Order of Malta - Togher - 1975 ~ 2000

 

The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta or Order of Malta was founded in 1048 and first came to Ireland in 1171 following hot on the heels of the Norman Invasion of 1169. They were originally militant Knights who not only cared for the afflicted but engaged in skirmishes as well! It is quite possible that land south of Cork City was gifted to them as evidenced by the Townland of Spittal-Lands - which would refer to an area used for treating the sick ( see map below ).  However , in more modern times they have relinquished that role and cater exclusively for the sick and elderly as well as providing an ambulance service.

Spittal-Lands in Cork City

The Order of Malta first appeared in Cork City in 1966 and the Coughlans of Greenwood Estate were one of the first to join. It was in 1975 that they decided to start a sub-branch in Togher with all five of their children enrolling. Many volunteers joined up , with 10 - 16 years , both boys and girls starting off as Cadets with those older joining up as Adult members. Soon an old ambulance was purchased by the group and was paid for by public donations from wealthy benefactors including the Crosby's owners of The Echo and parked to the rear of Togher Church. It was used primarily to ferry elderly patients to hospital appointments and acted as a first responder in the event of an emergency. Norma remembers that in time it became a taxi for the elderly bringing them to the Ardmanning for outings and returning them home safely again. The group conducted first aid courses and enrolled many new Cadets to cover the various events , such as G.A.A. matches and bike races over at Vernonmount. As they were uniformed and had a military legacy , they enlisted the help of Army Drill Instructors from Collins Barracks to teach them foot drill. Local Togher man , Sgt. Noel Carey took on the work of perfecting their drill and they would go on to win the 1984 All Ireland Foot Drill competition ( see photo below ). Nowadays Noel Carey is involved with Togher Men's Shed. 1990 saw the Togher branch win the Munster Regional competition for their expertise in first aid and ambulance duties. Sadly due to more modern pursuits and lack of volunteers with others retiring , the Togher branch was eventually wound down in the early 2000s. Norma however is still an active member and works in the Carrigaline branch these days. In 2020 the Echo paid tribute to her 50 plus years in the organisation ( see below ). Many local Togher boys and girls have fond memories of being part of the Order of Malta and it is thanks to Norma and her late husband Bernard that the group existed in Togher throughout the 1970s , 1980s and 1990s. 

Norma Coughlan
Order of Malta

2020

Order of Malta - Togher
1983

 

 

Order of Malta - Togher
1983

Ann Alan presenting bouquet to Lady Mayoress
with Lord Mayor 1983

after receiving first aid certificate

 

Order of Malta - Togher
1984 All Ireland Foot Drill Winners

Front: L-R - Cadet Unit Leader Cpl M.Radford  , Unit Chaplain Capt. George Murphy  , Regional Director Mr. P.B. Pearson ( Knight of Malta ) , Sgt. Noel Carey 4th Bn Collins Bks Drill Instructor , Capt Bernard Coughlan ( Cadet Liason Officer )

Middle: L-R - Ruth Coughlan , Marguerite Coakley , Deirdre McGurty , Gillian McCoy , Olivia O'Mahony , Niamh McGurty , Ian Coughlan.

Back: L-R - Deirdre Motherway , Naomi Coughlan , Avril Anthony , Michelle Lowther , Joanne Barry , Ruth Anthony.

Order of Malta - Togher
1985

 

 

Munster Regional Competition Winners 1990

Joan & Jacinta Hourihan , Ruth Coughlan , Joan Galvin , Michelle Lowther

 

Munster Regional Competition Winners 1990

Ruth Coughlan , Joan Galvin , Joan Hourihan , Jacinta Hourihan

Munster Regional Competition Winners 1990
Ruth Coughlan & Jacinta Hourihan

 

 

Order of Malta - Togher
1991
 

Tribute to Norma Coughlan

Echo October 21st 2020

Tribute

...Cont'd

On Sunday 7th June 2016 , a special mass to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Order of Malta in Cork was celebrated. In attendance were two Togher people ; Lord Mayor Fergal Dennehy and Order of Malta legend Norma Coughlan.

Lord Mayor Fergal Dennehy & Norma Coughlan
Both from Togher June 2026

The Laurels - Visit by Togher Historical Association

Maurice Dineen & Kathleen O'Keeffe

Togher Historical Association

 

On October 21st 2023 , Togher Historical Association paid a visit to The Laurels on Pouladuff Road. Courtesy of the kind invitation of Maurice Dineen , acting as Caretaker for the house during production of an upcoming film based on the lives of the Hegarty siblings and their involvement in the War of Independence. The group were warmly received and given a full and extensive tour of the house. Maurice and company have cleaned up the house and carried out some repairs along with filling each room with authentic 1920s artifacts and memorabilia. The living room is peppered with old photographs of the Hegarty siblings and sports a piano with the rather appropriate music sheet displaying " A Nation Once Again ". Of note is the original tiled flooring which once graced the feet of Tomas McCurtain , Terence McSweeney and Tom Barry along with the pantheon of revolutionary figures who once stayed at the house , either in its capacity as a H.Q. or as a safe house for those on the run. As well as taking photographs , a video was shot of the house on both floors to give the full experience of this fabled structure.

 

The Laurels October 2023

Alternate view of The Laurels

Side alley of The Laurels

Billy O'Brien & Kathleen O'Keeffe
Togher Historical Association

 

 Old shop ledger

1967 ledger & coinage

Video of interior of The Laurels

 

Billy O'Brien & Kathleen O'Keeffe
Living Room

 

 

Kitchen

 

Kitchen

Small bedroom for baby
( wall on right was originally windowed before extension )

Bedroom

Master Bedroom

 

Bedroom to rear of house

Memories of Togher - 1940s ~ 1970s - Part 02/04 - Togher Road

The second of a 4-part article ( Part 1 here ) looking back at Togher from the 1940s to the 1970s from the perspective of the Hegarty family , as told by Anne O'Driscoll ( nee Hegarty ). This article looks back at the houses of the 1940s and onward dealing with some of the people who dwelt there and highlighting those which thankfully still remain , hidden in plain sight , nestled among the new housing schemes which sprang up in the 1960s. Houses which can still be viewed today are marked with an asterisk *. Those now demolished will be marked in red text. The journey will start at the beginning of Togher Road and alternate left and right of the road in a numbered sequence as shown below.

Kathleen O'Keeffe ( Togher Historical Association )
& Anne O'Driscoll

1 - Harris/Hanley*

This 2 storey house was once the home of the Harris' , a brother and sister who lived alone. Nuala Harris went to live in Greenwood Estate. Today it is owned by the Hanley's who also own the garage on opposite side of road. Note that the side of their house is unique in the area in that it hosts a billboard. The house is currently unoccupied.

Harris/Hanley

 

2- Buckley*

This was the home of the Buckley's and their daughter Jane , an only child. She now lives in the bungalows leading into Sycamore Place. The house is currently unoccupied.

Buckley

3 - A collection of pre 1950s houses consisting of the following located between old Buckley bungalow and entrance to Boston Park.

Jackson ( Peter )*

Ambrose*

Twomey house*

This was originally a cottage but was altered to become a 2 storey house ; situated to the left of the entrance to Boston Park

Twomey house on corner

The following houses are located after entrance to one of the first modern estates Boston Park ( built 1950 ) on left side of Togher Road.

4 - Cunningham*

Situated at the right corner of Boston Park. The left house of this semi-detached is the home of the Cunningham's. Ger Cunningham is well known for playing for the Barrs.

5 - Russell*

Home of the Russell's , Ger Cunningham's Grandfather married one of the daughters back in the 1920s. Originally a market garden which extended all way back to Hegarty's market Garden and to the right where the present day garage is. They also owned the land which Boston Park is now built on. Anne remembers Boston Park being built. Her father put up a wicket gate and the guards would travel through it on their bikes for breakfast , dinner and tea. Anne joked that the guards would often stop the siblings and ask their names to which they replied , " ye know our father! "

Cunningham & Russell houses

6 - two semi-detached bungalows*

Home of the Murphy's ( left ) and Crowley's ( right ) , which today is a doctor's surgery , these two buildings being located at the entrance to Ardmanning Avenue. Austin Crowley lived there with his Mother and had a hire business there.

Murphys & Crowleys

The journey now moves across the road to the site of the present day Shopping Centre.

7 -Minnie's Orchard

Minnie Curtin lived here with her 2 sisters all of whom had passed by the late 1950s. Her cottage was located to the rear of the old Garda Station. All that remains are the high stone walls to the right of Supervalu and to its rear. Hanley's garage is now situated on the site. Minnie had a driveway from Togher Road to her house and all her walls were hand built.

8 - Garda Station/Old R.I.C Barracks

This fronted onto the Togher Road and was still present in 1970 with the new Togher Shopping Centre to its rear. Today the car park occupies its location since demolition in 1971. One notable character from that period was a Guard known as Roundy Lynch.

9- Ardmanning House

Formally occupied by the Caughlins who also owned all the land on which Earlwood Estate is now located which was once made up of orchards all the way back to Bolloway Lane ( now Hillside Road ). Anne recalls how her father used to bring his horse across to the Caughlins as they kept a small forge on their land. They also had a milking shed. She remembers Dan Caughlin milking his cows and they sneaking some of his apples in their clothes even though they had their own orchard! Ardmanning house of course later became a pub and was eventually demolished in 2013. Anne recalls how an old gnarled tree outside the entrance to the house was known as the Penny Tree. People would insert a penny into the bark and make a wish. Anne and her friends cheekily would search for these pennies.

Former location of Minnies Orchard , Garda Stn

& Ardmanning House

The journey now resumes across the road on the brow of Ardmanning Hill.

10 - Kerr's*

Left semi-detached house. The Kerr's originally owned a small dairy farm.

11 - O'Driscoll's*

Originally the home of Garda O'Driscoll. His wife was Head Mistress of a model school across from City Hall. Both families lived there in the 1950s. It is thought that new families now reside there , the private dwellings having been sold on.

Kerr's  & O'Driscolls

12 - The Plots

The Plots were long tracts of land rented out to residents of Barracks Street and Bandon Road by the owner Kennedy Couhlan. They were located to the rear and between Boston Park and Ardmanning Avenue.

1951 aerial view of The Plots and The Passage
Note Boston Park to north & 
partially constructed Ardmanning Ave to south

13 - The Passage

The Passage was literally a dirt track and the only connecting point between Togher Road and Pouladuff Road up to the 1960s. It served as an access point for those using their plots ( see above ) and was gated at both ends.

The Laurels - Hegarty family visit to The Laurels

 

Callout for new movie

Maurice Dineen with Jim Hegarty at The Laurels

Following hot on the heels of the book launch of The Laurels by Jim Hegarty , the next logical project was a film based on the Hegarty siblings who so courageously took on the forces of the British Crown during the War of Independence. Maurice Dineen who is heavily involved with the project has essentially gutted the premises and refurnished it with artifacts from the 1920s. In tandem with this Adam Duggan of the Togher Historical Association has played a large part in supplying various relics of the period for the forthcoming production and will be appearing with other members of his Act 1 film group which specializes in reenactment movies. The icing on the cake however was a visit by Jim Hegarty and his family. He remarked that it was the first time any of his family had been in the house and that it was a memorable occasion for all. Allied to this was a meeting in the Laurels with Shirley Kelleher ( grand-niece of Joe Murphy ). The circle has now been completed with the descendants of both brave families paying tribute to where it all began over a hundred years ago. It is planned for the remainder of the Togher Historical Association to visit before filming commences.

Adam Duggan at premises pre-production

Kitchen/Scullery being cleared out

Kitchen/Scullery newly furnished with relics

Jim Hegarty in bedroom at  Laurels

Jim Hegarty in living room

Jim Hegarty with family at Laurels

Jim Hegarty's family with his sister Ann ( far right )

Jim Hegarty with Shirley Kelleher ( Joe Murphy's grand-niece )

Ui Mhic Ceir - Founders of Togher!

Not very much is known about the people who initially inhabited the lands that are now known as Togher and due to very few archaeological excavations , absolutely nothing is known of the Hunter Gatherers and later first Settlers/Farmers who undoubtedly populated the region thousands of years ago. It is thought that the Southern portion of Ireland at the time of the last Ice Age , circa 11,700 years ago , although relatively ice free , was an Arctic Tundra - very dry and very cold.

Corlea Causeway

illustrating what Togher's Tochar looked like

However as the climate warmed and the Ice began to melt , with resulting rises of sea levels , humans would have emigrated further north into the Togher area and beyond. This region back then would have been a vast wetland with numerous bogs and outwash from the melting glaciers located further north. Countless rivers and shallow lakes would have formed making navigation possible and also providing fish as a means of food for our Ancestors. It must be remembered that the terrain back then was heavily wooded and boggy making it treacherous to any invaders and even locals on foot. Evidence of hill forts suggest that for the majority of the population , homes were situated for the greater part on higher ground.  This not only served as a vantage point from a security point of view , but also was a result of trees at that elevation being easier to fell with their Iron Age axes. The list below highlights the approximate residential period of the Ui Mhic Ceir.

Paleolithic ( c. 8800 BC)
- anything which previously existed was ground to dust by 2 mile high glaciers

Mesolithic (c. 8800 – 4900 BC)
Giant Irish Elk from this era found in Doughcloyne 1993

Neolithic (c. 4900 – 2000 BC)

Bronze Age (c. 2000 – 800 BC)

Iron Age (c. 800 – 1 BC)

Roman (c. AD 1 – 400)

**Early Medieval period (c. AD 400 – 800)
- Ui Mhic Ceir rule over Togher

Medieval period (800 – c. 1500)

Post-Medieval period (c. 1500 – c. 1800)

Industrial/Modern ( c. 1800 - Present )

 

Reconstruction of hill fort

The Ui Mhic Ceir ( a.k.a. Ui Ciarmhaic ) or Sons of Ceir are mentioned in the old annals and would have appeared in Togher and the greater region extending north to the River Lee and south beyond the current Airport region approximately during the 3rd Century A.D. Though not much is known of them , they must have been a peaceful sept for they are not mentioned in any battles. Neighbouring tribes and petty kingdoms would have been constantly at war with each other so it is a curious fact that they avoided this. They built no roads or towns but instead lived in circular forts , a few of which still remain to this day. They most certainly would have been responsible for constructing the Tochar or causeway soon after their arrival which lent its name to the land it traversed. They are described in 18th Century historical archives as being an unimportant Sept on the south-side of Cork City.

Illustration of what the Ui Mhic Ceir

would have looked like

The lineage of the tribe/clan/sept goes back to Eoghan Mor , who had a son Fiacha Maolleathan , who had a son Oilill Flann Beag , who had a son Lughaidh , who had four sons. One of these sons , Corc , was the progenitor of the future ruling elite of Munster. He had 8 sons , 4 by his first wife Aoibhinn , daughter of Aonghus Bolg of the Corca Laoi. It is said that on her wedding night , she dreamt that she bore 4 sons : Nad Fraoich , whom she bathed in wine ; Cas , whom she bathed in ale ; Mac Broic , whom she bathed in new milk ; and the 4th , Mac Ciar , whom she bathed in water.  continue from page 4 of BWG book******

Ciar , who was the leader of and gave his name to , the Ui Mhic Ceir , was the son of Corc and Aoibhinne. His tribe and its descendants undoubtedly named the Townlands during this time , the titles reflecting the boggy terrain. Over the course of the centuries , various incursions by Ostmen or Vikings would have seen some territory gifted off through inter-marriage and assimilation of invaders. It would seem that by the time of the Norman Invasion of the 12th Century , the Ui Mhic Ceir had all but vanished.