Galway In Days Gone By

April 6th, 6:00am April 5th, 7:36am

Enda Cunningham

Connacht Tribune

1917

Trees cut down

On the night of 5th inst., 10 peach and 86 vine canes, which were growing in Miss Lynch’s garden in Barna, were destroyed by being cut close to the ground. The occurrence caused much indignation in the locality, where Miss Lynch is popular. The matter was immediately reported to the constabulary, who are still engaged in investigation. A claim for £200 damages has been lodged, and will be heard at the Galway Quarter Sessions.

Soldier’s insubordination

Late on Saturday night a soldier named Private Owens was arrested on suspicion by the police in connection with the assault and robbery that had been committed on a Galway farmer that night. While being taken to the barracks, he became very violent, and broke away from his escort. Again captured, he was brought to the barracks and succeeded in breaking the handcuffs. Under military escort, he was removed to Renmore barracks, where he was charged with insubordination and riotous behaviour, and was sentenced to eight days’ imprisonment.

Horse took fright

A horse, which was being driven around Eyre Square by a man named Flaherty, of Shantalla, took fright and ran away on Monday evening at 8 o’clock. The animal fell into a good pace, and approaching Lydon’s corner at Forster-st., Flaherty gave a sudden pull of the reins and the horse fell, upsetting the cart which it was drawing.

Flaherty was caught under the cart, where he remained until assistance arrived and released him. He was found to be in a semi-conscious condition, and first aid was rendered by Mr. O. Dockery and Mr. M.J. Lydon, of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade. He was afterwards removed to the County Hospital, where he was treated.

1942

Breadless children

West Connemara is again experiencing a severe shortage of flour and bread. In some instances, contractors for the supply of bread to schools under the free school meals scheme have been unable to make their usual deliveries and school children have had several breadless days.

Teachers in some of those schools have foregone their own lunches in order to feed the children whom they knew to have come to school breakfastless. An inspector from the Department of Supplied made investigations in the Clifden District last week.

Publicity for Galway

Galway, with its seaside suburb of Salthill, had a large number of visitors from other parts of the country during the Easter holidays, and to many of them, making their first acquaintance with the West, the place must have been a revelation. In all tourist publicity matter issued up to the present, the fact that this ancient city is the ideal holiday centre for the West and that it possesses a unique charm and personality has been hidden.

We are glade to know that steps are being taken to put Galway City definitely on the tourist map. The I.T.A. is going to remake the coloured film for which shots were taken last Summer and the Secretary, Mr. David Barry, is himself going to undertake the task.

He was down here just before Easter to “spy out the land”, and, while fully appreciative of Lynch’s Castle and the Spanish Arch, is anxious to prove to the outside world that the city has many other attractions peculiarly its own and a picturesqueness hard to equal in this country.

Through the window

A tenant of Ballinasloe Urban Council who, since he got his house some time ago, had to go in and out through the window, made an application for a key. He had a key, he said, which got bent and since then he had to go in and out through the window.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.