To Be Cont'd ...
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Togher , A Brief History - Tom O'Keeffe
The following book was first published by Tom O'Keeffe in 1995. It was the first printed historical document devoted exclusively to the region. The O'Keeffe Family have given permission to the Togher Historical Association & Blog for it to be reproduced here in full for archival purposes and for it to gain an extended audience with those who may not have a copy and for those with an interest in local history. Check back often as the Blog uploads more images. Please be aware these were captured by camera from the Local Studies Dept. of Cork City Library and while some editing has been done , they are shown as is.
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Home Thoughts From Abroad - 11 - Land Of Ghosts And Giants
A series of posts from the Historical Assoc. Facebook group page - I'm From Togher , Boy.
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Land Of Ghosts And Giants
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Land Of Ghosts And Giants
29th July 2016
It's quite remarkable when you look back at the rich history of Togher. Even though much of her landmarks and prominent buildings are gone it is sometimes sobering to contemplate them. Medieval Churches , an ancient graveyard , an Iron Age causeway , Forges and Mills , Ice Skating , Ghostly Armies , Giant Elks , vast wetlands and meadows , railway bridges , whiteboys , road bowling , quarries , underground streams , 17th Century houses , High stone walls. The list is endless! A lot to ponder and a lot to be proud of! Welcome to Togher.
It's quite remarkable when you look back at the rich history of Togher. Even though much of her landmarks and prominent buildings are gone it is sometimes sobering to contemplate them. Medieval Churches , an ancient graveyard , an Iron Age causeway , Forges and Mills , Ice Skating , Ghostly Armies , Giant Elks , vast wetlands and meadows , railway bridges , whiteboys , road bowling , quarries , underground streams , 17th Century houses , High stone walls. The list is endless! A lot to ponder and a lot to be proud of! Welcome to Togher.
Friday, November 4, 2016
Home Thoughts From Abroad - 10 - History Begins At Home
A series of posts from the Historical Assoc. Facebook group page - I'm From Togher , Boy.
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I've often thought about my love of history and local history in particular. I've traveled the world and digested enormous amounts of literature about ancient cultures. At school , I could name all the Kings and Queens of England. In fact , I had a sneaking suspicion that I knew more about English History than English children! As an adult , I certainly knew more about World History than I did about the place where I grew up and called home. What was here before me and my home , who lived here , what did it look like? What changed , what happened to it , why did it vanish? Why was I not instructed in school about my local area? Why was I not taught that which was pertinent to me? What was the big secret?! Alas , local history is very much neglected in the state curriculum? Thankfully , local historical groups are springing up all over the place to tackle this omission. Togher has its very own - founded some years ago now and evolving and growing stronger. From field research to online investigation to local interviews , a picture is slowly emerging of a fascinating past , which will astound and amaze you. History is all around us and beneath our feet. You are part of it and you are its legacy. Be proud of it and of yourself.
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History Begins At Home
17th November 2015
I've often thought about my love of history and local history in particular. I've traveled the world and digested enormous amounts of literature about ancient cultures. At school , I could name all the Kings and Queens of England. In fact , I had a sneaking suspicion that I knew more about English History than English children! As an adult , I certainly knew more about World History than I did about the place where I grew up and called home. What was here before me and my home , who lived here , what did it look like? What changed , what happened to it , why did it vanish? Why was I not instructed in school about my local area? Why was I not taught that which was pertinent to me? What was the big secret?! Alas , local history is very much neglected in the state curriculum? Thankfully , local historical groups are springing up all over the place to tackle this omission. Togher has its very own - founded some years ago now and evolving and growing stronger. From field research to online investigation to local interviews , a picture is slowly emerging of a fascinating past , which will astound and amaze you. History is all around us and beneath our feet. You are part of it and you are its legacy. Be proud of it and of yourself.
Monday, October 31, 2016
Joe Murphy Family Visit - Shirley Kelleher - 29th October 2016
On 29th October 2016 , the Blog played host at the Community Centre to a very special speaker. The Grand Niece - Shirley Kelleher - of Volunteer Joe Murphy who died on Hunger Strike after seventy-six days without food on 25 October 1920 - gave an exclusive talk to those present. Such was the occasion , that it was decided to video the event for posterity. Although heavily edited , it showcases the main points raised during the meeting which encompasses many diverse topics as can be seen in the video below.
Previous to the Blog's historic meeting with a relative of Joe Murphy , Billy O'Brien had the honour of briefly speaking with Henry " Harry " Delaney , Shirley's Father , in Ballincollig , whose own Mother was Joe Murphy's sister.
Shirley Kelleher ( nee Delaney ) traveled to several poignant locations in Togher where many memories were reopened and much rare information was disclosed. Togher Girls National School , the Community Centre ( original National School which Joe attended ) and of course Joe Murphy house on Pouladuff Road were each visited.
A complete collation of the Joe Murphy archives in conjunction with his family will now be undertaken by the Blog. Also penciled in for a future project will be the digitization of the entire school roll books of Togher going back to 1850! The Blog would like to thank most sincerely Shirley Kelleher for being so gracious with her time. A full biography of Joe Murphy and his lineage to date will feature here in the very near future.
Billy O'Brien paid an equally historic visit to SuperValu shopping centre to present a copy of a 1970 article from the Evening Echo showing the construction of the original building to Store Manager Kevin Morgan. It subsequently transpired that Kevin and Billy both hailed from Togher Square. A small world indeed!
Video of meeting with Blog & Joe Murphy's grand niece Shirley Kelleher
Henry Delaney , son of Joe Murphy's sister
pictured at St. Finbarr's cemetery 2006
Shirley Kelleher ( nee Delaney ) traveled to several poignant locations in Togher where many memories were reopened and much rare information was disclosed. Togher Girls National School , the Community Centre ( original National School which Joe attended ) and of course Joe Murphy house on Pouladuff Road were each visited.
Portrait of Joe Murphy
Joe Murphy's sister 1972
A complete collation of the Joe Murphy archives in conjunction with his family will now be undertaken by the Blog. Also penciled in for a future project will be the digitization of the entire school roll books of Togher going back to 1850! The Blog would like to thank most sincerely Shirley Kelleher for being so gracious with her time. A full biography of Joe Murphy and his lineage to date will feature here in the very near future.
Kathleen O'Keeffe , Dan O'Riordan , James O'Brien ,
Shirley Kelleher & Billy O'Brien at Togher Community Centre
Billy O'Brien & Shirley Kelleher
outside Community Centre
Shirley Kelleher posing with historic
family photographs in Togher
Shirley Kelleher outside Togher Girls National School
which she attended from 1971 to 1979
Shirley Kelleher at Joe Murphy House
Kevin Morgan & Billy O'Brien at SuperValu Togher
article courtesy of Ronnie Herlihey and Evening Echo
Saturday, October 22, 2016
20th Fieldwork Trip - 15th October 2016
On Saturday 15th October 2016 the Blog met with Kathleen O'Keeffe and Eamonn Pearse to discuss future projects. Time was given to viewing handwritten documentation proving the Togher connection with certain Townlands going back as recently as the 1950s , such as Doughcloyne , Lehenaghmore and Chetwynd etc. Business of the day concluded , they made their way the short distance to the beginning of Doughcloyne Hill to undertake the shortest Fieldwork Trip to date. The objective was to look at the new 5 House Estate built on the former lands of Feirm Bawn and to investigate the now cleared site of the former Allen Family. The legacy of this Family is inestimable in that the head of the house was a close friend of Michael Collins and was also extremely active in the formation of a Development Association for Togher back in the early part of the 20th Century.
Kathleen remarked how overgrown the house had become down through the years and also how as a child the house could be seen in its entirety from Togher Cross , the surrounding area being open fields. The team took time to photograph the house from several angles and also videoed the site for archival purposes. As the video shows , the house is in a severely dilapidated condition with vegetation growing out of the chimney. The grounds have many outhouses including an original stone walled shed. It is believed that the house is slated for demolition in the very near future - another sad end to Togher's past.
Corner view of new Feirm Bawn development
View from main road showing exit in background
Kathleen remarked how overgrown the house had become down through the years and also how as a child the house could be seen in its entirety from Togher Cross , the surrounding area being open fields. The team took time to photograph the house from several angles and also videoed the site for archival purposes. As the video shows , the house is in a severely dilapidated condition with vegetation growing out of the chimney. The grounds have many outhouses including an original stone walled shed. It is believed that the house is slated for demolition in the very near future - another sad end to Togher's past.
Cleared site of Allen house on Doughcloyne Hill
Rear view of Allen house showing lean to
Togher Cross as seen from Allen house
Panoramic Video of Allen House , Togher
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Togher News Newsletter - Issue 05 December 1975
From 1975 through to the late 1980s , the Togher Community Association published a monthly newsletter entitled Togher News. This modestly priced periodical ( 3 Pence! ) covered any and all issues of the day as they pertained to Togher back then. An interesting snapshot of life in the preceeding decades of the district. The following raw images are shown unedited but legible being shot on HD camera by the Blog on a visit to the Archives of Cork City Library. Enjoy the almost complete 5th Issue from December 1975 which sadly is missing Page 8 of 9.
Togher News Issue 5
December 1975
Page 01
Page 02
Page 03
Page 04
Page 05
Page 06
Page 07
( *Page 8 Missing* )
Page 09
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