a matter of priority. In conclusion the Blog would like to thank most sincerely Cllrs. Fergal Dennehy , Donncadh Ó Laoghaire and Thomas Moloney for their efforts to date which are greatly appreciated.

The way it was! 

Iconic 1930s photograph of Togher Cross

Email to County Council outlining Proposed Protected Structures in Togher:



" To ALL Councillors - Cork County Council and City Council where appropriate:

Please find below a draft list of various properties and structures in and around the Togher area. Many if not all are listed in authoritative books which I can produce if so required by prominent Authors both living and dead. Whilst the list may seem extensive , it is only because by accident of its geography , that Togher couldn't help but get in the way of History. While I can understand Councillors who have no affinity and /or bond with the area to be complacent and dismissive , may I call upon their collective consciousnesses to examine how they would react if it was on their own home turf. We are talking about a Railway History which still shows itself to this very day in its many stone arched bridges dotted around Togher , most significantly in the Chetwynd Viaduct ; Houses which harken back to the days of landlords - some of which can be reliably traced to the 1600s! We also have relics of ancient holy wells which hold particular emphasis for religious groups ; We have remaining walls which give Togher its character and sense of uniqueness. Too much has already been destroyed. We lost an authentic World War 2 Army pill box erected during the Emergency , we lost our first National School built in 1850 which could have been turned into a heritage centre , we lost 3 low buildings built in Cromwellian Times and more recently Feirm Bawn - a unique example of a stage coach style dwelling. Other structures are in a perpetual state of peril barely escaping the wrecking ball. Please consider the list here presented - it is our History. As we approach the anniversary of the 1916 Rising , I feel it incumbent upon us all to preserve as much of our history and heritage as we possibly can. Otherwise , the British Empire of old and its sadly lasting legacy of destruction will never truly leave us. You wipe out our past , you wipe out our sense of place and community , you wipe out what we were , where we came from , who we are and how far we have come.

Protected Structures List

ALL remaining railway bridges in and around Togher
Chetwynd Viaduct
Chetwynd House
Philippine House
Togher Lodge
Old Cottage and Wall by Togher Cross
Remaining Wall of Lehenaghmore House and Entrance gates at Palmbury
Bridge by Deanrock Estate
Grotto in Deanrock
Doughcloyne House
Togher Community Centre
Water pumps at Doughcloyne and Spur Cross
All of the above can be fleshed out by the Historical Assoc. in terms of their historical significance if so desired. This list as mentioned is a draft and many more items can be added including Ring Forts and castle foundations which can be verified by our Archaeologist.

A Chara
Billy O'Brien
Togher Historical Assoc. "

* In addition  the Market Garden house on Togher Road is hereby included.
** Garrane Darragh house near Eagle Valley is hereby included.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


 Reply from Cllr. Thomas Moloney:

Hi Bill

Next Council meeting isn't until next September but I am going to put it in as a motion. I am also going to see if someone in City Council who is responsible for this work can do something in the mean time.

I'll get back to you as soon as I get an answer.

Regards

Thomas

* Cllr. Thomas Moloney has forwarded the Proposed Protected Structures list through 3 Departments to date to ensure the relevant people view it and plans to meet with the Historical Assoc. in the near future to discuss more on the topic. *

Below are the photographs of items included for consideration on the Proposed Protected Structures List for Togher as proffered to the Council. Also included are a few of the Structures that have recently been demolished.

1830 Stone Wall near Gully , Greenwood Estate

1830 Arch Bridge inside Gully , Greenwood Estate

Original Stream Wall near Community Centre

Original Stream Wall near Togher Cross

1820 Sarsfield Lodge , Togher Cross

Feirm Bawn house ( now demolished )

Mid 17th Century terraced cottages ( demolished )

 Entrance Pillars & Wall to Palmbury Orchards

 Segments of original Orchard Walls in Estate

Aerial View of Doughcloyne Bridge

 ( a.k.a.St. Bart's Well ) 

and 17th Century Philippine House & Garden

Sarsfield House , White Oaks , off Sarsfield Road

17th Century Chetwynd House & Outbuildings 
Mahers Lane off Bandon Road

18th Century Garrane Darragh house 
near Eagle Valley
( Bankrupt Property? )

 19th Century Deanrock footbridge , Deanrock

Remnants of Old Quarry now Grotto 

( a.k.a. Devil's Rock )

 

Last remaining Water Pump on Doughcloyne Hill 

as demonstrated by Eamonn Pearse back in 1986!

Culvert Works In Progress Report- July 2015 - Ongoing

Floods have been a major part of Togher's history not only in times past ( see photo below ) but in more recent times as well. It has historically been proven that the Liberty Stream's natural floodplain lay near the now defunct Southern Fruit warehouse the owners of whom campaigned in the 1970s to have the watercourse piped at that location which it can be argued exacerbated the situation by moving the problem downstream. To hopefully offset this natural event from reoccurring or at best containing it , Cork County Council has commissioned works to begin on installing a new Culvert to compliment the already existing one by Coffey's Field which was built in the late 1980s. Works are commencing at a rapid pace with plans to install new larger pipes under the main road running adjacent to the Church and Schools. As a temporary measure to offset unexpected flooding the Blog has been informed that the block wall by Griffins Pianos will be removed and a railing erected to facilitate overflow of flood water should the need arise. The original stone wall by the Gulley near Greenwood Estate has surprisingly had its mid section removed and reconstituted atop the remaining left and right parts with a railing soon to be fitted , again mimicking the purpose allegedly ascribed to the similar one across from the Community Centre. The Historical Association has engaged with County Council vis-à-vis the protection of this archaic structure. This is ongoing with the helpful assistance of several local Councillors but the situation at present seems to be that the wall will eventually be completely removed!

Flooding near Muintir na Tire 1947

The Blog would like to thank various members of the public for taking 11th Hour photos of the works both at night and during daylight as they proceed at an alarming rate of knots. Whilst preventative measures regarding future events of flooding are to be welcomed , it is hoped that some compromise can be reached which will please all parties. Future updates will be posted as and when they become available. 

 Night-time shot of old Gulley Wall with

 mid section removed for installation of railing

Railing installed near Griffins Piano shop

 Original stone wall reconstituted to form break

 New footpath laid down with supports in place

 Close up of original stone reconstituted 

with new mortar atop existing wall

 Long shot of Gulley works in progress

 Long shot of footpath and broken wall

 Close up of Gulley gap

 View of new speed ramp entrance

14th July 2015:

Update on work in progress near Greenwood Estate - Photographs courtesy of Kathleen O'Keeffe. The photos show the new railings in place near the gulley and a new painted speed ramp at the entrance to Greenwood Estate. Many more changes are envisaged and a fear by the Historical Association is that the wall by the stream at Togher Cross could suffer interference now as well in the not too distant future. Quite why the contractors would be installing a speed ramp is bizarre to say the least as this work is normally the preserve of the Council and the Culvert Works were supposed to be let out to tender.

 New railings in situ at gulley

New speed ramp installed

at Greenwood Estate

17th July 2015:
Eamonn Pearse submitted the following photographs of completed interim works near the Gulley by Greenwood Estate. A series of road side drains run alongside the new footpath directly adjacent to the new railings with a shot showing a plastic feeder pipe running off from one of them into the Gulley.

Eamonn's retro sepia shot of the new railings

 Road drains adjacent to Gulley

Plastic feeder pipe into Gulley

15th Fieldwork Trip - 5th July 2015 - Liberty Stream & Cork Bandon Railway

On Sunday afternoon at 5.20 p.m. 5th July 2015 the Togher Historical Association met up at the Community Centre to conduct their 15th Fieldwork trip to date. Present were Daniel O'Riordan , Kathleen O'Keeffe , Billy O'Brien , Eoin & Ann Desmond and Alex O'Keeffe. The first part of the journey took place inside the grounds of the former old National School for a photo session of O'Keeffe Family Members commemorating the contribution of farming implements to the Centre by the late Tom O'Keeffe. Niall McCarthy - Chairman Togher Community Centre - was at hand to grant the group access. Much discussion ensued as to the purpose of the various tools including how they would have been used in conjunction with farm animals.

 Photo showing plaque and miniature hand pump

 Horse drawn furrow machine newly painted

 Alex posing with plough in grounds

 Alex on wall with second furrow machine

Alex & Kathleen O'Keeffe next to Monument

The group then departed in 2 vehicles for the second part of the trip meeting up in the car park of City Bounds pub near the former " Snotty " Bridge. From there it was decided to take in the section of the old Cork Bandon Railway Line on the opposite side of the road as far as the piped area of the Liberty Stream. The entire length of the now long denuded trackway from the Pub to the site of St. Bart's Well by Doughcloyne Bridge is approximately 2350 feet! The purpose of the venture was to visit the site of the former Railway Bridge which crossed the Liberty Stream after Doughcloyne Bridge and is believed to have been demolished and piped in 1977. Along the way photographs were taken of the 3 old Railway markers with the last one ( all shown below ) acting as a stopoff for the group. All markers showed signs of repainting and graffiti with metal plates damaged or missing. 

 First Railway marker stone

 Second Railway marker stone

Last Railway marker stone near piped stream

At this juncture the group paused for thought whilst history reared its head and discussion was once more entered into on the incredible feat of engineering and sheer hard work by our distant Ancestors in accomplishing the gargantuan task of building the Embankment. At its centre point where the Liberty Stream flows through a concrete pipe once stood a stone arched bridge. This was also its highest elevation above ground , with the South facing slope reaching 40 feet and the North facing slope reaching 60 feet ( as shown below ) , the discrepancy arising because of the hilly nature of the gradient. It was a sobering thought to imagine that along with Engineers , Supervisors and skilled Navvies of the time in the 1840s , there were very likely countless numbers of Poor and Sick People who laboured long and hard on the erection of the trackway during the height of the Famine , being paid not in money but in cheap imported Indian Corn.

 North facing slope showing concrete pipe

 Close up shot of pipe emanating from embankment

 South facing slope showing Entry pipe

Close up of South facing Entry pipe

At this point it was decided to revisit the South portion of the Embankment and take a more detailed look at the Liberty Stream and its environs. Daniel O'Riordan and Eoin Desmond accompanied Billy O'Brien down into the watery enclave. Despite the high temperatures of the day , the environment 40 feet down was decidedly cooler ( see first video below ) . Eoin Desmond remarked on the side streamlet which flowed into the Liberty Stream just before the Entry pipe which is thought to be a lasting remnant of St. Bartholomew's Well ( capped and inaccessible ) located further West by Doughcloyne Bridge. Billy O'Brien wearing waders trudged off down the stream to discover the way barred by thick branches and heavy overgrowth. However the opportunity presented itself to video the attempt whilst actually traversing the waterbed ( see second video below ) .

Video showing South Enclave near Entry Pipe 

of Liberty Stream ( with Eoin Desmond )

Video taken by Billy O'Brien walking along

 water - bed of Liberty Stream on South side 

of Cork Bandon Railway Embankment

From here the team made its way back to the Community Centre for a closer look at the Culvert Works being carried out near Griffins Pianos and the Gulley near Greenwood Estate. Earlier in the day , Niall McCarthy had informed the group that larger concrete pipes were due to be placed underground along the right hand side of Togher Road next to the Church and Schools. Billy O'Brien decided to investigate more fully and photographed and videoed the works for posterity. Starting at the Coffey's Field side photos and videos were taken to showcase the general area.

Eoin Desmond , Anne Desmond & 
Kathleen O'Keeffe outside the Community Centre 
observing the progress of the Culvert Works to date

Close up view of the concrete overpass

 Safety bollards & signage in place by Griffins Piano 
shop where unsafe block wall has been removed

 Heavy overgrowth feeding into stream all
 but obscuring concrete culvert

 Alternate view of invasive vegetation

 Video showing the present day concrete culvert

Video showing the present day concrete culvert 
up towards Griffins Piano shop

Progressing down to the gulley to archive the works there to date , once more a plunge into the shallow waters of the Liberty Stream was in order. Though dank and eerie , the purpose was to rediscover a childhood memory of a stone arched bridge of the same caliber as the one which existed by the Community Centre before it was encased in concrete in the late 1980s. Sure enough the past was very much present as the old structure showed itself in all its splendor. A quick photo opportunity which was undertaken with a childlike excitement of the underside of the concrete overpass behind with its subterranean  pipes and cement plinths - its purposes still unknown - completed the task. 

Markings on road entrance to Greenwood Estate

 near Griffins Piano shop

 New footpath under construction on corner 
entrance to Greenwood Estate

Access route around new footpath currently

 under construction into Greenwood Estate

 Overview photo of stone arch

Long shot of gulley wall built 1830s

 Close up view of Gulley Bridge built circa 1830s

Rare view of gulley taken from water bed

 View of underside of concrete overpass to 
Greenwood Estate showing plinths and pipework

 Zoomed in view showing exit in background

The Fieldwork Trip concluded with a fly by of the new housing scheme on the site of the former old Feirm Bawn sadly now completely obliterated. Just as every cloud has a silver lining , Billy O'Brien and Kathleen O'Keeffe were happy to report that the name of Togher's new kid on the block paid tribute to it's Parent - Feirm Bawn - as shown in the photo depicting the placard. The Blog hopes to be back on the ground in the next weeks and months archiving , documenting and reporting on the past and the present with a keen eye to the future.