Community notes Dec 12th
December 09, 2020
Tidy Towns
Timoleague Tidy Towns Association organise a Christmas party each year. However, with the present situation pertaining to the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed, it is with regret that this popular event will not take place this year. The official switch on of the Christmas lights was also incorporated into this festive celebration.
However, the organising committee will hold the annual Christmas Hamper Raffle as usual. This will take place this week-end, on Friday December 11th and Saturday Dec. 12th. Tickets will be on sale at the village centre and at Foley’s Centra during both days. Fundraising activity of all organisations has been greatly impacted by Covid and Timoleague Tidy Towns is no exception. The local committee traditionally rely on two fundraising ventures, namely the bucket collection at The Bridge and the Christmas Raffle. Alas, the bucket collection did not take place. A very successful Duck Race was held in September and that helped greatly. Now with Christmas on the horizon, it was felt that the Christmas Hamper Raffle would add to the spirit of the occasion. Any support would be greatly appreciated.
100 Years Ago
The full compliment of the Timoleague company marched in military formation from Clonbuig to Murragh in late November, passing within a mile of Bandon which was heavily garrisoned. They were attending the funeral of Capt. Michael O’Brien.
An ambush was prepared on the road between Timoleague and Courtmacsherry. It was necessary to transport rifles and revolvers from Clonbuig to Carhue for this operation. Alas, after all the risk and trouble, the ambush did not take place. Another ambush was prepared for the British military in Timoleague in early December. The day selected was fair day when there would be a large crowd on the village streets as the British patrol would be passing through. The British did not turn up. The company had better luck a week later when they captured two British soldiers in the village and one on the main Clonakilty road just outside Timoleague. The three soldiers were held in captivity for a week and orders came that they were to be released.
On the 8th. of December members of The Flying Column, including Timoleague company member Timothy Keohane, took up positions at Gaggin for a planned ambush. A number of men from the Bantry area who were late for Kilmichael had now joined the column. They were armed with some of the rifles captured at Kilmichael. All members of the column were now armed with rifles. At Gaggin the column was divided into two sections and took up position on high ground about 20 yds. south of the Bandon – Clonakilty road. An enemy convoy of one lorry was expected. Just as the lorry entered the position, a rifle shot was accidentally discharged by one of the members of the column and the enemy dashed through before effective fire could be brought to bear on it. Several shots were fired at the lorry as it dashed away. The lorry however stopped some distance from where the column had been in position and the occupants took to the fields. The lorry went on to Bandon.
When the column was withdrawing from the ambush position, it was attached by the soldiers who had entered the fields but the return fire from the column forced the soldiers to withdraw. During the attack a member of the column, Michael Mc Lean of The Schull company was killed. He had been guarding the members of a household on the opposite side of the road and when the column was withdrawing, he was shot while crossing the road to join the main body.