Community notes Oct 8th
October 06, 2022
Ambush Remembered
The ambush at Ahawadda on the 10th. of May 1920 resulted in the greatest loss of life suffered by the Regular RIC in a single ambush during the War of Independence in West-Cork. It had been planned to suitably remember this event back in 2020 but Covid made that impossible. That was rectified recently and a very moving and touching ceremony was held near the exact location of the ambush. For those not familiar with local geography, Ahawadda is located on the right just off the main Timoleague to Barryroe road at an area where five roads meet. On that fateful day just over one hundred years ago, three constables left Timoleague Barracks on foot to answer a call of a bogus agrarian dispute near Ardgehane. The constables, Sgt. John Flynn, Edward Dunne and William Brick were accompanied by a temporary member of the force, William Grimsdale who was a Black and Tan and had seen action as a member of the British army during World War 1. The foot patrol turned right at Ahawadda cross and headed on the Ahafore road to Ardgehane. Just some few hundred yards from the cross, an ambush party, comprising of eight IRA volunteers from Barryroe and three from Kilbrittain under the command of Charlie Hurley lay in wait. Sergeant. Flynn and Constables Dunne and Brick were killed and William Grimsdale managed to escape.
Parish Priest of Timoleague, Fr. Timothy O’Hea condemned the killing in a sermon on the following Thurdsay morning. Feeling were naturally running high in the area and the priest was visited by local IRA activists and told to choose his words with greater care in the future. There were further repercussions at the inquest that followed. A local man who was called as one of the jurors was kidnapped along with his wife by local IRA volunteers. This was an attempt to “persuade “the jurors to bring in a verdict that was more suitable to the local IRA. The couple were also accused of giving information to the British Military who were stationed at Timoleague Castle. They were held near The Tinkers Cross area for some time before being released with a warning regarding their future conduct.
Harrowing scenes were witnessed at Timoleague Courthouse at the inquest. Both Sergeant Flynn and Constable Dunne were married and had three in family. They were resident in the village and some of the children were attending Timoleague National School. Constable Brick was unmarried.
At the remembrance recently, a large representative crowd gathered to remember this historic event. Edward Mc Sweeney welcomed all, especially members of the Flynn, Dunne and Brick families who had travelled from all over Ireland to be present to remember their family members. Local historian, Diarmuid Kingston gave a detailed account of the actual ambush. Diarmuid has done extensive research on the history of the RIC in West-Cork during the War of Independence resulting in the publication of a much- acclaimed book published in 2013 called Beleaguered.
Parish Priest of Timoleague, Fr. Patrick Hickey, a noted historian himself, lead the gathering in a decade of The Rosary for the deceased. He stressed that we were all gathered to recall an event that happened in our own locality. We were not present to pass judgement but to recall historical facts. A family member spoke on behalf of the three deceased RIC members and said how grateful they were that this sad event was being remembered in a dignified manner after decades of conflict. Fachtna and Margaret O’Donovan were also thanked for their co-operation.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, all adjourned to the Timoleague Community Hall for refreshments where locals and visitors chatted and recalled a time in our history when things were not as simple and as straightforward perhaps as they are today.
Clothes Collection
Timoleague National School Parents Association are presently organising a collection of unwanted clothes to raise funds for the school and the local community. Clothing must be clean and paired shoes, handbags. belts, curtains and bed linen can also be included. Single shoes, off cut material, duvets, pillows, carpets, rugs or uniforms will not be accepted. The more bags that are collected, the more money raised in this clothing reuse scheme. Bags can be returned to Timoleague Community Hall before Monday October 10th.