Community notes March 7th
March 08, 2020
Church of the Ascension
A number of weeks ago at a public meeting at The Canon Fleming Hall, plans for a major restoration of the church were outlined. While some are very aware of its rich history, others are only familiar with it as the church which is situated at the entrance to Timoleague from the Bandon-Kinsale direction.
There is evidence of a parish church at Timoleague dating back to 1291. Timoleague was a busy place back in those days when one considers that Timoleague Castle was built by Nicholas Bui de Barry in 1214. The Barry clan came from Wales and were one of the earliest Normans to arrive in Ireland, arriving even before the legendary Strongbow. Timoleague Abbey was founded between 1240 and 1316. Two of the most powerful families in the district at this time were the Mac Carthaigh Riabhachs of Kilbrittaiin Castle and the Barry’s of the Barrach Rua clan of Ibane whose headquarters was Timoleague Castle. Donal Got Mac Carthaigh and William Barry are credited with the honour of founding the abbey. Both Gael and Gall combined in the project and it would assume that ecumenism was alive and well in Timoleague back in the day. There would seem to be no shortage of construction jobs in and around the village in the 13th. century.
The old parish church was declared “unsafe through age and decay” in 1802 and the bishop decreed that it be pulled down but that the materials should be preserved for a new church. The present church was consecrated on the 25th. of May 1811 and given the name The Church of the Ascension. (To be continued).
Table Quiz Fundraiser for Clonakilty Hospital
Cairde- Friends of Clonakilty Community Hospital will hold a quiz at Pad Joe’s Bar on Saturday April 18th. A major fundraising appeal is now in progress as exciting new plans for an extension are unfolding with regard to the Community Hospital. All families in the surrounding area of Clonakilty would and have a direct association with this wonderful community hospital. You are asked to support this very worthy appeal and further information will be available nearer to the date of the event.
100 Years Ago
While it would seem that the report of the attack on Timoleague RIC Barracks in the local paper was a bit exaggerated to say the least, another account in The Irish Independent of the same attack published on Friday 27th. gives a more balanced view of the happenings of Wednesday 25th. in Timoleague.
The report states: “An inquiry made at Cork and at police headquarters with regard to the dead civilians elicited the reply that no report of any fatalities in connection with the attack had reached either there or the Bandon police who had been communicated with”.
That would give further confirmation that the accounts given by the volunteers involved was accurate.
Mount Pleasant Barracks was attacked on the same night as Timoleague Barracks. A four- hour siege took place. Police repulsed the raiders with gunfire and bombs. Verey lights were fired to summon help but none arrived. Roads were barricaded with stones and felled trees. The barrack windows were shattered but the police escaped without injury. The station was garrisoned by six constables under Constable Smith. The same modus operandi applied in both attacks.
The local reporter for the Skibbereen Eagle was “visited” by a number of the Timoleague Volunteers in relation to his “style of reporting”. More on this next week.