Learning from Creative our heritage West Cork pages 15-20 14 pages of West Cork’s makers and artists www.westcorkpeople.ie & www.westcorkfridayad.ie August 7 – September 3, 2020, Vol XVI, Edition 216 FREE Old Town Hall, McCurtain Hill, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. E: [email protected] P: 023 8835698 SILENCE IS GOLDEN. FREE ROAD TAX WITH EVERY NEW 208 & e-208 PURCHASED* NEW PEUGEOT e-208 FULL ELECTRIC *Offer valid until the end of August. Justin Grounds, Clonakilty Bicycle Festival (pictured front) at a recent family fun cycle in Clonakilty, as part of the multi-location launch of the CLA*OfferRKE valid BROS until LTD the end of August Main Peugeot Dealer, Vision for Cycling in Rural Ireland. Over 70 bicycle lovers, young and old, turned out to launch the Vision. Pic: Anna Groniecka Clonakilty Road, Bandon, Co. Cork. Tel: 023-8841923CLARKE BROS Web:(BANDON) www.clarkebrosgroup.ie LTD Main Peugeot Dealers Carbery Housing Association saves families Clonakilty Road, Bandon from repossession and fuel poverty Co. Cork arbery Housing Association Communities Scheme for 2020. European projects, such as RED small steps we are moving towards 023-8841923 (CHA) continues its work These retrofits will benefit current WoLF, in which CHA is a Partner. this objective.” www.clarkebrosgroup.ie of rescuing families from CHA tenants that have been identi- As part of the Irish pilot project, CHA is a Sustainable Energy Crepossession by buying five more fied as ‘fuel poor’ and will provide several CHA properties will receive Community working with the Green properties in County Cork as of June air-to-water heat pumps, attic insu- a brand new, cutting-edge, ‘smart’ Skibbereen group in promoting sus- 2020. These properties are mostly lation and external wall insulation, solar heating and power system. tainable energy in West Cork. CHA rural, but some are in larger towns. bringing the properties’ BER ratings Ana Ospina, Operations Manager of will be holding their rescheduled CHA has also received the good to a B2 standard. Carbery Housing Association and 2020 AGM on Wednesday Septem- news that two of their properties CHA aims to get all of their Board Member of Green Skibbereen ber 2 at 7pm at O’Donovan’s Hotel, have been accepted by Sustainable tenants’ homes retrofitted to a higher stated: “CHA’s mission is not only to Clonakilty. For more information on Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) standard of energy efficiency in provide housing for families in need, the AGM, the RED WoLF project Contact Ian Carey for a full energy retrofit, as part of partnership with local and nation- but also to combat climate change and CHA’s other work, visit the web- the NCE Insulation Better Energy al initiatives, as well as through and energy poverty. Through these site at www.carberyhousing.eu VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITION 2020 ‘HARVEST’ ONLINE LAUNCH, GALLERY, SHOP AND VIRTUAL EXHIBITION AT WWW.WESTCORKCREATES.COM Exciting new work by some of West Cork’s finest artists and craftspeople. #WCCHARVEST2020 Online launch Saturday August 8th at 1pm. Until Sunday September 13th. 2 August 7 – September 3, 2020 120 years of one family’s service to Ballinascarthy comes to an end with retirement of Eily O’Sullivan McCarthy’s shop in Ballinascarthy, run by three generations of the same family for over 120 years, closed recently to the great sadness of the local community. Located in the heart of the village, this shop has given tremen- dous service to the people of Ballinascarthy and surrounds down through the years. The shop’s owners witnessed great change and historical events during this time; both World Wars, the War of Independence and tough times en- dured by so many people, especially during the Emergency years and before Ireland joined the Common Market. They also observed the rise of the motor car and the subsequent demise of horse power, and the life-changing benefits of electricity, which came to the village in the 1950s. Eily O’Sullivan operated the shop with her aunt Anne and uncle John until 1999, and has continued running it on her own until its’ closure this year. Eily reflects with Conor Nyhan on the history of the shop and the changes she has seen during her tenure. Ted Holland’s Zephyr car parked in front of their own shop premises. McCarthy’s Shop is ily dealt with not one but not rationed in Ireland, as most The story of the shop next door with the roadway continuing to the railway crossing. two currency changes in people kept own hens, pigs and begins in 1900 when Michael her time; the introduc- so on to provide food for the McCarthy from Droumgar- Etion of decimalisation in 1971 home. The ledger record shows riffe leased the property from 1901. for others to pick up and read. of debates and conversations at and the Euro in 2002. A review us that many families paid in its owner Joseph Bennett. It The original ledger recording A copy of the paper might start these events. of the original shop ledger part for their provisions with was a prime location, on the shop transactions still survives; its life in Droumgarriffe but, Michael was one of at least provides fascinating insights eggs – ‘egg money’. The war road out of Ballinascarthy to the first grocery entries begin in by the end of the week, find 12 children and his parents into what life was like during might have ended in 1945, but Shannonvale, where business 1901, with Michael commenc- itself in Granishal. This was were James and Anne Ca- the ‘Emergency’, which was John and Anne, who were run- bustled due to the presence of ing paper sales in 1904. A paper especially important when halane. A Joseph Cahalane and declared after the outbreak of ning the business by this time, the flour mill, and of course the was a luxury and unaffordable gatherings for thrashings and Jim McCarthy still live at their WW2. Basic provisions such would have to persevere under railway, which continued on to for many families so sharing stations took place; people ancestral homes. In 1905 he as tea, flour, sugar, cigarettes the restrictions for another six Clonakilty and Courtmacsherry. the news was common practice, would inform themselves of the married Annie McCarthy from and cloth were rationed. Unlike years until rationing finally Michael is noted as being a with neighbours leaving their happenings locally and around the UK, eggs and meat were ceased in 1951. bootmaker at the premises in paper in designated locations the world so they could be part Continued on next page... CNM Training Successful Practitioners CHANGE CAREER Train to become a… Nutritional Therapist Herbalist Attend a FREE Acupuncturist Online Event Homeopath Health Coach Natural Chef Postgraduate & Short Courses Part-time studies NEW Study in class or online Colleges across Ireland and the UK 01 878 80605 www.naturopathy.ie August 7 – September 3, 2020 3 ...Cont’d from previous page Barryscove, in the townland of Ballinascarthy village with Donaghmore, which is located Michael’s sister, another Annie, across from Ballinglanna bay. operating the village’s public Annie was one of four children house, the present day Henry and her parents were William Ford Tavern, before marrying McCarthy and Mary Hayes. James Forde, a sailor in the She was a seamstress, as were navy from Kinsale. The pub her mother and sister, and was later run by her daughter, her eye for dressmaking was another Eily, who would go on renowned; she often took the to marry Jerry Holland, parents train to Cork to observe the of Ger and Aidan, who are well latest ladies fashion on display known today in the area. and returned with material with The entire of the Ballina- which she could create an exact scarthy community wish Eily replica of the shop display Eily O’Sullivan all the best in her retirement garment. and thank her, and preceding Michael and Annie had three father passed away in 1933. generations, for their 120 years children, John, Mary-Ellen Their niece Eily joined them as of continuous service to the (Eily’s mother) and Anne. Anne soon as she was old enough. community. and John took up the mantle The McCarthy family as a of running the shop when their whole had a real presence in McCarthy’s Shop in the mid-1950s with a young Sean Dineen walking on the footpath. rt you po r l up oc Network Ireland West Cork S a l ort your pp lo u ca going for three-in-a-row S l etwork Ireland’s West Cork branch has gone Producer from strength to strength, Brought to you by Nbecoming the fastest growing branch nationally in 2019 and SCALLY’S Farmer can boast of two National Busi- Brought to you by ness Woman of the Year Award Winners, which is an incredible SCALLY’S achievement for such a newly formed group. The West Cork branch are hoping to make 2020 the year of three-in-a-row. We are committed Caroline Murphy was the first West Cork member to win a Na- Network Ireland Business Woman of the Year Award winners, tional Award in September 2018 to supporting farmers Caroline Murphy of West Cork Eggs (2018 National Award for in the ‘Emerging New Busi- Emerging New Business) and Katherine O’ Sullivan of O’ Donnell ness’ category for her company and producers in our West Cork Eggs. Katherine O’ Furniture (Network Ireland Award for Shining Star Employee Sullivan, General Manager of O’ 2019) Donnell Furniture won the 2019 transform and create a new way 27, 2020 at Network Ireland West community.