Community Notes May 30th
June 02, 2020
The Wearing of Snoods
What are snoods and what is this all about? Last week there was a list of recipients of Cork County Council’s Covid 19 Emergency Funding published. A number of local groups were successful in their application for assistance from this fund. Darrara Community Alert Group under the guidance of Carmel Keohane have joined up with Timoleague Community Support Group to initiate a novel idea to assist those over 70 especially, to make life easier in these covid 19 days. The money granted will be used to make snoods for those who will be entering business premises once again after the easing of certain restrictions.
A survey was carried out on whether the wearing of a mask or snood was more preferable. The feed back indicated that the elastic which is put around the ears with masks is most uncomfortable. Hence the snoods. It is proposed to make the snoods by hand locally. Material has been sourced but an appeal is being launched to seek volunteers to help with cutting and sewing. If you are handy with your hands, as the saying goes and would like to help out contact can be made with local co-ordinator, Helen Crowley at (086) 6066872. It is hoped to issue a snood to each over 70 cocooner as they may experience difficulty sourcing one for themselves. The snoods can be washed at 60 degree machine cycle and will be ready for distribution within the next few weeks.
100 Years Ago
The sermon preached by local parish priest Fr. Timothy O’Hea on Thursday after the Ahawadda Ambush was the source of much discussion and debate. Everyone had an opinion and not all opinions were the same. Fr. O’Hea was told by members of the local company of the IRA that he should stop the condemnation of the volunteers and that in the future he should tone down his sermons. The local press correspondent who had forwarded on the content of the priest’s sermon for publication in The Skibbereen Eagle was also visited and warned as to his future conduct. (The role of a conveyer of news to the local weekly newspaper is never easy!).
After the ambush the remains of the three RIC members were conveyed to Timoleague courthouse where they were laid on bags on the floor covered with a rough cloth. A report tells us that there were traces of blood on the stairs and near the corpses and the scene was more like that of a slaughter house than where lay the earthly tabernacle of three human beings whose souls were sent before their maker by “some person or persons unknown” On the day of the inquest on the following Tuesday May 11th the Courthouse was guarded by military with rifles and fixed bayonets. None of the public were allowed in except the jury members. At the conclusion of the inquest, we are told that “a pathetic scene was witnessed as a sister of Constable Dunne’s was present and wept profusely, while a constable broke down completely in sorrow for his dead comrades”.
The presiding coroner was Mr. Richard Neville Solr. of Bandon. Also present was District Inspector Patrick of Bandon and District Inspector Connor of Clonakilty who represented the constabulary while Divisional Commissioner O’Hara RIC was also present. The following jury members were sworn in: Benjamin Lovell (foreman), Jeremiah Ryan, John F Stanley, James Walsh, James Murphy, Patrick Ryan, Daniel O’Leary, Richard Collins, Thomas J Hegarty, Jeremiah Sullivan, James Fehilly, Michael Marlborough, Cornelius Mahony, Timothy Sexton.
The first witness called was Constable Arthur Grimsdale, who was the sole survivor of the ambush. His right hand was bandaged and he wore a number of war ribbons on his breast. He gave evidence of identifying the bodies of the three deceased. He told of leaving Timoleague Barracks at 2.45pm on Monday May 10th. on foot patrol. They proceeded to Ahawadda Cross and went in the direction of the Clonakilty road. Sergt. Flynn and Constable Brick were leading the patrol with himself and Constable Dunne some 25 yds. behind. When they were about 200yds. beyond Ahawadda Cross, he stated that he heard a volley of shots coming from a clump of furze bushes on the south side of the road. Both Flynn and Brick were struck and he heard Brick say “Oh my God” He then lay quite still on the road and appeared to be dead. Sergt. Flynn couldn’t rise up but he crawled on his side. Constable Dunne and I ran for cover in the direction of Ahawadda Cross. We came under fire and we both fell. Dunne got up and ran and I crept into the side of the road. I saw Dunne fall again after running some 20 yds. I got up and ran in a zig zag direction along the road towards the cross while still under fire. When I came to the mill pond, I saw a man inside the ditch in a crouched position with a rifle in his hand. I dropped to my knees and fired at him with a shot gun. I do not know whether I hit him or not. I then ran through the fields. I was pursued by one of the attackers who continued firing at me. I received a wound to the right ear and the right hand. He was asked about the shots that were fired and he replied that they were gun shots, rifle shots and revolver shots. He stated that none of the other policemen returned fire. He said that he got out of the field and saw a man in a horse and car coming along the road and got a lift back to Timoleague. That concluded Temporary Constable Grimsdale’s evidence. (To be continued)
Timoleague School Awarded Gold
Even though the school building is closed, the school community of Timoleague NS is very much still hard at work. The Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) recognises and rewards young people aged 10-18 who have taken environmental action and created projects that will help solve environmental issues. They held their virtual award ceremony last Thursday May 21st. Out of 500 applications, 152 made it to the award ceremony. The Super Junior Gold Winners were 6th class & their teacher Mrs. Anne McCarthy from Timoleague NS with a passion for turning local products into organic fertilizers that can be used for grass growth in their locality. You can buy organic tomato fertilizer in the shop. But this isn’t local, and the group was curious about what locally sourced products could be used instead. They decided to test comfrey, seaweed, and manure on grass and compare the results to the organic tomato fertilizer you buy in the shop. They started with the science, and then spread the results with their schoolmates, community and farmers across the nation! Principal Norma Harte said, “It is a wonderful occasion for the school. I am thrilled that the class and their teacher got the recognition that they deserve. This is a whole school celebration as everyone was involved and supported the project. A very proud day for our school to be Gold winners in the UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards”.
Molaga Tidy Towns
While this year’s national tidy towns competition has had to be postponed, the work of the local tidy towns association continues as before. On Tuesday evening next, a meitheal will take place in Timoleague at 7pm. Those interested in taking part are asked to assemble at The Abbey Car-Park behind the medical centre. Social distancing will be strictly adhered to and groups of 2 - 4 will be assigned a designated area within the village. If you feel that you can give a helping hand you will be more than welcome.