Community Notes May 1st

Tidy Towns

Now that the weather is after improving and that there is a stretch in the evenings, the local tidy towns group are beginning their meitheal/ clean up season. If you would like to become involved, you will be welcomed with open arms. The group meet each Tuesday evening at 7pm at the Abbey Car-Park behind The Timoleague Medical Centre at Abbey Street. Social distancing will be strictly observed and one can work on their own if that is ones wish. The village looks well at present but there is always room for improvement. If you would like to be part of enhancing the appearance of your local community, then why not join in with other like- minded people each Tuesday evening.

Kevin Mullen Bursary

The late Kevin Mullen was a staunch supporter of the credit union movement and gave a lifetime of dedicated service to his local Clonakilty branch.

Clonakilty Credit Union is now taking applications for the Kevin Mullen Bursary draw for leaving certificate students- 3 students will be chosen to win €500 each and one other student will win a travel pass for free travel to Cork for one year with West Cork Connect.To view Terms & Conditions and complete an entry form , please visit www.clonakiltycreditunion.ie/bursary or call into the office.

100 Years Ago

During the Spring of 1921 there was much activity by the local companies, Barryroe, Clogagh and Timoleague. Volunteers were engaged almost full time on the cutting of enemy lines of communication, digging trenches, demolishing bridges and raising railway lines. Much of this was done by night and there were scouts posted in strategic positions as the work was being carried out.

During the month of March, the execution of spies started in the brigade area. An account ofthe shooting dead of John Good and his son Williamhas already been written about during the past month. In many cases, goods and property were confiscated. Cattle and horses were removed from the Good farm at Barryshall. Some 36 volunteers from the Timoleague company as well as a large number of volunteers from Barryroe were involved in the removal of cattle, horses and furniture from Barryshall. John Good had an outside farm at Lislee and all the stock from there was also confiscated. In many cases cattle and property had to be moved long distances through the brigade area. This was a labour -intensive job and those involved had also to deal with the threat of meeting enemy patrols as the area was heavily garrisoned.

During the end of April, a section of the brigade under Sean Hales was billeted in the Clogagh area. Information was received that a party of military were to travel by train between Courtmacsherry and Ballinascarthy and an ambush was planned. Positions were taken up on the railway embankment a short distance from the railway station at Timoleague. The men of the column were joined by volunteers from the Ballinadee, Clogagh and Timoleague companies. When the train arrived at the ambush position, there were no military on board. The men of the column withdrew to billets at Skeaf and the volunteers from the local companies returned to their home areas.

Orders were received to destroy the hotel at Courtmacsherryduring this time also. It was proposed to use the hotel as a barracks for a force of Auxiliaries. This was a dangerous operation as there was a military garrison stationed nearby at The Coastguard Station. The attack was carried out bymembers of the Barryroe and Timoleague companies under the command of Capt. James Hodnett of Ardmore. The volunteers entered the village quietly as it was necessary to operate between the Coastguard Station and the harbour. One party was engaged in the burning of the hotel while another party acted as cover during the operation. There was no enemy interference.

Timoleague Railway

A few years after the opening of the line, industrial action raised its ugly head. Railway unions in England and Ireland demanded minimum wages for staff in 1897. Employees on the Timoleague- Courtmacsherry line were among the first in Ireland to demand implementation. Their actions received widespread national and international attention. The striking workers drew the wrath of the editor of The Irish Times who wrote that “their actions were preposterous and to bring all railways to a stop would at least have the merit of its daring if it were universal and equal but to begin at Courtmacsherry is to assail the magnates of Euston, St. Pancras and Paddington from a very distant and curious quarter”

This action put the local railway on the map and no better advertising could it get in its formative years. This added to the mystique of the line and is one of the reasons why it still holds a special place for those who write about the history of the railways of Ireland and England. (to be continued).