The Togher of Croghan — Cannakill,oldcroghan

Medieval routeway mentioned in the year 1385 when the following events were recorded; ‘A victory was gained by Murrough 0'Conor, Lord of Offaly, and the Kinel-Fiachach, over the English of Meath, at Tochar Cruachain-Bri-Ele; Nugent of Meath, Chambers and his son, and a countless host of the chiefs and plebeians of the English were slain’ (O’Donovan 1856, 701). In 1395 the annals once more mentioned the togher or pass though the bog when ‘A party of the people of the King of England set out on a predatory excursion into Offaly. O'Conor pursued them to the causeway of Cruachain, where great numbers of them were slain, and sixty horses taken from them’ (O’Donovan 1856, 737). This causeway or passage is annotated as ‘The Togher of Croghan’ on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch where it is shown running along the line of townland boundary to the S of the deserted village (OF010-010001-) of Croghan. A linear earthwork, possibly a sunken way visible in the field to the N of the townland boundary and running through the field containing the settlement earthworks may be the partial remains of ‘The Togher of Croghan’. This earthwork visible on Digital Globe aerial photographs joins onto the present road adjacent to a holy well (OF010-011----) and recently discovered medieval burial ground (OF010-486---) to the E of Croghan Castle (OF010-010003-) and church (OF010-010006-). This roadway continues E towards the townland and castle of Togher (OF010-019---) which connected Croghan Castle to the castle of Toberdaly (OF011-013---). A section of this togher (OF010-018----) running across the bogland adjacent to Togher Castle is annotated on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map as ‘The Togher of Croghan’. This section of the togher is depicted on a map of Offaly dating from c. 1563. Two standing stones (OF010-014-/015---) one of which is marked as ‘Clustucka’ may have marked the line of this medieval routeway. It is possible that the causeway was constructed with different materials according to the topography over which it was traversing. At Togher Castle the road may have consisted of a wooden trackway crossing the poorly drained lands at this location. On reaching the dry grassland heading W towards Croghan Castle and Village the routeway may have changed into a sunken way as represented by the linear earthwork visible on Digital Globe aerial photographs. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Offaly' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien Date of revised upload: 19 September 2018