Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1920
Arbitration courts
Every well-meaning person in the community must welcome the arbitration courts which have been set up throughout the county to end the system of acquiring possession of lands belonging to others by methods of seizure accompanied by violence and terrorism.
These courts are an exemplification of the fact that Irishmen are inherently law-abiding and peaceable, and that under a purely Irish administration, even-handed justice would be meted out without fear or favour.
Many Unionist landholders have confidently submitted their cases to them, and in no single instance have we heard the justice of decisions challenged.
Last week, we published the Southern Unionist statement to the Government in which it was asserted that Bolshevism was spreading throughout Ireland. The treatment of Mrs Palmer, of Glenlo Abbey, was quoted in proof of this.
But Mrs. Palmer submitted her case to an arbitration court that sat in Galway last Thursday, and we do not think she has any reason to complain of its decision.
Her interests are amply safeguarded, and an accommodation founded on justice has been arrived at.
Although the Press was invited to attend Sinn Féin courts held in Galway some time ago and its representatives were requested to remain while decisions were being considered, the practice of excluding the reporters has been followed in some of the arbitration courts.
In the difficult circumstances with which the arbitrators have had to deal, we do not wish to appear censorious, but we would suggest that the presence of the Press at these tribunals affords a real safeguard to all concerned.
The record of the proceedings is the criterion by which the public can best judge. In certain circumstances, full publicity might raise difficulties, but the sooner these difficulties are overcome and the arbitration proceedings conducted in the full light of day, the better.
The Press is the greatest pillar of liberty that exists. We who claim that it should remain unfettered and who detest secret tribunals should secure as far as in us lies that justice shall be practiced in the open and that all people shall benefit by the knowledge that this is being done without fear or favour by Irishmen in Ireland.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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1923
Training ex-soldiers
A meeting of the committee of Galway Technical Institute was held on Tuesday, Mr. Eraut presiding.
The secretary, Dr. Webb, stated that there was a deputation outside from the Galway Carpenters’ Society in reference to the offer made by the Ministry of Labour to the committee to have up to 100 ex-soldiers trained in the institute in various crafts from joinery to thatching houses and making tin cans.
The difficulty he foresaw in regard to the scheme was to train maimed ex-solders and for this the Ministry of Labour was willing to give the committee 15s. per head per week. It was a money-making scheme so far as that committee was concerned, and would result in bringing a good deal of money into the city, because there would also be certain allowances for the wives and dependents.
He estimated that it would mean something like £200 or £300 per week. It was a question for the committee whether they would provide these classes. He had inquired from an authoritative source whether the training of these men would be likely to interfere with the employment of the recognised carpenter, and he was informed in the negative.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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1923
Islanders’ distress
A correspondent sends authentic particulars of distress prevailing in the Islands of Aran. There is extreme poverty in Inishmore, especially in Killeany; large numbers in the village are on the verge of starvation, kept alive by the charity of neighbours, with scarcely a healthy child amongst them.
The people own no land, notwithstanding that the Congested Districts Board has a large tract; they fish and labour when the former is profitable or practicable and when the work can be found. To-day they are without either.
Similar stories come from other island villages. Yet last October Mr. Blythe stated in the Dáil that £1,000 had been granted for the relief of distress on the islands. The money was placed at the disposal of the Galway Rural District Council, which refused to have anything to do with the scheme.
Accordingly, the grant was never made. It is alleged that the inhabitants of Inishmore have refused to pay rates, but islanders state in reply that rates were not collected for some two years, nor were demand notes issued. The whole position is so grave that it should be looked into without further delay, and we understand that all the circumstances have been referred to Deputy O’Connell for this purpose.
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.
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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.
1923
Narrow escape
A party of four men, who arrived in the village in a motor-car, engaged in a murderous attack on the barracks occupied by the unarmed Civic Guard at Ahascragh, Ballinasloe, about three a.m. on Wednesday.
Shots and bombs were fired through the windows, and some of the sleeping guards had narrow escapes from bullets, and subsequently had to dash through the petrol-inspired flames for safety.
The village is a peaceable one, and the Guards have recently been carrying out their work in it with quiet efficiency. During the recent warfare, there had been no disturbance in the neighbourhood.
The Guards retired as usual on Tuesday night, and about three a.m. on Wednesday morning they were awakened by the crash of rifles.
A moment later flames sprang up, and it was seen that the barracks had been sprinkled with petrol and fired. Bombs were first fired through the windows, then petrol was thrown in, and the place was set on fire.
The small body of four Guards found themselves compelled to seek shelter from the bullets, and then they had to make a dash to escape the flames that were springing up around them.
Sergeant Rodgers had an exceedingly narrow escape, a bullet grazing his head. Guard Grimes was sleeping beneath a window when it was broken and petrol thrown over his head.
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.
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