Community notes Dec 16th

Photographic Exhibition

One of the features of this year’s festival was the photographic exhibition which was held at The Community Hall. The idea behind this most popular event was to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Timoleague Harvest Festival. What started out as a look back at past festivals, ended up as a glimpse of the social, cultural and sporting happenings of the greater Timoleague area of yester year.

The organisers were thrilled with the reaction to the exhibition and with the volume of people who attended. Locals have said that there are many other photos available and that they would be more than willing to have them on show if another suitable occasion arose. A call is now going out for all to search at home for photographic gems of Timoleague through the decades. Now that Christmas is approaching, an opportunity can be seized upon to do some searching for photos that will bring back happy memories for many in the locality. The organisers are hoping to put on another photo exhibition by popular demand, in the Community Hall in the not too distant, future. All photos can be scanned and the originals will be given back to the owners in double quick time. So, avail of the extra leisure time to unearth photos that may not have been widely seen by the general public. Another display of photographic gems is eagerly awaited.

Christmas Party

Timoleague Tidy Towns will hold their annual Christmas Party on Sunday next, December 17^th. The idea behind this very popular event is linked to the local groups medal success over the past number of years. This year, Timoleague won a gold medal after many years in the bronze and silver categories. It is a combined fundraiser and thank you to the large number of people in the locality who helped place Timoleague village as one of the prettiest villages in the county.

As is the norm, there will be carol singing at the village centre at 5pm with the official switch on of the Christmas lights by our recently retired parish priest, Fr. Patrick Hickey at 5.30pmLocal reports indicate that Santa is expected in the village on Sunday evening also. When all the formalities are concluded, all will make their way to the Community Hall where there will be a party befitting a gold medal village.

A fundraising draw for some beautiful hampers will also be undertaken. Tickets will be on sale outside of Centra on Friday next. Tickets can also be purchased at the hall on Sunday night.An open invitation is extended to all to join in the celebration and get into party mood for Christmas.

Tidy Towns Report Contd.

The following is a continuation of the adjudicator’s 2023 Tidy Towns report on Timoleague. 

Nature and Biodiversity in your Locality:Your main project for this year has been the setting up of the Educational Garden in conjunction with TimoleagueNational School and GIY (Grow It Yourself). This is an excellent initiative and one which will undoubtedly developand grow in the coming years.

It was only possible to look from the gate on adjudication day but it is clear that a lot of work has already beencarried out. It is a valuable asset to have to be able to teach the children about biodiversity, gardening and natureand cheering to know that they are putting their learning to good use in their schools and gardens. The new stonewall must be a great improvement on the concrete block wall. It certainly looks very well.The possibilities for learning in this garden are invaluable. From seed to table including learning about makingcompost, pondlife, building stone walls and raised beds, the full gamut is there and will hopefully be fullyappreciated by the school and the local community.

It will be interesting to see how the Educational Garden develops in the future. Well done for joining the All- Ireland Pollinator Plan. One of the objectives of the new 2021 – 2025 AIPP is to encourage more land to be managed for biodiversity and to establish a ‘Pollinator Trail’ as well as monitorpollinators on public land. Your work and commitment to your area to raise awareness and increase biodiversityputs you in a perfect position to become a supporter for the AIPP.

The Biodiversity Education programme run by SECAD/Wild Work that visited the school much surely have been

exciting for the school children. Is a Biodiversity Plan for Timoleague the next step?

Have you considered carrying out a habitat survey? Habitat mapping can help inform decision making in a numberof areas including planning, climate change mitigation and conservation of nature and as such is an important firststep in understanding the habitat around us and what we need to protect them and to identify any gaps in linkagesof habitat. The Heritage Council provide excellent information in their Conserving and Enhancing Wildlife in Townsand Villages. This would also be an excellent project for the children to contribute to.

Sustainability- Doing more with less: You continue to ensure that all new planters and street furnitureis made by recycling plastic and this year you havea compost bin in the Education Garden made from old pallets. The stone wall for herb was made from donatedlocal stone donated and you have also been donated an old boat that the children can use as a play area in thegarden.

Signing up for the All- Ireland Pollinator Plan is also a tangible way of demonstrating your sustainable objectives.This is a category where there is plenty of scope for you to increase your marks. It is a broad area and it is oftenhelpful to divide it into the core headings of waste, water, energy, transport and climate action. Do also refer to the Tidy Towns Handbook for ideas and guidance.