Community Notes July 18th
July 14, 2020
Reopening of Businesses
Over the past few weeks Timoleague village has a look of normality about it as we head into the busy summer tourist season. The increase in traffic is very evident. The car-parking area by the Wild Atlantic View Point is packed to capacity especially at the week-ends as people avail of the fine weather and take to the Railway Walkway beside the estuary.
Monk’s Lane has re-opened also and thankfully there is a great atmosphere in and around the village centre. All that’s required now is some nice sunshine to top it off. The hairdressers and barber are working at full capacity. The post-office, pharmacy, medical centre and Centra remained open and they are also reporting an increase in foot flow. The two bars are scheduled to re-open on Monday next and that will signal another positive response. Timoleague will be fully re-open for business and a warm welcome awaits all. People are reminded to adopt a common sense approach in relation to the national health guidelines. We all must remember that we are only as strong as our weakest link.
100 Years Ago
After the kidnappings that followed after the Ahawadda Ambush and with the release of those in custody, a little bit of normality returned to the Timoleague area. However, the activity of the local companies continued. A number of local members joined with members from Kilbrittain and Ballinadee for the purpose of capturing rifles from a party of British military which was expected to attend Ballinadee Feis on the 6th. of June. The soldiers did not turn up and the operation was called off.
Towards the end of June, it was decided to attack a party of British soldiers and disarm them after mass at Timoleague. The soldiers always escorted two RIC men to and from mass at Timoleague each Sunday. The plan was to mingle with the crowd after mass and conduct the operation. However, on that morning, mass ended earlier than usual. The military had not arrived and the crowd had dispersed. The action was abandoned.
In July an ambush was planned at Inchybridge. A party of British military were supposed to be on a train from Timoleague to Ballinascarthy. They were not on board and the operation was called off.
It is thought that in many of these aborted attacks, the enemy had received information warning them of the attacks. The members of the Timoleague company also joined with the neighbouring companies to carry out operations in the adjoining parishes. Difficulties were now being experienced as the enemy reacted to the attacks. Smaller RIC garrisons had evacuated their barracks and patrols were larger and more heavily armed. Cycle patrols had given way to lorries and the RIC had been reinforced or replaced by Black and Tans.