Lofting The Viaduct - Legends

Lofting the Viaduct ranks amongst the most prestigious disciplines in the sport of road bowling in Ireland. From Mick Barry in 1955 to Hans Bohlken in 1985 , it has entered into folklore as an almost mystical place. An intimidating monument to overcome and only done by those with special skills. 

 

Chetwynd Viaduct , Chetwynd , Togher

Though two other bowlers from the 1930s lay claim to successfully lofting the Viaduct , only one bowler is officially documented as having achieved the honour. In 1955 , Mick Barry launched a 16oz bowl clean over the top. In so doing , he entered bowling history as the first man to defeat the " Everest " of road bowling. Most proponents of the sport list him as the greatest bowl player of all time.

Mick Barry circa 1955
First bowler to loft the Viaduct

The Viaduct ( named after the townland of Chetwynd in Togher ) is not for the faint hearted! Standing at 90 feet above the Cork Bandon Road , it dares newcomers to defeat it. And defeat it only a select few have! However only one has done so with a 28 ounce ball - the West German - Han Bohlken! Albeit with a ramp he managed to clear the top by 10 feet! Local competitors at the time managed to hit the top of the Viaduct ( but not clear it ) without using the ramp , but onlookers who witnessed the event at the time say Hans not only cleared the Viaduct by a very large margin but managed to " send it almost all the way to the Regional Hospital ( C.U.H. ). "

Hans Bohlken at The Viaduct 1985

The historical event which saw 10,000 spectators turn up on the day on September 8th 1985 was bankrolled by Murphy's brewery as part of the Cork 800 celebrations with a top prize of £5000 for the competitor who could clear with a 28oz bowl and £1000 for anybody who could manage it with a 16oz bowl. 3 Irishmen won the £1000 prize with only one collecting the £5000 - Hans Bohlken.

Cork 800 logo

Spectators watch history in action

Hans Bohlken using his ramp to make history

Hans-Georg Bohlken , born 1962 in Sanderbusch , Friesland is a German and multiple European  champion. Bohlken , who grew up in Ellens , is known locally by his nickname " The Bear of Ellens. "

 

Cork Examiner report September 1985

Hans in action in Cork 2008

Hans-Georg Bohlken lives in the Zetel district of Ruttel. He has two sons who have also made a name for themselves in the frieze sport. In recent years Bohlken has held various functions in the Frisian Klootschießer Association. He is a member of the Klootschießer and Bosselverein "Lat'n rulln" Schweinebrück. In addition to the frieze sport , his hobbies include fishing and hunting. The 63 year old has recently retired from the sport of bowling but his legacy in Cork is assured and his name to a structure in Togher forever linked to him.

Hans Bohlken 2025

 Titles

Hans-Georg Bohlken has achieved many victories at International and National championships. The following is a selection :

1st win -   winner at the European Championships in Klootschießen 1984 in Garding ( Schleswig-Holstein ).

German champion at the slingshotball 1985 in Heide ( Schleswig-Holstein ).

Historical loft over the Chetwynd Viaduct in Cork Ireland 1985

Winner at the European Championships in Klootschießen 1988 in Norden ( Lower Saxony )

Winner at the European Championships in Klootschießen 1992 in Cork ( Ireland )

German champion in Klootschießen 2003 in Willich ( North Rhine-Westphalia )
   
He also participated in the European Championships in 2008 

 

Crowd gathered at Viaduct to witness history

 

** All images copyright of their respective owners and are used purely for illustrative purposes **

Helen Carroll - Togher Revisited

On Sunday 14th September 2025 , Billy O'Brien from Togher Historical Association met up with Helen van Lakum and her husband Paul who had flown over from San Roque , Spain for a holiday. This short article will highlight what effectively turned into a walk down memory lane.

Helen & Paul van Lakum

Lulu's at the Lough

Helen ( nee Carroll ) was born in the early 1950s and was brought up in a market garden on Pouladuff Road , which were prolific throughout Togher until the advent of local authority housing schemes in the 1960s. Compulsory purchase orders by Cork Corporation saw many market gardens wiped out without a trace. In later years she moved to Kilmurrriheen in Togher before finally emigrating to Spain where she still lives.

Helen van Lakum & Jim Hegarty in Spain
old neighbours from Pouladuff Road 

After coffee and a quick chat in Lulu's cafe by the Lough , it was time for a leisurely stroll along Togher Road. Mention was made of a butcher's shop which was located on the corner of Glendalough Park facing the Lough and an old sweet shop known as Lough Stores sited a little further up into the entrance to Brookfield Lawn , both locations part of the Lough Parish / District. The butcher shop is still there run by P. O'Connell & Sons but the former corner shop is now a beauticians since the early 2010s.

 

Butcher shop facing the Lough
 

Former Lough Stores
as seen in 2009

Helen recalled two other houses from her youth. Across the road from the butcher shop on the corner of Togher Road was Hanley's house ( owner of the Garage near SuperValu ) which was the only house known to sport an advertising board! Its official postal address is No.1 Togher Road! The house was formally the home of the Harris' , a brother and sister who lived alone. Next to that was the old home of Jane Buckley , who now resides in Sycamore Place. 

No.1 Togher Road
Hanley's house

Jane Buckley's former home

Helen then paused at the entrance to Boston Park which was built circa 1950 by a builder who had returned from the United States hence the naming. The estate used up part of the Hegarty's land to complete the scheme. Helen was and is lifetime friends of the Hegarty siblings to this day. She often meets up with Jim Hegarty in Spain ( see photo above ).

Entrance to Boston Park

Next to come under the spotlight were the semi-detached abodes of the Cunninghams and Russells. Helen recalls that they owned the land to the right and kept a small dairy farm. She unwittingly left the gates open on one occasion as a youth only for the entire herd of cows to make their way out onto the main road!

Cunningham's & Russells homes
Site of dairy farm to right

Helen then spoke briefly about the old Crowley home which has been a Doctor's surgery since the 1980s. The building was originally two homes , with the Murphy's on the left and of course the Crowley's on the right. She then recalled the Garda station on Ardmanning Avenue which was manned from 1970 until 1983.

Old Crowleys home

Old Garda station
Ardmanning Avenue

Of course no visit to Togher would be complete without a stop off at the site of Vaunie Long's cake shop. This shop was famous throughout the 1960s and 1970s and was beloved of all Togher children including Adults! Helen recalls many couples had their wedding cakes made here! Sadly Vaunie ( a.k.a. Bawnie ) passed away a few years ago and the old cake shop was demolished to enlarge the car park nearby.

Vaunie Long's cake shop
circa 2009

A brief stop was made to view the only signage depicting Togher Road in all of Togher! This and the accompanying row of houses left and right of the entrance to Edward Walsh Road were built circa 1962.

Togher Road name sign

The group stopped near Togher Square to reminisce about the Hosfords and the old Kerry Yard which would have stood where the patch of green is now. Helen also made mention of the location of the Hosford house which was sited back from the road roughly halfway between the terraced house left of Togher Square.

 

Corner of Togher Square
old Kerry Yard

Site of Hosford house

 

 

Helen set off with Paul and Billy to Clashduv Road pointing out various locations from days past. One spot was particularly poignant in that it was the start of the old Summerstown Lane which lead out to the Heighties and the Bog. 

Location of Summerstown Lane 2025

Same location September 1968

 

It was a quick stroll down Clashduv Road to the Glasheen River which lives on in the memories of all Togher ex-pats. Along the way , the Mountain and the site of the old Five Star came up for discussion.

The Mountain off Hazel Road

Site of the old Five Star

The group finally landed at the bridge over the Glasheen River. This was erected in 1968 when the Clashduv Road was extended to connect up with the main Togher Road. While the river on the southern side has always been in view , the opposite side has always been overgrown and unseen. However now it is the reverse , with all vegetation cut back giving a view that hasn't been seen in many decades.

 

View from southern part of bridge
 

View from northern part of bridge
with waste water pipe

View of northern part of bridge from embankment
with Helen and Paul
 

The group next made its way into Clashduv Park. First order of business was a visit to the Togher Community Garden and its beautiful pond. And of course the main reason for the long walk - to pay respects at the Peace Park. Dedicated to the Hegarty sisters of Pouldauff Road for their sacrifice , courage and bravery during the War of Independence.

Entrance to Clashduv Park near Glasheen River

Togher Community Garden
Pride of Cork City Winners 2023

Pond at Togher Community Garden

 

Billy O'Brien - Togher Historical Association
Helen van Lakum ( nee Carroll )
Peace Park , Clashduv Road , Togher

Paul & Helen van Lakum
Peace Park , Clashduv Road , Togher

 

The best was saved for last as the group made its way out of Clashduv Park and onto Togher Road. It was here that the final visit of the day was made to the McCarthy house. The last market garden in all of Togher and still in family hands , it is an iconic part of Togher's past. Helen was visibly emotional as she told stories of her time here with her Aunt Peggy and her cousins Helen and Siobhan. She recounted how they would straddle the wall and loop rope around the pillars pretending to be riding on horses ( see photo below ). It was at this point that the group parted ways. A future visit is planned which will take in much more of Togher.

Helen outside McCarthy house on Togher Road

 

Helen resting at Clashduv Road

Acknowledgements :

Helen van Lakum ( nee Carroll )
Paul van Lakum
Lulu's at the Lough
Togher Community Garden
Peace Park Togher
Jim Hegarty
McCarthy Family
 
 

International Bowling Championships 1977 - Togher

This article showcases a sporting event in Togher in the 1970s which was televised in the Irish Language. Stills from that broadcast are used to illustrate the day in question. A proud time for Togher in general and road bowling in particular.

Irish delegation at the Barrs
represented by Cork & Armagh

Teams at flag ceremony at the Barrs

Dutch bowling team flag at the Barrs club

West Germany flag at the Barrs

Spectators local and International
gathered at the Barrs 1977

In 1977 , Togher played host to the International Bowling Championships and was staged over three days from Saturday 21st March to Monday 23rd March. This famous event was organised by Bol Chumann na hEireann and was primarily initiated  on the grounds of St. Finbarrs G.A.A. club where the opening ceremony was performed with the raising of the National flags. Three Countries were involved , Ireland ( represented by Cork and Armagh ) , Germany and Holland. The visitors would use lighter wooden balls while the Irish used the 28 ounce metal ball.

Selection of bowls used in competition
Wooden and Iron varieties

The first event consisted of the German lofting competition held in an adjoining field. Many spectators witnessed the use of the " Ramp " or springboard for the very first time. It was followed by the Irish lofting competition. Different styles of playing were on display with the Holland team showing an underhand throw while the German team used a discus throwing technique.

German Competitor in Barrs field

International competitor in Barrs field

International competitor using the Ramp

Sunday morning was perhaps the most anxiously awaited part of the International Competition where the Germans went up against the locals including Denis Scully using the lighter wooden ball to Loft The Viaduct.

 

View from the Viaduct as
Spectators & Competitors wait below

Denis Scully lofting the Viaduct

International competitor lofting the Viaduct

Monday saw the competition come to a close with a road bowling score in the Ballinhassig area. Many more famous events would be seen in the Togher region in the intervening decades but this one will live on in local folklore.

1977 International Bowling Championships
The Barrs , Togher
Stills & Video : Courtesy CR Video Vaults