Community Notes May 29th

Deteriorating Road Surface

The road surface between Timoleague National School and Foley’s Centra is in an appalling condition at present. It has been like that for quite some time and has been brought to the attention of the “powers that be”. The word locally is that the two public organisations that should be responsible for its repair are not singing from the same hymn sheet with one laying the blame on the other for its present demise. While all this wrangling is at play, the law- abiding motorists who pay tax on their vehicles are forced to navigate with great care so as to avoid the enormous holes that dominate this section of roadway.

Local knowledge is a decided advantage when faced with this motoring challenge. However, strangers to the area are on a “highway to nothing” as the large pot holes are filled with water and are not apparent to the innocent, non native traveller. Please, would someone kindly knock heads together and get this sorted as the busy tourist season approaches. This “tourist attraction” will not sort itself.

Litter Pick

Timoleague Tidy Towns are organising a “Spring Clean-Litter Pick” on Friday night May 28^th. This year the usual spring Clean-Litter Pick did not go ahead as planned due to restrictions but now as these have eased somewhat, it is planned to hold it on the week-end of the 28^th – 29^th of May. If you would like to participate you would be most welcome to gather at the Abbey Car-Park behind The Timoleague Medical Centre at 7pm on the Friday night. If that night is not convenient then you are free to organise your own group at an alternative time and liaise with the secretary Sheila Walton at (086) 3181724. All local organisations are being contacted to take an active role in this initiative.

Before the advent of Covid 19 the litter pick was a tremendous community event, with young and not so young actively involved. While social distancing should be adhered to, groups may feel happier to pick their own time and place for this worthwhile community project. Please liaise with the secretary so that a handle can be kept on the arrangements. Looking forward to another great turn out for this community enhancement initiative.

Weekly Meitheal

The Tidy Towns Association have been co-ordinating the annual meitheal around the village over the past few weeks. Groups are actively engaged in this vital work each Tuesday night. There is an open invitation to all to participate. All one has to do is report to the Abbey Car-Park behind The Timoleague Medical Centre at Abbey Street on Tuesday nights at 7pm armed with shovel,bucket, brush, gloves and any other implement that may be of use for an hour of community work. You will not be alone and committee members are urging the observance of social distancing. A famous man from the Orient once said that many hands make light work. Who are we to disagree?

Timoleague Railway

The arrival of the railway brought many changes to the economic and social life of Timoleague. The initial construction of the line, railway station and all ancillary buildings was indeed a welcomed employment boost to the area. Once it was ready for operation, skilled and unskilled employees were needed for its operation. The influx of new people into the village was of enormous importance to the growth of Timoleague from the 1890’s onwards.

As already stated, John Burke from Bandon was appointed first station master at Timoleague in 1890. He was also the first secretary of the St. Molaga – Timoleague GAA club which was founded in 1892. He was probably one of the main driving forces behind the establishment of the club. Michael Foley, mechanical engineer and locomotive superintendent came from Blackpool in Cork and soon immersed himself into local affairs. He was one of the most prominent players on the local team in its early days. He married a local lady and so began a business and sporting dynasty that still thrives to this day. Michael Kelly of Bantry served as a guard on the railway and was also a prominent player on the team. He was later appointed station master, replacing John Burke in 1898. He served in that position until he retired in 1931.

There were three daughters in the Kelly family and they had close personal links with The Easter Rising of 1916 and the subsequent War of Independence. Mary Kelly also known as Minnie was Adjutant/Secretary of Timoleague Cumann na mBan with Margaret Foley (Mrs. Harte) as Captain and Maureen O’Driscoll as treasurer. There were some twelve members in the cumann at that time.

 Eilis, also known as Lizzy married Lt. Col. Charles Saurin of Clontarf. He took an active role in the Easter Rising and afterwards was adjutant of the Dublin Brigade during the War of Independence. After the Civil War he joined the Free State Army and rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel.

 Julia married Tadhg O’Sullivan of Skibbereen. Those who have been reading 100 Years Ago in these notes will recall the exploits of Tadhg during the War of Independence. He was a creamery manager in Timoleague and was Brigade Quartermaster, Cork 3^rd. Brigade and Quartermaster Brigade Flying Column. He took an active part in many of the attacks and ambushes in the West-Cork area, namely the attack on Timoleague RIC Barracks, Kilbrittain RIC Barracks, Crossbarry Ambush, Courtmacsherry Coastguard Station and Timoleague Castle to name but a few. He returned to his job as creamery manager at Timoleague after the Civil War. He was a brother of Gearoid O’Sullivan who fought at The Easter Rising and who had the honour of hoisting the tricolour at The GPO on Easter Monday.