Community notes March 20th

Argideen Loop Walks

The second set of loop walks are the Argideen loops which are red coded. Again, the walker starts at the carpark near the Timoleague map and is guided by the red arrows. A left turn at the old telephone box will bring you to the Canon Fleming Hall. Take a right here and proceed up the hill past the graveyard. The Argideen Vale Tennis and Croquet club is on your left as you walk towards Inchybridge. Keep left at the bridge and at the garage you veer left and walk a short distance where you take a right. Proceed along a flat stretch of road before taking a left up a steep incline until you come to cross-roads. A sign post here will offer the walker a choice of two routes. A short route back to Timoleague is 2.3 km. This route will bring you up to one of the highest points in the locality at Ardmore. You have breath taking views of the Argideen Estuary and Courtmacsherry Bay with The Old Head of Kinsale to your left. A short walk down hill will bring you back to the village.

If you would prefer to take the longer route back, the sign indicates that you have a walk of 5.6 km. back to base. Follow the sign and you proceed along a quiet country road until you arrive at a triangular clearing at an area known as The Gub.Take a left here and keep on the straight section of road. Follow the signs and you will arrive at a “T” junction with a concrete water tank in front of you. Turn right and take in the beautiful vista ahead of you. Make your way down hill and you are now back in the village.

The Map of Timoleague by the car-park between the estuary and the Abbey gives the total distances of all the loops that are available. The shorter Abbeymahon loop is 4.7km while the longer one is 6km. The Argideen loops are 6.6km if you walk the short one and it is 9.9km if you fancy the longer one. The choice rests with the walker and have a happy and safe hike around Timoleague.

100 Years Ago

An in-depth account of the Crossbarry Ambush was given in last week’s edition. Some eight members of the Timoleague Company, all armed were actively involved in this major encounter with British forces. Those involved included Cornelius Murphy, 1^st. Lt.Carhue; James Hodnett, Capt.Ardmore; Tadhg O’Sullivan, Brigade Quarter Master, a native of Skibbereen but working in Timoleague as a creamery manager; Michael Deasy, Carhue; Timothy Keohane, Ballinroher; John O’Driscoll, Mill Street; Daniel Minihane, 2^nd. Lt.Carhue and Con Lehane, Capt.Bde. Armr. Castle Upper.

The victory at Crossbarry was somewhat subdued when word spread that Charlie Hurley, Commandant of the West Cork Brigade had been fatally wounded trying to break through a ring of enemy forces who surrounded his billet earlier that morning at nearby Ballymurphy. His body was transported to Bandon by the British and placed in the morgue.

The important role played by the members of Cumann na mBan has not often been given the recognition that it deserves. Leslie Price who was involved in the 1916 rising in her native Dublin was a great organiser. She was sent to West-Cork in 1919 to help put the organisation on a firm footing. Branches were set up alongside the local companies. The 1^st. Battalion area was very large and she advised that it be split in two – one area north and the other south of the river Bandon. Kilbrittain, Ballinadee, Ballinspittle, Gaggin, Clogagh, Timoleague and Barryroe were all in the south region. She called a meeting of all the officers of the above-named branches and they all met at Callanan’s of Ballycatten. Timoleague had a membership of 12 with Margaret Foley (Harte) as Captain, Mary Kelly was Adjt./Sec. and Maureen O’Driscoll was treasurer. Kilbrittain has 26 members, Barryroe had 29 and Clogagh had 15.

Members of Kilbrittain Cumann na mBan were responsible for the removal of the body of Charlie Hurley from Bandon workhouse. They transported his remains to Clogagh where he wished to be buried alongside his parents. Members of Cumann na mBan kept vigil in the church that night. Volunteers of the Flying Column marched twenty miles from their billets in the driving rain and reached Clogagh at 2am. The local priest was called. Guards were posted and the remainder of the column entered the church to pray for their dead commanding officer. The coffin was shouldered to the graveyard. Volunteers with arms reversed marching behind the coffin as Flor Begley’s bagpipes filled the night sky with “Wrap the Green Flag Round Me Boys” Tom Barry delivered an oration at the grave of his dead friend, before three volleys were fired. The volunteers moved on to Ahiohill at dawn that morning.

The Leslie Price mentioned married Tom Barry the following year. She is better known as Leslie Bean De Barra and later was deeply involved in The Red Cross Movement. What may not be as well know is that when she arrived in West-Cork she met up with Charlie Hurley. Love blossomed despite the ravages of rebellion but their relationship was short lived. Oh cruel war!