Community notes December 5th

Tipperary Football Success

It’s amazing how history has a funny way of repeating itself. The four semi-finalists in this year’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship are exactly the same as in 1920 – Tipperary, Cavan, Mayo and Dublin. Tipperary made light of the baggage of history on their shoulders at Pairc Ui Chaoimh and were deserving winners over Cork in the Munster Final. Our congratulations to our neighbour Robbie Kiely of Courtmacsherry on his outstanding display. Now playing with Barryroe, he joins a unique group of players who have won Munster Senior Football medals while playing junior football in West-Cork. His neighbour across the bay, Owen Sexton of Kilbrittain, who has close family ties with Courtmacsherry was on the winning Cork teams in 1999 and 2002. Sean Levis of Muintir Bhaire and Fachtna Collins of Ilen Rovers whose wife is Aida O’Leary of Carhue joined Owen in the 2002 success. In more modern times, Alan O’Connor of St. Colum’s was on the 2008 winning Cork team. In 1971 both Kevin Kehilly and Donal Hunt won Munster championship medals when their club teams, Newcestown and Bantry were playing junior football in the Carbery division. It would be remiss of me not to mention Jack Cahalane of Courtmacsherry and Mick Finn of Butlerstown who won Munster medals with the great Clonakilty teams of the ‘40’s.as already mentioned last week. Their exploits are still spoken of with admiration and pride. Robbie is certainly in star company and the objective now surely is All-Ireland success. Who would bet against history repeating itself. Robbie is wished the best in his quest of The Holy Grail.

Ballyboden St. Enda’s Club

The Dublin club based in the Rathfarnham, Ballyroan, Knocklyon and Firhouse area of south Dublin is one of the largest in the country. Recently the club history was published. It is the home club of Dublin footballers, Michael Darragh Mc Auley, Colm Basquel, Sean Doherty, Darren Homan and Brian Stynes to name but a few. Add on great Dublin dual player Conal Keaney and Donegal goalkeeper Paul Durcan and one can get an idea of the quality of its players. From its outset in 1969 the club has had a serious Cork connection. Its founding chairman and driving force in its formative years was a Liscarroll man.

It was nice to read that our own Timoleague man, the late Padraig Cullinane of Main Street was accorded honourable mention. Padraig was a star member of the Timoleague 1967 team that won the West-Cork championship and league double when the club was reformed after hibernation. Work took Padraig to the capital and he settled in the south Dublin heartland of “Boden”. He immersed himself in the club and his good friend and fellow Timoleague man Greg Whooley told me that he was the man in sole charge of the transportation of thousands of club supporters to Croke Park for the All-Ireland Club final against Castlebar Mitchels on St. Patrick’s Day 2016. On that memorable day they were crowned champions for the first time. They also have numerous Dublin titles in football and hurling. Padraig is fondly remembered in both clubs Ar dheis De go raibh se.

Festive Season

The Christmas street lighting is now up and in full working order. The large Christmas tree dominates the village centre and adds to the festive décor. Now that the severe restrictions that were put in place to combat the spread of covid-19 are being relaxed, a more normal feel will apply. The local businesses that were in lock down are now opening again and this will add a much- needed buzz to the locality. It is important to stress the importance of supporting these businesses and shopping local should be the catch phrase.

The church is again open and masses will be as usual in Timoleague on Saturday evening at 7pm and on Sunday morning at 11.30am Mass will be at Clogagh on Sunday morning at 10am. Safety restrictions will apply as before with a pod system in place in both churches.

Leabhar Mhic Carthaigh Riabhaigh

The story of the book’s travels has been well documented since its return permanently to Cork. However, a number of finer points about the book itself need to be highlighted. The book was written on vellum which was considered to be the best material on which to write in the 1400’s. It was by no means cheap and this probably accounts for it standing the test of time. It was written in Irish, much different from the language of today. It contains both religious and secular text in its 198 folios. It contains the only surviving translation in the Irish language of the travels of the renowned Venetian explorer Marco Polo. It also contains the lives of many Irish saints: St. Patrick, St. Brigid, St Columcille, St. Colman, St. Senan and a number of others not as well known. Also included are stories of The Fianna, featuring Oisin and Coilte Mac Ronain and some of the great battles that they had saving Ireland from invasion. A number of colloquies between Coillte and St. Patrick are also featured. It also has a history of Israel and a number of poems.

It is known that some 12 folios were written in the 15^th. century by Aonghas O’Callanain who was a member of a well-known medical family from West-Cork. The remainder was written by a person or persons unknown.

Now that the book is back in UCC it will be a valuable treasure trove for scholars to do further research and who knows what may unfold about An Leabhar Scealach, Siulach Seo.