Community notes March 14th

Tidy Towns Report Contd.

The Timoleague Educational Garden is a standout feature, providing a public space for nature learning in partnership with the National School and GIY. The addition of a prefab cabin has extended its use year-round for outdoor classes and community clubs. The school has done outstanding world, earning the Nature Hero Award and taking part in the All-Irland Pollinator Plan. On adjudication day the wildflowers growing in hedgerows and verges on approach roads and around the village were outstanding. The are was full of bees, butterflies and birds and this kind of biodiversity was noticeable through our visit.

Interpretive panels on the estuary, birdwatching, bees and the Friary added a helpful educational dimension to your biodiversity efforts. The vintage black gates beside the Protestant church (opposite the pink house, near the phone kiosk) leading into a meadow area, were noted as an opportunity. This area could potentially be enhanced to become a stronger feature of local biodiversity efforts.

Cheltenham Racing Festival

At this time of year all horse racing enthusiasts will savour the excitement and atmosphere of the prime national hunt racing festival at Cheltenham. Local followers as always will have a keen interest and this year two horses from the Barony of Ibane will feature during the week. Da Capo Glory from the Padraig Butler stable, owned by The Red Strand Syndicate is listed on Wednesday and if he doesn’t make the cut he will run on Friday. Da Capo finished third at Gowran Park in February and supporters will be hoping for an improved performance this week. Dream on Baby from the Emmett Mullins yard will run on Thursday and is owned by The Seven Heads Group Syndicate. Connections will be hoping that the horse who finished second at Doncaster in January will be in the shake up at 2.40pm in the hurdle race.

Community AGM

Timoleague Community Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 24^th. at 8.30pm in the Timoleague Community Hall. All are welcome.

History Society

The large attendance at Timoleague Community Hall last Thursday last was treated to a very entertaining evening. Michael O' Brien of Butlerstown was the guest speaker as Timoleague Historical Society presented "The Story of the Cardiff Hall". Michael gave a thorough and comprehensive recount of the sea voyage of SS Cardiff Hall from Argentina in January 1925. The ship with a huge cargo of maize was bound for R&H Hall in Cork, but in the midst of a ferocious storm, sank off Carrigashoonta, near Travarra Bay. All 28 hands on deck were lost despite rescue attempts from the "rocket" lifeboats of Barry's Point and Barry's Cove. The many theories of mutiny, an underpowered ship and a possible on board explosion were explored as was the fascinating salvage operation of valuable maize from the sea bed. Local farmer Donal Harte, recounted how his own father (as well as throngs of other locals) made the arduous journey from Rosscarbery to attempt to salvage the washed up cargo. Eamonn Barry, with the aid of fascinating videos and images, detailed some of the recent dives to the wreck by the WC Sub Aqua Club. Finally, Michael rounded off the evening with two poems on the Cardiff Hall and a rendition of "Sweet Timoleague" before the appreciative audience retried for some refreshments. The next monthly presentation (by Tony McCarthy on local interest in Jutland) will take place on April 23rd.