Cork Shoe Company / Youngline - A Brief History

Old Cork Shoe Company/Youngline site
Pouladuff Road , Togher

Togher has a rich history of enterprise and manufacturing and the present day site which houses Cork University Press and others is no exception. The former market garden land was transformed in July 1961 when Paul Duggan opened the brand new Cork Shoe Company on the corner of Tramore Road and Pouladuff Road. Paul Duggan had founded the business in an attic above Marlboro Street in 1947 with 9 employees before moving to Drinan Street and ultimately settling in Togher. The new plant was over 22,000 sq.ft. An extension in 1963 brought it up to 52,000 sq.ft. By then there were 200 employees making 18,000 pairs of slippers and leather shoes. The Cork Rubber & Plastic Manufacturing Co. was set up in 1963 ( to provide rubber soling ) adjoining the site and provided an extra 150 jobs to the locality. Initially the employees attire was very formal with the men for the most part wearing shirt and tie and all employees male and female either wore white or brown work overcoats. As time wore on , the dress became less formal and more casual as employees simply wore their own clothes. It provided employment not only to Togher locals but many of the residents of neighboring Ballyphehane. Sadly the business went into receivership in 1975 and the factory was sold to Youngline Shoe Company. It should be noted that Paul Duggan was the Godfather of Togher native Katie Rowland who still resides locally while Paul moved to the Lough to retire. Sadly he passed away on July 13th 2012 , peacefully at the Mercy University Hospital and is buried in St. Joseph's cemetery.

Paul Duggan founder Cork Shoe Company 1940

Cork Shoe Company 1966

Cork Shoe Company employees 1960s

Helen O'Sullivan ( nee Molloy ) : " I worked there in 1968 when I was 14. I lasted one day. They gave me a brush bigger than myself to sweep the floor. I never went back! "

Katie Rowland : " The owner Paul Duggan is my Godfather! "

Marty Noonan : " Worked in Cork Shoe when the Golden Eagles showband played there in 1968. "

Noreen Kenny : " My mam worked there for years for Mr. Duggan and also in Drinan St. where Mr. Duggan started off. My sister Marie worked there too. A lovely man. "

Mary Sheehan : " I worked there from when I was 14 until I was 21. A great place , especially my boss the late Michael Sheehan. "

The following photographs are courtesy of Mick Dineen and give a window into the interior of the factory back in the 1960s showing the employees at work and the various departments. Machinists , floor staff and packing all combined on the open shop floor. This was a time when the only item of uniform was a white overcoat.

Helen Hurley : " I worked in Cork Shoe and left in 1966 to get married. My late husband Jim Hurley worked in Drinan Street before they moved to Pouladuff Road. He left after a strike in 1970 but went on to work in Youngline and worked until he had to give up due to ill health. Here are photos of outings in the 1960s and dinner dance. "

Cork Shoe Company 1973
( Top left off Pouladuff Road )

Youngline Shoe Company opened for business in Togher in 1975 taking over the site of the former Cork Shoe Company. Like its predecessor it barely lasted a decade and a half before closing its doors in 1990. In the interim it again provided employment for many Togher men and women. It gained the nickname of the " Slipper Factory " and still to the present day is remembered fondly by its ex-employees as " a great place to work ".

Youngline Bus Outing circa 1978/79

Vivienne Byrne : " I worked in youngline for three years 1979 to 1982. I loved it. My boss was John Froggit. I remember all the people I worked with. They were the old days. We would be running the slippers through the machine's eying up the fellas. I remember I was in love with a fella called Leslie Ring. I'm sure he didn't even notice me. "

Patricia Morey McCarthy : " Worked in Youngline for a few years. Loved it. "

Paul Molly of Togher Square : " I worked in " The Vulks " which was the vulcanizing department where the slippers were put together. You would put the uppers onto a last and then fill a hot mold with rubber and basically melt them together. "

The following photographs were kindly supplied by Paul Molloy and show the staff in the early 1980s where they would work both day and night shifts. A fascinating piece of local history of a bygone age.

 Paul Molly at work in " The Vulks "

Chris Larkin - Book Launch - 3rd December 2022

Billy O'Brien , Kathleen O'Keeffe
Togher Historical Association
with author Chris Larkin

 

 

Front cover

 

Back cover information

 

On Saturday afternoon on 3rd December 2022 , Chris Larkin held a book launch at the Oriel Hotel in Ballincollig.The launch tied in with the Cork Model Swap Meet where many stands were on display. Togher Historical Association were extended an invitation to the event by Chris Larkin , himself a Togher native hailing from Maher's Lane.

Kathleen O'Keeffe & Chris Larkin
Old Togher friends

Chris Larkin showing old photographs

Kathleen & Chris reminiscing about Togher

Chris Larkin's display stand

Book inscription to Billy O'Brien

Book inscription to Kathleen O'Keeffe

Macroom train circa 1940s

 

 

Train at Doughcloyne
 

Chris' legacy with trains extends all the way back to his Grandfather and the fact remains that Togher was once very much a railway suburb boasting two lines , the Bandon line and the Macroom line. Whilst the Macroom line railway bridges are consigned to history , several Bandon line bridges are thankfully still in existence

Cork Model Swap Club at Oriel Hotel

Interior of hotel showing various stands

 

 

Model enthusiasts comparing trains

Model trains meet Railway author

Chris Larkin was a gracious host and happily showed the group some photos relating to Togher , which has a rich history in railway lore. The Book is littered with many many photos most in full colour and is highly recommended. Chris shared a few memories with Kathleen O'Keeffe , an old neighbour and best friend from days gone by.

34th Fieldwork Trip - 23rd November 2022 - Clashduv Park , Togher Road & Exclusive Meeting

On Wednesday 23rd November 2022 , Togher Historical Association were on location in Togher for the first time since February. Despite the torrential downpour , there was another reason for the visit which will be shown later. First port of call was Clashduv Park to record a few changes which have been installed in the last few years. Togher Community Garden has been running very successfully now for a number of years and is a great addition to the local community. A Greenhouse and beautifully painted raised beds which house all manner of vegetables were proudly on display. A fantastic utility which carries forward the tradition of market gardens in Togher. Also tucked away in the corner towards Clashduv Bridge is the site of the proposed future Peace Park which will honour the Women who fought in the War of Independence and will be named after the Hegarty Sisters of The Laurels on Pouladuff Road. Time was taken out to view the improvements to the park in general ; these included the Children's Playground , the Sports Ground and the walkways around the park. It would seem that CCTV is now in operation to prevent misuse of the facilities.

Greenhouse at Togher Community Garden

 

 

Raised vegetable patches

 

Beautifully decorated timber frames

 

 

Playground placue erected in 2001

 

Playground with seating

Slide and Bridge with safety matting

View of the enclosed sports ground

A coffee stop was then made at Applegreen on Togher Road before having a look at the latest developments in the region. The manager Emma Jane gave a warm and hospitable welcome to the group. Changes were noted in the general area of Togher Road , following completion of the Culvert and associated works. As can be seen in the accompanying photographs , much has indeed changed beyond belief. The old gully which once carried the stream towards Coffey's Field is now filled in and landscaped with thankfully a segment of the original stone wall preserved. It is tastefully squared off at the corner with redressed stone. It is difficult to imagine that only a year or so ago , a stream flowed here.

Billy O'Brien with manager Emma Jane at Applegreen

 

 

Remaining segment of original stream wall

 

Infilled former stream gully with grass verge & bricked footpath

 

 

Landscaped entrance to Greenwood Estate

with wall signs restored

 

New wider culvert at Coffey's Field

 

Togher Cross has also been completely reworked with the old stone wall which once ran alongside the stream removed , along with the trees which once stood on the opposite bank. In its place is a block wall with stone facing salvaged from the original wall. The structure now sits on top of the culvert through which the old stream now flows. The culvert extends back to the end of the former Southern Fruit industrial estate. It should be noted that the two original daylighted segments of Togher Stream are now gone forever. It was also noted that the entrance to Sandown Crest is now completely denuded of trees. Time was taken out to view two structures which were supplied/refurbished by Togher Tidy Towns. A timber replica of a well now sits atop the old well situated on the corner of the remaining wall ( at least 200 years old ) of Lehenaghmore House which is capped. The group then traveled to the last remaining original hand pump in Togher on Doughcloyne Hill. The enclosure is now painted and the walls dressed with trellis with the ground treated with gravel. The hand pump itself is now also cleaned and painted. A fantastic feature which harkens back to the days of old.

New block wall dressed with stone from original stream wall

 

 

Trees removed from Sandown Crest

 

Replica well on site of capped well

Old wall of Lehenaghmore House below well

 

 

Refurbished hand pump on Doughcloyne Hill

 

Time was taken out to visit the site of the old Ardmanning House. Demolished in 2013 , work is almost finished on the extension to the local Supermarket. Sadly the old Vaunie's bakery save for its front is now completely gone. A sad loss of a location visited by many from the 1960s to the 1980s for her delicious range of fresh cakes. Something which caught the eyes of the team was the old pillar post box located on the footpath adjacent to the shopping centre. It predates 1984 when Posts & Telegraphs dept. changed to An Post and Telecom Eireann ( now Eir ) respectively. To its right was the updated post boxes introduced after 1984.

Former Ardmanning House site showing extension to supermarket

 

 

Remnants of old Vaunies bakery next to Paddy Long's house

 

Old & New post boxes outside shopping centre

The final mission of the day was an exclusive meeting with Sean Delaney who is the Grandson of Mary O'Leary , the former fiancee of hunger striker Joe Murphy who passed away in 1920. This interview will feature on the blog in the near future following completion of further research. A tragic tale of a woman who endured so much throughout her life. Of course , no interview would be complete without a visit to Joe Murphy House on Pouladuff Road. The owner very kindly welcomed the group and gave permission to photograph the house. The historical significance of bringing Joe Murphy's fiancee's Grandson to his old home was not lost on the group and it was an emotional experience for Sean Delany. The group would like to thank him for his time and his generosity in giving an insight into Mary O'Leary.

Billy & Kathleen with Sean Delaney