Community notes May 2nd

100 Years Ago

As stated last week, the greatest loss of life suffered by the RIC in West Cork in a single ambush was at Ahawadda, Timoleague on Monday May 10^th. A party of eleven IRA members made up of three of the Kilbrittain company accompanied by eight from the Barryroe Company lay in position for the arrival of the foot patrol of RIC which left Timoleague Barracks in route to Ardgehane to investigate a bogus call-out call.

The three RIC members killed were Sergeant John Flynn, Constable Edward Dunne and Constable William Brick. All three were stationed at Timoleague. Sgt.Flynn, a married man with three young children was from Kildysart, Co. Clare. He had been in the service for twenty- five years and was a farmer prior to joining. He was promoted to sergeant in 1916 and had served in Timoleague for eight years. Prior to this he had been stationed at Ballygurteen.

Constable William Brick who was aged thirty-two, was from Tralee and was unmarried. He had been in the force for twelve years and was a postman before joining.

Constable Edward Dunne was thirty- two years old and was married with two children. He had thirteen years of  service in the force and was a native of Clonad, Portlaoise.

Sgt. Flynn and Constable Dunne had been in Timoleague Barracks on the night it was attacked on February 25^th. Both were awarded the Constabulary Medal in recognition of their efforts in defending the barracks on that night. Constable Brick was stationed at Mountpleasant Barracks in February of that year and it was attacked also on the same night. Prior to his appointment at Mount Pleasant he was stationed at Courtmacsherry. Another link between the two attacks is the fact that the commanding officers of both were brothers, namely Commandants Sean and Tom Hales of Ballinadee.

Constable Edward Dunne’s son, Sean, who would have been a young boy at the time of his father’s death, later became a Republican sympathiser and was interned in the Curragh Camp in 1939/40. He became a prominent trade unionist. He was also elected to Dail Eireann as a Labour TD for Dublin in 1948. He lost his seat nine years later and emigrated to England. He returned to Dublin and was re-elected as an Independent Labour member. He retained his seat in 1965 and ’69.

He stood over six foot four inches and was the tallest member of Dail Eireann in the late 1960’s. Like James Dillon and Sean Mac Entee, he was an inimitable parliamentary orator and was very witty. On one occasion in Leinster House, shortly before a general election, the then Taoiseach, Jack Lynch quipped: “I would hate to see Deputy Sean Dunne’s rosy countenance missing from the next Dail.” To which Sean riposted “You wouldn’t hate it half as much as I would”. 

His famous electioneering catch-phrase was “If Dunne can’t do it, it can’t be done” Sadly just seven days after the 1969 general election campaign, Sean died at the age of 51. There were leaders of Church and State present at his funeral in Bray. His father, Edward was buried in Raheen, Co. Laois in obscurity in 1920.  Such are the twists of history. (To be contd.)

Generosity Recognised

While countless acts of kindness and generosity all over the country are to be applauded and highlighted at this time, much voluntary work and financial assistance takes place nice and quietly and those who contribute most generously do so far from the lime-light without public recognition, as is their wish. To those people we say “Mile buiochas”.

The delivery of over 130 meals each week-end to residents of the village and greater Timoleague area continues. In addition to this, meals are provided to those living alone in the village each Wednesday. This “meals on wheels” Timoleague style wouldn’t be possible without a well- functioning team of dedicated volunteers. The staff of Monk’s Lane, Paudie, Laura and Brendan able led by proprietors, Gavin and Michelle are to be commended for giving of their time and expertise. The delivery team of Laura, Eamonn, Laura, Brendan, Gavin, Michelle, Sheila and Helen are also vital cogs in the wheel. All of this would not be possible without a severe injection of financial clout. 

The generous financial contributions of Martin O’Sullivan Construction; Argideen Rangers GAA; Coomey Pre-Cast; Timoleague Community Association; Carhue Piggeries; Michael McCarthy Auto Installations are greatly appreciated. Easter eggs were also given out to the children of the area by Foley’s Centra. Others have also contributed very generous financial donations but wish it to remain anonymous. To all who have donated you have demonstrated that your heart is in the right place and Timoleague as a community is all the better because of these magnificent gestures during this unprecedented time in all our lives.