Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

8 years ago

July 3, 2013

Enda Cunningham

1913

Man arrested

On Saturday night last, or early on Sunday morning, a shooting outrage occurred at Hearnsbrook House, Killimore, the residence of Mr. George McPhail, an extensive land owner in the district and a large employer of labour.

It appears Mr McPhail heard shots that morning, and having called the butler, examined the place.

On Monday, it was visited by District-Inspector Harrison and Sergt. Hynes, who found the drawingroom window smashed, and the traces of gunshot on the wall inside.

The same evening, a young man named Killeen was arrested and remanded for days. It is alleged the outrage has nothing to do with agrarian troubles, as recently there were differences amongst the employees in the place.

R.I.C. more pay

A largely-attended meeting in furtherance of demanding more pay for the R.I.C. was held at Loughrea Barracks. Members of the force attended from all outlying stations, all ranks being represented.

Resolutions were proposed and adopted with a view to memoralising the Lord Lieutenant and bringing the grievances of the men under the notice of the Government.

The men were unanimous in affirming that nothing less than 1s. a day of an increase would remedy the existing grievance. The promoters hope that other counties and districts will take up the same attitude in this respect as Loughrea has done.

1938

Hospital Gala Day

Ballinasloe Asylum medical staff, with the cooperation of the attendants and nurses, provided an attractive gala day for the patients at the hospital grounds, when between 800 and 900 patients, male and female, were entertained by a programme of sports, races, music, and later in the evening, an enjoyable concert.

The attendants staff met teams in football and camogie from Mullingar Mental Hospital, and the Ballinasloe brass band and the boys’ town band turned out and played a programme of musical items throughout the day.

Water shortage

The shortage of a regular water supply to the new houses at Tubberjarlath, Tuam, is a cause of some complaint, and as the existing water pump and pressure is apparently insufficient to ensure a full supply of water to that part of the town, the question of getting an auxiliary pumping engine somewhere about Tobernamie is being considered. The cost of such an auxiliary scheme, will be about £5,000.

Fishing activity

Signs of renewed fishing activity are evident at Cleggan pier where now lie two large trawlers of the Bristol type, owned by the Western Ocean Fishing Company. Although weather conditions at the moment are not all that might be desired, Mr. V.R. King, representative of the company was most optimistic when interviewed by a “Connacht Tribune” reporter.

He is arranging to carry out experiments with a view to locating new fishing grounds off the West coast. In this connection, he expressed deep gratitude to many local people with knowledge from the coast who had given valuable information by which he hopes to profit considerably in his experiments.

Mr. King carried out some investigations in the Dublin fish market last week and found to his surprise that foreign dumped fish were sold out by some salesmen before any Irish fish were offered, this placing the latter fish at a disadvantage.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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.