Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

5 years ago

February 18, 2016

Enda Cunningham

Main Street in Athenry in the early days of the last century.

1916

Appeal to farmers

In a powerful speech at yesterday’s Recruiting Conference at the Mansion House, Dublin, Mr. Redmond said they had raised from Ireland, counting the old regiments and the three new Irish Divisions, fifty-three battalions.

The towns of Ireland had done magnificently. The farmers, above all other men, had a special interest in the speedy end and victory of this war, and the idea of a Farmers’ Battalion was an admirable one.

Every day that had passed since the war commenced had convinced him more and more profoundly that the highest interest of Ireland, from the industrial, political, or from any other point of view, was the speedy and victorious ending of this war.

Women war workers

Mrs Joseph S. Young, hon. Secretary representing the Galway Ladies’ Committee, and Mrs. Donovan O’Sullivan, M.A. (sub-director of Connacht), attended a Conference called by Lady Wimborne at the Vice-regal Lodge, on the subject of desirability of co-ordinating and extending the activities already in progress amongst the women of Ireland for the ameloioration of the conditions which directly and indirectly are the outcome of the war.

The Conference was large attended by ladies who have taken prominent parts in war work throughout the country, and by representatives of the leading organisations of women workers, including the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Help Society, the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families’ Association, the Central Committee on Women’s Employment, the Women’s National Health Association, and the Ulster Ladies’ Association.

Her Excellency said that the suggestion was that a Council of War Emergency Women Workers should be formed, to which all existing societies should be invited to send a representative, for an exchange of views without interference with the work.

1941

War hospitals

The County Home, Loughrea, and the Children’s Home, Tuam, will be used as emergency hospitals in case of hostilities breaking out in the country during the present war.

Docs without fuel

Galway County Council has decided to “demand” from the Minister for Supplies sufficient petrol to enable dispensary doctors to do their business.

The doctors, said Chairman Mr. J.J. Cunningham, had a grievance. The allowance of petrol to them was totally inadequate. In Connemara and in other parts of the county, the doctors had frequently to travel long distances to patients.

Petrol substitute?

The gravity of the situation created by the petrol shortage is daily becoming more evident. Its repercussions are far flung. The inconvenience to which the general public has been subjected, serious though it is, must be regarded as of less importance that the huge addition to the ranks of the unemployed caused by the reduction in the transport services and the threat of starvation which faces areas like Connemara.

Probably many will regard as fantastic the suggestion put forward by Alderman Miss Ashe at the meeting of the Homes and Home Assistance Committee in Tuam that we should make better use of the Shannon Scheme for our transport services. A little reflection, however, should show that it is a practical proposition worthy of serious consideration by all concerned.

We hear very little of the famous Drumm Battery nowadays, but the number of trains operated by it has been doubled recently and delivery vans driven by the Drumm batteries are to be seen in steadily-growing numbers on the streets of Dublin. How is it that the principle has not been applied to omnibuses?

Seaweed transport

While seaweed is available for sale in some districts, transport problems may make the market price in many areas prohibitive.

Galway County Council’s Finance Committee on Saturday decided to have money expended on a road near Oranmore to make it suitable for the carriage of seaweed from Galway Bay.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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Galway In Days Gone By

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Galway In Days Gone By

Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

4 days ago

July 29, 2021

Stephen Corrigan

Three boys catching up on their reading at the Galway Races in Ballybrit on July 28, 1988. Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy

1921

Impure milk

Impure and dirty milk supplies do a serious injury to our population. Milk is, perhaps, the most important part of the diet of our infants, who will some day have to take their part in the work of the nation.

It is our duty to see that all forms of disease, which are likely to weaken the race by sapping its vitality, should be vigorously battled with. No form of food is so susceptible to contamination as milk, for it is a natural and complete food substance which is eminently suited to the growth of all kinds of disease germs, especially the dreaded germ which is the cause of consumption.

Unfortunately, a large percentage of our milch cows suffer from tuberculosis. The disease may not be apparent to the eye but can be easily detected by the veterinary surgeon by means of the “tuberculin test”. Milk from these cows often contains germs of the consumption which is causing such havoc and misery in Ireland.

Something must be done by public bodies to insist on the testing of suspected cows, and the frequent sampling and testing of public milk supplies. Educational authorities should urge farmers to take a personal interest in the matter and stamp out disease by keeping cowsheds sanitary and paying strict attention to cleanliness of milking.

It must be brought home to the farmer that it is his duty to produce an article which is acceptable to the public by being pure, of high quality, and free from the germs of infectious disease. It is only by working on these lines that the farmer can hope to gain the confidence of the consumer.

Races weather

Nothing is more necessary to the complete success of the Galway meeting next Wednesday and Thursday than the rainfall which is pretty general all over Ireland at present.

I learn from a reliable source that Galway is getting its quota and that the course is in good condition. This is all necessary to induce owners and trainers to send on horses, and I have no fear that runners will be plentiful on both days.

Writing as a metropolitan, I can safely predict a great attendance – one can only wish he could predict other things so surely. On all sides one hears the questions, “Are you going to Galway? Have you booked your room” and a reference to “the fun of the fair,” otherwise the Bazaar, nearly always follows.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

2 weeks ago

July 22, 2021

Stephen Corrigan

A man lies on a bed of nails at the opening of Galway Shopping Centre, Headford Road, on October 26, 1972

1921

Silence is golden

Leaders on both sides have stated that the best assistance the country can give in the making of peace is to keep silence.

During the past week there has been a great deal of speculation, most of it harmless enough, as, for instance, the enterprising American journalist’s “exclusive” on the first meeting of the British Premier and the President of the Irish Republic; much of it positively mischievous, as the case of the efforts of a certain journal, which has grown hoary in the reputation for throwing in the apple of discord, to anticipate failure in advance.

Our American colleague was on surer and on safer ground when he told of how de Valera and Lloyd George met.

“Mr. Lloyd George,” he cabled, “was sitting at his desk when the Irish President entered. For just a minute these two gazed fixedly at one another. Then the British Premier walked across the intervening space and shook de Valera by the hand. He led him to a seat where they sat side by side. The atmosphere was tense. They faced one another. Then Lloyd George reached down for a box of cigars. But the Irish President is of Spartan mould. He neither permits himself to drink nor smoke. He politely but firmly waved the box away. Mr. Lloyd George, however, selected and lighted a Havana, and as the smoke curled upwards the atmosphere became decidedly easier!”

Good planning

The wise and practical man always lays by a store against the time when supplies will be scarce. One of the most serious effects of the prolonged drought is the scarcity of supplies of fodder for cattle-feeding during the coming winter and spring.

The hay crop is not more than half the average yield. The corn crop is far below normal. Turnips in many districts are a partial failure. We have frequently emphasised the importance of growing catch-crops to supplement other feeding stuffs raised on the farm, but it is only under circumstances such as the present that their utility is brought home to farmers. Owing to the early harvest, a larger area than is usual can and should be put down this season. This would make good, to some extent, at least, the shortage of hay and other feeding-stuffs.

The demonstration plots laid down by the County Committee of Agriculture have shown that catch-crops, such as vetches and rye as well as other mixtures, can be successfully grown in all parts of County Galway.

We would urge on farmers the desirability – nay, the necessity – of procuring seed and making early preparation for the sowing of an increased area of catch-crops this season.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

3 weeks ago

July 15, 2021

Stephen Corrigan

Children dancing at the Clonbur Festival on July 5, 1980. An article in the Tribune at the time detailed how this was the fourth such festival with events covering set dancing, figure dancing, art, fishing and an old-time waltz competition.

1921

Peace at last

Hope “hath happy place” in this land of ours to-day. Those who disappoint it are the enemies not only of Ireland, but of civilisation. Before proceeding to the preliminary conference with Mr. Lloyd George at 10, Downing-street, yesterday afternoon, Mr. de Valera said that he thought the outlook for peace both from the British and Irish points of view was better than it had ever been in history.

The Irish leader would not make this statement unless he had good grounds for it. We may accept it as the confident prediction of one who has proceeded with extreme caution throughout these momentous negotiations.

Yet patient confidence in ultimate justice and patient endurance for a little are needed. There are those who would, if they could, thwart the coming of peace, but they will be borne aside by the widening will to peace, and the larger outlook that the coming of the Truce has brought.

The agony of these days that are past, as we hope for ever, is like a nightmare. Only last week, the pages of the “Tribune” told of the trials and tribulations through which the mothers and sisters of County Galway had gone. The stories related at the Quarter Sessions afforded some index of the hell of ceaseless apprehension and the dread which the women and children have had to bear for many months.

It would seem as if there could be no requital for their sorrows upon this earth. But there is sometimes a balance of justice in human affairs. To-day, as Ireland hopes and prays, this balance is about to be meted out as a common national inheritance.

The Truce has been observed in the spirit of mutual forbearance, good-will and generosity. One can conceive that the horrible conditions of the past nine months will ever be recalled. Indeed, there is no person who would desire or contrive at such an eventuality. Its very contemplation makes us fearful of the outcome of these fateful conferences.

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.