O'Briens Cottage with Munitir na Tire
& Old Army pillbox in the background
A cottage which once existed across from Togher National Schools had a long and close history with the area and education in particular. A rental property on land once owned by the Goods then in the 1930s passing to the Ryans , its next door neighbour was the Muintir na Tire , itself an important part of the social structure of Togher for many years. Many families would make the cottage their home from the 19th Century onwards such as the Crowleys who lived there from the turn of the Century up to the early 1930s but it was the O'Brien family who were most associated with the building and Mrs Ellen ( Nellie ) O'Brien in particular.
at half door of her cottage
Ellen was born in Lehenaghmore and attended Togher National School as a child. She would go on to marry William O'Brien ( or Bill as she called him ) who came from Gillahugh Cottage on Fort Street near St. Finbarr’s Cathedral in Cork City. They would have moved into the ‘ Old School House ’ Cottage when they got married circa 1935/6. William was a van driver for M Laundries in Blackpool and Nellie worked in Pines Bar on the Kinsale road ( now it’s Bull McCabes ). They also kept a chicken coup in their back garden. William
& Nellie raised 5 children in the Cottage - John, Helen, Henry,
Anthony and Marie. All would attend the national school across the road ( now Community Centre ).
Nellie O'Brien , herself a past pupil of Togher National School would
go on to become caretaker and is fondly remembered by all pupils who
would chat to her at her half door.
in the back garden of their cottage
William was a keen book lover , singer and loved sketching the landscape and animals. Ellen loved being surrounded by animals; chickens , rabbits , dogs and cats. She enjoyed growing produce in her small vegetable patch , playing cards , ( 45 especially ) and also took great pleasure in crafting various things with seashells and other materials. Pictured below are just a few of her creations: the first of three cottages that Ellen created and which always held pride of place on the front window of their own cottage home , grottos for The Sacred Heart and Our Lady along with the clock that was presented to her when she retired after over 30 years of being the Caretaker in Togher National Schools - all now gracing her Granddaughters home - ( the clock is still keeping time ).
Helen and John ( sitting )
Their neighbours
adjoining them were: a lady called Moggie - the Coakley family - and
the Roche Family and then Muintir Na Tire. Straight across the road from the
cottage around that time there was a corn field. During the Emergency ( WW2 ) it became a turf depot for wartime supplies of fuel. It is thought a market garden was also there at one point.
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with Helen ( sitting )
taken at the rear of cottage close to
where the Cronin family had their horse stables
at the back of the cottage
& daughter Marie at the back of the cottage
& son Anthony
in the back garden of the cottage
next to the cottage
( Ellen O'Brien's younger sister )
home from England
Field opposite the cottage with workers
( Men unknown )
with son Anthony
& Marie ( sat on ground )
outside old Army Pillbox
outside the cottage
O'Brien's cottage painted in lime white wash
( photo supplied by the late Ronnie Herlihy )
on her Confirmation day
with Marie ( youngest Sister )
in the back garden of the cottage
in the back garden with just one of
her beloved animals
William with grandchildren
Helena & Marie ( Helen's children )
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Martin , Helena ( pram ) & Marie
( Helen's children )
Mrs. O’Brien pictured at a presentation on her retirement
as school caretaker after over 30 years
Below cites the write-up in the local newsletter at the time
Below cites the write-up in the local newsletter at the time
" On Tuesday, 22nd November 1983, a very pleasant function took place in the Assembly Hall of Scoil An tAthair Maitiu , Togher National Schools , when Very Rev. John Shorten P.P. made a presentation to Mrs. Nellie O’Brien who had been caretaker of Togher National Schools for more than three decades. The presentation was made on behalf of the teachers and Board of Management of both schools. While caretaker was the official title bestowed on Mrs. O’Brien , her tasks were as varied as the colours of Joseph’s coat and each was carried out with such grace and charm that they blended together like the colours of the rainbow on a Summer’s Day. It was only as each speaker told what Mrs. O’Brien meant to him/her that one realized just how much she has done for the pupils and teachers of Togher over the years. God Bless you Mrs.O’Brien, may your retirement be a long , happy and healthy one. Note: While Mrs. O’Brien now lives in the building which housed the first Primary School in Togher she has seen the schools in Togher grow from a 2 roomed school with 2 teachers to the present 36 roomed building with 36 teachers and 900 pupils (Boys and Girls), two full time caretakers and a full time secretary. "
Sadly William died in 1976 and Nellie died in 1992 and the cottage was
regrettably knocked down in the early 2000’s , it's close neighbour ,
the Muintir na Tire and the old Army Pillbox had already seen the
wrecking ball many years earlier.
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***The blog would like to thank Mrs. Helen Cogan ( nee O’Brien - eldest daughter of William and Ellen O’Brien ) for her fantastic contribution to this article. ***
