Community notes March 21st
March 19, 2020
Covid 19 Coronavirus Help Available in Timoleague
At times like this, it really puts into perspective the importance of community spirit. Covid 19 has arrived and it affects everyone. Working together and helping everyone, especially the most vulnerable in our community will get us through this enormous challenge.
A special community support network has been set up in Timoleague to offer support to neighbours and community members who feel they may need some assistance at this time. Three well known community activists Eamonn Barry (086)8518355 Helen Crowley (086)6066872 and Sheila Mc Carthy (086)8375555 are co-ordinating this initiative. Please feel free to make contact, give them a call and they in turn have access to a huge team of local volunteers who are willing and able to offer assistance.
If anyone is looking for help to collect shopping, medicines, fuel, daily needs let us know and we are here to help.
Once the suggestion was first aired the response from the whole community has been overwhelming and is heartening to witness. This does not come as any surprise knowing the fantastic community spirit that exists in Timoleague.
So, the word is: if anyone needs assistance, please ring any of the above contacts and your needs will hopefully be attended to.
Stand Apart to Stand Together.
Argideen Rangers GAA
Following the recent directive from Croke Park, all club activities are on hold until further notice. Therefore, all games involving Argideen, Timoleague and Ibane are cancelled. The club facilities at Our Lady’s Well Community Complex are also closed. All members are asked to comply with this request in the interest of the greater good.
The Mosaics at The Church of the Ascension
As mentioned last week the mosaics in the church are what gives this beautiful building its special appeal. Robert Augustus Travers of Timoleague House facilitated the beginning of the erection of the mosaics in 1894 in memory of family members. This work was continued by his son, also called Robert, in 1918 in commemoration of his father and his brother, Valentine, Lieutenant 7th. Royal Munster Fusiliers who was killed at Gallipolli on the 8th. of August 1915, aged 22 years.
The final phase of the mosaic decoration is the most fascinating of its unique history. This work was financed by HRH The Maharajah Madho Rao Scindia of the State of Gwalior, Central India. As a young prince he befriended Aylmer Martin Crofts. Crofts was born in 1854 in Concamore (between Dunworley and Ring) and qualified as a doctor from Queen’s College, Cork (now UCC). He joined the Indian Medical Service rising to the rank of Surgeon General in the State of Gwalior. He was both a tutor and mentor to the Maharajah and his skill as a surgeon is said to have saved the life of the Maharajah as a young boy.
This phase of the decoration was done in 1925 by Minton Hollins & Co. London. Italian craftsmen were employed to do this specialist work and the patterns were laid out on trays on the lawn in front of Timoleague House. This form of church decoration is most unusual, its use on such a scale is probably unique in Ireland. It shows the influence of the Oxford Movement on the Church of Ireland at the time, as the Anglican Churches moved back towards Roman Catholicism.
Many local catholic families are buried within the church grounds. This intermingling of both traditions is very evident and the noted architect Jeremy Williams wrote in “A Companion Guide to Architecture in Ireland 1837-1921” that “this building was a monument to a living friendship enshrined in a hidden masterpiece of the Arts and Crafts Movement in Ireland” and that it “transcended the sectarian divide between Irish Catholic and Protestant, The Indian Muslim and Hindu, personal friendships breaking up distinctions of caste and colour”.
What better way to end this particular historic journey at a time when a united community effort is required by all in these uncertain times.
St. Patrick’s Day Mass at Timoleague on The Web
In line with the directive from the Bishop of Cork and Ross Most Rev. Dr. Fintan Gavin, mass was not celebrated in the usual way on Saturday night and Sunday morning last in Timoleague. Also, the St. Patrick’s Day celebration of mass took on a different aspect. The mass was celebrated on Monday evening at 6.15pm at the church without the usual congregation. Local video specialist Michael Heaney arranged a streaming of the mass. This is available on line by linking in to the following: https://vimeo.com/398137117
Fr. Hickey expressed his thanks to all who made this unique experience possible. Where would we be without modern technology?