Connacht Tribune
Galway family bridges a century of history on the Green Fields of France
On September 1 1914, Galway man George Henry Morris – in command of the Irish Guards – was killed in France within two weeks of his arrival as part of the British Expeditionary Force following the declaration of the First World War.
by Redmond Morris, Lord Killanin
Last week, on September 1 2014, a family group of grandchildren and great grandchildren travelled to France to mark the centenary of that occasion.
It was an emotional and uplifting moment to stand, 100 years to the day, where George had been killed, and to stand by his grave.
George was born in Spiddal in 1872. He was the second son of Michael Morris, who was to become Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and subsequently the first Lord Killanin.
He was destined for a career as a soldier and having served with distinction in India and South Africa he was transferred to the Irish Guards in 1906.
George took command of the 1st Battalion in 1913. He was a popular soldier, by all accounts, and spent some time as a lecturer in tactics at the staff college in Camberley. He was thought by some to be the most brilliant teacher of his day.
In 1912, he had met Dora Hall from Melbourne, Australia, at the Galway Races. They married in London in 1913 and came to Spiddal later in the year.
With war clouds looming, my father, Michael, was born in London on July 30 1914.
War was declared on August 4, and George was able to visit his newborn son, probably infrequently, as he mobilised his troops in Wellington Barracks. He left for France with his regiment on August 12.
Landing at Le Havre he and his men travelled by train towards Belgium where they spent three days at a town called Vadencourt.
The only photograph existing of George in France was on his horse with other officers on a street corner in the town. We found that nothing had changed – it became our first photo opportunity!
They continued towards Belgium until they became part of the Retreat from Mons, following the defeat of the British in the battle there which had begun on August 23.
George’s last letter to Dora on August 28 said: “I expect you know far more about this war than I do. I know nothing. But I know I love you very, very much immensely. Love to Michael.”
Three days later he was dead, killed in the Forest of Retz where the Brigade had formed a rearguard.
See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.
World of Politics with Harry McGee
An Opposition party is a bit like an invading army trying to surmount the defences of a seemingly impregnable fortress – constantly surveying the moat, the drawbridge, the doors and the battlements to spot any weakness.
For a Government party, the chink usually reveals itself when it tries to push through a deeply unpopular policy – like, for example, the decision to bring the eviction ban to a close at the end of March.
The Government’s thinking was that, by delaying the end of it, it was storing up problems for itself. The longer it left the measure in place, the bigger the queue of landlords who wished to sell up when the restrictions were lifted, triggering a huge number of evictions.
As it was, even ending the restriction now, according to campaigners such as Peter McVerry, was going to cause a “tsunami” of evictions.
Senior Coalition figures admitted that it was going to have an impact on homelessness in the short term.
As soon as the Government announced it was lifting the ban, there was a hue and cry from the Opposition.
Several back benchers in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael expressed concern but were brought around by assurances from senior Ministers that local authorities and approved housing bodies would be given the go-ahead to buy properties from landlords who were selling up and leaving tenants in situ.
However, if there are any upsides to the move, they will not become apparent for months at the very least, by which time there could be a big spike in the homelessness figures.
From the moment the decision was made, the Green Party TD for Dublin Central Neasa Hourigan signalled she opposed the move.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Plans to develop a marine park in Conamara were dealt a major blow this week after An Bórd Pleanála refused to grant planning permission for the development.
Galway County Council had already rejected proposals by Údarás na Gaeltachta to develop Páirc na Mara on lands east of Cill Chiaráin village.
The regional authority responsible for economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht, appealed the decision to the planning appeals board but it too has refused to grant permission.
This latest decision blows a big hole in Údarás na Gaeltachta’s job creation plans for Conamara – its five-year employment strategy launched last year hinged on jobs growth from Páirc na Mara.
Reacting, in a statement to the Connacht Tribune, Údarás na Gaeltachta said it was awaiting ABP’s Inspector’s Report.
“This will help to inform how we proceed in the coming weeks. We remain committed to the Páirc na Mara project and to sustainable development and job creation in the Iorras Aithneach Gaeltacht area,” it added.
In a letter from ABP member, Chris McGarry, the Board gave two reasons for refusing the plan.
They related to the lack of information about the potential impacts of climate change; and the potential impact on water levels and the water supply in nearby water sources.
The proposal involved phase one of the continued development of a marine innovation park on a brownfield site of nine hectares, to include a number of marine-based industrial facilities and educational and applied research sites at Cill Chiaráin.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 4-27
Westmeath 1-12
Ivan Smyth at Cusack Park
GALWAY hurlers fired in 2-8 without reply in the final 15 minutes of this National League tie as they secured a flattering 24-point victory over a gutsy but outclassed Westmeath outfit.
On Sunday, Conor Cooney looked sharp as he fired over five points from play for the second game running. Daithí Burke was solid once more at centre back and even though Westmeath moved Davy Glennon on him in the second half with the aim of dragging the Turloughmore man away from goal, Burke went about his business in a typically quiet and efficient manner.
With brothers Davy and Ronan Glennon facing off on opposite sides, this was a unique occasion for the pair. Davy did fire over a point but was starved of quality ball. From a Galway perspective, Padraic Mannion and TJ Brennan were the next best in defence as the pair both grabbed a point apiece. Evan Niland was reliable from the dead ball and when he moved out from the full forward line, he was more effective in linking the play.
Galway clearly possessed the superior stickmen and never trailed but after a promising start they faded out of the game, going 11 minutes without a score. They finished the first-half strong to see their lead increase from three points after 27 minutes to nine at the break. The third quarter was sloppy from a Galway perspective as they were outscored by six points to four in the first 20 minutes of the final period before the reinforcements arrived against a tiring Westmeath.
Galway then rattled in 3-9 and conceded just a solitary point thereafter with Declan McLoughlin and Jason Flynn grabbing goals before wing back Tiernan Killeen added another late on. After a poor start in Ennis seven days prior, Galway raced out of the blocks notching five points in as many minutes.
Cianan Fahy opened the scoring after eight seconds while Brian Concannon, Liam Collins, Niland (’65) and Conor Cooney gave Galway the ideal start. Cooney could have had a goal before arrowing over but Tommy Doyle produced a brave block, one which saw him retire injured moments later.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
O’ Cuiv calls for changes to mandatory retirement age in Defence Forces
Home and Away stars excited to visit Galway city for fan Meet and Greet
Portumna murder trial jury to return to deliberations on Monday
Irish Water promises current works in Inverin will improve water supply for summer
Plans lodged for demolition of old Emergency Department at UHG
City seeks to annex Oranmore, Claregalway, Moycullen and Barna in boundary extension
Tech consultants open Galway hub
Man awarded €142,000 over unprovoked attack in toilet of County Galway pub
Woman convicted of harassing social media guru
New offering from Mercedes-Benz targets the wealthiest of customers
