Coachford is a relatively recent invention = the Grand Jury map of
1815 doesn't even show a village, and Lewis 1827 is equally blank
about a village. it seems to have developed rapidly during and after
the famine, when it was the centre for relief in the mid Cork area.
The church dates from some time in the 1830s (Def before 1837) before
this the church was in Carhue, but of course the old Magourney church
had been in situ for generations, built and rebuilt over time. Famine
relief meetings were held in the courthouse (now the Community House)
and the population grew rapidly between the census of 1841 and 1851.
There is lots of correspondence during famine times, mainly from Rev D
O'Mahony (RC) and Rev Hallaran (CofE) and the various state bodies.
Interesting is the 1845 O'Connell collection, showing how much money
was in the area. (Anthony Greene)

 

 

 

 

Coachford was formerly connected by railway to Cork city with a narrow gauge railway, opened in Mach 19th 1888 by the Cork & Muskerry Light Railway. The line was closed on December 31st  1934 by the GSR.

The Muskerry Tram made history in 1927, for on September 6th of that year, the 7.45 a.m passnger train from Donoughmore was proceeding peacefully along the side of the Carrigrohane road on its own right of way, when it either ran or was run into by a steamroller. The driver claimed that he blew his whistle when within forty yards of the steam roller and again when nearer to it, but on the other hand, the roller driver claimed that he signalled to the train to stop. The matter was never satisfactorily explained, but the story that the two were having a race took a long time to live down.

 

Close to St. Olann's Well at Coolineagh, near Coachford, are the petrosomatoglyph footprints of St. Olann on a boulder.

 

 

 

 

Near Rooves Bridge is a monument to Captain Tadhg Kennefick of the Irish Republican Army, who was killed during the Irish Civil War by the Free State Army. On his way home to his Mothers funeral, he was stopped at a Free State checkpoint headed by a General Dalton. The thirty Free State soldiers tied him to the back of a truck near Peake and dragged him a distance of four miles (6 km) to the bridge where he was shot by soldiers and his body dumped in a ditch. Local people who witnessed this recovered his body. A monument now stands on the site where his body was recovered. Close to Coachford is Mullanhassig Waterfall it is about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Coachford just off the Macroom road. Close to the schools is a medieval church surrounded by a cemetery of centuries old graves. Just about 1-mile (1.6 km) south of Coachford on the road to Bandon is Rooves Bridge. This bridge was constructed over the River Lee in the 1950's to replace the old Rooves bridge which was submerged due to the building of the Hydro electric dam at Inniscarra about 6 miles (9.7 km) down river. Rooves bridge is the longest bridge spanning the River Lee. Also close to Coachford (6km)is Crooks Castle which is in the townland of Rockgrove. Carrig na Muc Castle is also only a few miles away overlooking the Dripsey river. This castle was owened by Cormac Mor McCarthy who also built Blarney Castle. The name Carrig na Muc means (Rock of the Pigs)came from medival times where pigs were slaughtered on a special rock before being prepared for banquets.

 

Send us more history at editors@coachfordnews.com

 

The old Coachford National School was demolished recently and Declan O'Connell has sent us in a before and after photograph. While everyone is delighted with the fabulous modern new school that Coachford has, it is sad to see the former school disappear. If you have any memories of your time at this fine facility please let us know.

 

 

 

1970s

 

Buildings which have disappeared

 

Courthouse

Hall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miss Pyne Lawless Pyne Ned Carey and the Pyne sisters Caroline and Rebecca are buried in the new Magourney cemetery (behind Michael Quane's - The old Church of Ireland building) The Lawless Pyne family went to Queensland, Australia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The local guild of Muintir na Tíre purchased the Georgian rectory and glebe (about 17 acres) for somewhat in excess of £2000 (€2540).A loan scheme and a wide variety of fund-raising activities were undertaken locally.Local people volunteered their labour to convert the rectory for use as a school.Co. Cork Vocational Educational Committee agreed to rent the school and grounds from the guild of Muintir na Tíre, now represented by a Board of Trustees, for £75 (€95) per annum.Coachford Vocational School/Ceárdscoil Átha’ Chóiste opened for night classes only in September 1950.Woodwork/Building Construction and Domestic Economy (now known as Home Economics) were the only subjects taught.Day classes began in September 1951There was one class of boys and one class of girls. The initial enrolment was about 30 students.The curriculum was that of the Day Vocational/Group Certificate Course.In 1952, there were four classes.In 1960 a student achieved first place in Ireland in one of his Day Vocational/Group Certificate subjects. In 1966 legislation allowed the introduction of Intermediate and Leaving Certificate Courses to Vocational Schools.In 1969 students first sat Intermediate Certificate Examinations in Coachford Vocational School.In 1971 students first sat Leaving Certificate Examinations in Coachford Vocational School.In 1980 the school got its first computer.On 15 January 1991, the ‘Model Agreement’ between Co. Cork Vocational Educational Committee and the Bishop of Cloyne was signed. Under this agreement, the school is now a designated Community College.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Previous Parish Newsletters

 

 

Murder at Shandy Hall – The Coachford Poisoning Case A new book on the Shandy Hall murder case has been published. The book is available from most bookshops from €12.99.

 

Against a tranquil rural backdrop – the sleepy County Cork village of Dripsey near Coachford – a sensational Victorian murder is played out with a potent mix of love, lust, betrayal, and ultimately naked hatred. The entry of a young and beautiful governess into Shandy Hall, the home of a retired British Army surgeon Dr Philip Cross, acts as a catalyst for an act of horror that prompts suspicion, an exhumation, an inquest, and a charged courtroom drama that grabs newspaper headlines all over the world. The nation is transfixed by details of a murder which shatters the Victorian ideal of the home as a safe haven of privacy and comfort, and besmirches the blue-blooded reputation of an aristocratic line. The cast of real characters includes a cruel killer, cloaked in respectability; a beautiful and naïve governess; a blameless wife; a brilliant young pathologist; a canny and clever murder detective; two accomplished courtroom adversaries; a caring and emotional judge; and a notorious hangman.

 

 

 

COACHFORD AFC




Win or lose this has already been a memorable season for the progressive Coachford club who field three teams each week in the Murphy's Stout Cork AUL: this has been the season that they started playing on their own impressive grounds at The Glebe.



The ground was purchased in 1995 and, to date, between purchase cost, plant hire work, field preparation and drainage, entrance to grounds, fencing, floodlighting, and erection, over £120,000 has been invested in the grounds, with assistance of £15000 from National Lottery funding. The club has also benefited from Cork County Council amenity grants.



The busy committee are already planning the next phase which is to include dressing rooms and car park. Plans are currently being drawn up and under discussion. Financing the running of the club has been also facilitated by way of sponsorship and they are lucky to have such supporters as O'Mahony Packaging, Dineen's Bar, Kellehers Ford Dealers Macroom, Hogs Bar, Dawn Meats, Coachman's Inn, Murphy Electrical (lighting for floodlights), Lee Valley Windows (sponsors of dressing-room windows).



Weekly lotto tickets are solely responsible for loan repayments, both in purchase of ground (which the club has fully paid off) and new developments including construction of dressing rooms and other plans. The weekly Lotto return speaks volumes for the amount of support and goodwill for the club in the village and in the surrounding area, support which the club appreciates and treasures.



The Premier team, with Finbarr Murphy back as manager, have just one point after seven league games but they haven't enjoyed the best of luck as evidenced by a string of one goal defeats. Now they have a battle on their hands to gain mid-table safety and that process can begin on Sunday next when they take on fellow strugglers Springfield in a six pointer. Kick off in The Glebe is 10.45.



The team has been playing quite well in the cups and has progressed in the Munster and AOH. Bandon are their next opponents in the provincial trophy while they have been unlucky in the AOH, being drawn against Greenmount. Indeed, they were pipped on spotters by Greenmount in the FAI so there is not much between them.



Murphy picks from: Noel Looney (captain), David Merrick, Aidan Hartnett, Michael O'Connell, Jim Martin, Paddy Martin, Dan Kelleher, Mick Walsh, John Linehan, Donal Moynihan, Brian Forde, Niall Buckley, Peter Kelleher, Paul Downey, Graham Kelly, Darren O'Brien, Michael Murphy.



The third division juniors are also finding life difficult in the league but manager Tim Delaney is quietly confident of being in mid-table before the season is out.



The best news on the playing front is being provided by the youths who play in AUL Division One. Managed by Martin O'Mahony and Sean Delaney, they currently lead the division and are still involved in all the cups. In addition, Brian McElroy and Rob O'Keeffe have made their premier debuts. The club also fields two teams in the Schoolboys League at U15 and U14 and the managers here are John Hogan and Kevin Watts.



The Management Committee consists of Chairman Derry Murphy, Vice chairman John Hogan, Hon Secretary Richard Martin, Assistant Secretary Brian Murray, Treasurer Patrick O'Callaghan, Assistant Treasurer Sean Delaney, PRO Declan O'Connell, Liam Casey, Desmond Murphy, Dan O'Connell, Declan Casey, Tim Delaney, Declan Murphy, Paddy Martin, Sean Delaney, David Merrick, Martin O'Mahony, Brian Murray. Posted by Billy Lyons