Community notes May 22nd

The Irish for Timoleague

A few weeks ago, we reported on the erection of place name stones as one enters the village from the Bandon/Kinsale side to the east and from the Clonakilty side to the west. The script is a welcome to all to Timoleague and is both in English and Irish. The Irish version of the translation has always aroused comment, debate and mystery and there is divided opinion as to which version is correct - Tigh Molaige or Tigh Molaga. Government agencies such as An Post and Cork County Council favour Tigh Molaige as the “caighdean oifigiuil”, the official version,with Molaige being the genitive case of Molaga, the saint after whom the village is named. Others use Tigh Molaga and this version of the name can be traced back to Micheal O’ Cleirigh of The Annals of The Four Masters fame, who visited Timoleague Abbey in 1629 to copy extracts from Leabhar Mhic Carthaigh Riabhaigh also known as The Book of Lismore.

 Maire Ni Shithigh, noted local teacher, dramatist and writer who is buried in the Abbey used Molaga. In Danta Aodhagain Ui Rathaille, the Molaga form is used as it is in the Leaving Cert Anthology of Irish Poetry, Foras Feasa, a text well familiar to many of a certain age who either loved it or cursed it during their leaving certificate year. Timoleague students had a bowl of odds over the rest as they were well familiar with Machtnamh An Duine Doiliosaigh, known also as Caoineadh Tigh Molaga which was a hardy annual on the leaving cert course for many years. This was a must in the national school curriculum of Scoil Molaga. Speaking of national school, the late Ard- Mhaistir, Diarmuid O’ hUallaigh was a big supporter of the Molaga version. Learned people in the Irish Department i gColaiste na hOllscoile i gCorcaigh are divided in relation to the matter, some favouring Molaige , others having a preference for Molaga. There you have it. Does one go for the “caighdean oifigiuil” (Tigh Molaige) or the “caighdean aitiuil”, the official local version, (Tigh Molaga)? As a rule of thumb, if a Timoleague person is asked where they are from, they will inevitably answer,Tigh Molaga and not Tigh Molaige. The choice is yours.

Rosary at Our Lady’s Well

The rosary is recited at Our Lady’s Well, Lettercollum each evening during the month at 8pm.

First Holy Communion

The month of May is usually associated with First Holy Communions. Covid put a stop to a lot of ceremonial occasions and First Holy Communion did not escape. However, now that restrictions have been eased and lifted, the young boys and girls can have a day to remember with family and friends once more. On Saturday last the young children attending Clogagh National School received their First Holy Communion at St. Moluada’s Church. This week-end it is the turn of the Timoleague young students to receive theirs. It is hoped that the weather clerk will be kind to them on their big day.