Community notes July 4th

Phase 3 Re-Opening

The country is slowly getting back to some semblance of normality with the recent phase 3  re-opening of some businesses. Timoleague is no different to any other village in the country and there was an eery feeling and atmosphere as one walked the streets, especially over the last few months with all bars, restaurants, hairdressers and barber’s outlets closed. Were it not for the Post-Office, Harrington’s Pharmacy and Foley’s Centra, a case could be made for calling it the deserted village. It was not alone.

During the cocooning period, the great community spirit that is synonymous with Timoleague came to the fore once more and cranked into action. Local volunteers mobilised and saw to it that nobody was left isolated. Shopping was done and delivered. Meals were prepared in Monk’s Lane and delivered to the elderly in the parish. Many other acts of kindness were performed by countless others who wished to do their deeds in a quiet and anonymous capacity.

The Barber Shop on Main St. operated by Ann Glennon re-opened for business on Monday and will remain open all this week so that all the gents of the area can again claim the title of the best groomed in the locality. The two hairdressers, Catherine Ryan and Marian O’Callaghan will also be on overdrive as they return to display their expertise for the female members of the community. Out of town in Burrane, Mary G Freyne will equally be working to full capacity.

Monk’s Lane are also re-opening this week after many weeks of operating a take-away service. There is also plenty of noise coming from both Charlie Madden’s and Pad Joe’s as Simon and Sheila and Conor and Tracy make adjustments for their return to business in July.

So, it’s all systems go at present and it is great to experience some sort of normality return after over three months of virtual lock-down. The message to all is “shop local”.

Dillon’s Restaurant Closes

Many businesses in our cities, towns and villages will not re-open after the lock-down due to a myriad of reasons. Timoleague is no exception. Two weeks ago, Dillon’s Restaurant sadly announced the permanent closure of their award -winning restaurant. The measures that would have to be undertaken to comply with new restrictions in association with Covid 19 was a bridge too far for this cosy and intimate restaurant. The good news is that both Richard and Valeria have announced that they are looking forward to serving us all again in the future. “Keep an eye out for us, we’ll be back!”

100 Years Ago

Further to the kidnapping of a jury member and his wife, another sinister event took place in the village at this time. Bartholomew Murphy, known fondly to all in Timoleague as Batt, was principal of Timoleague National School in 1920. He had replaced Tom O’Donovan of Cregane as principal in 1906. Batt came from farming stock in Ballinroher. He married Ellen (Nell) Nyhan whose family owned a public house and shop at Mill Street, now trading as Monk’s Lane. On their marriage, Batt moved “clean isteach” and they reared a family of five there.

After the kidnapping of the jury member and his wife, the authorities vigorously investigated the incident. In the middle of the night, Batt was dragged out of his bed by armed and masked men. He was brutalised and driven away in a car. The assailants wanted to know the whereabouts of the couple. They believed that Batt knew where they were being held. Batt was subjected to severe torture as they sought to extract the required information. Batt either didn’t know or wasn’t prepared to give the information. Eventually they realised that he possibly didn’t have the information that they required and they released him, badly beaten but alive. The jury member and his wife were released unharmed and this may have helped Batt’s cause also.

Batt recovered from this brutal ordeal and he continued teaching until his retirement in 1938. He died a year later. Family lore states that his heart was never the same following the beating that he endured in 1920. He was replaced as principal by Diarmuid Whooley.

An interesting aside about Batt and Nell and the family public house. Back in the day, it seems that teachers could own or work in a pub but could not reside in a licensed premise. People familiar with the lay out of the said property will know that there is an archway between the two sections of the building, both connected upstairs but separate on ground level At night after closing time Batt would lock up the public house door and walk a few yards on the street, passing the archway before turning the key on the door of the “dwelling house” to let himself in. An Irish solution to an Irish problem.

Molaga Tidy Towns

Members of the local tidy town’s association completed a very worthwhile local initiative recently. An appeal was made to the general public for unused flower pots. The response was phenomenal. Adults and children potted the containers with flowers and these were delivered to over 100 homes of people who were in isolation during the lock-down period as a present to brighten up the day for the recipients within the community. This is another example of the great community involvement experienced in Timoleague.