Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

3 years ago

March 22, 2018

Enda Cunningham

Participants in the Clarenbridge Fancy Dress competition in April 1967.

1918

Strange story

A strange report which comes from a village near Loughrea says that last week, a baby declared in a clear voice half-an-hour after its birth that there would be dreadful battles soon, and that the war would end in April, without a decisive result, and died soon afterwards.

‘Black Rain’ in Connemara

A curious phenomenon is reported from Connemara in a fall of black rain. A lady resident at Rosscahill, writes that on last Wednesday, black rain fell in that district. A bucket into which it fell, she states, was twice rinsed out, and each time the rain, as it fell was of this dark colour.

There appeared to be no sediment, but as if the rain itself was black. Several householders at some distance also noticed it. About a year ago, the same thing occurred, and clothes spread out to bleach had to be rewashed. There are no factory chimneys anywhere near to account for it.

Great Prelate’s death

We announce with profound regret the death of Most Rev. Dr. John Healy, Archbishop of Tuam, which occurred at the Palace, Tuam on Saturday morning, at 5 o’clock. The distinguished Prelate had been in failing health for the past few years, and in October 1916, His Grace’s condition grew worse, necessitating his confinement to the palace.

He rallied at intervals, but only for short periods, and on Wednesday, a serious change for the worse came. From that day it was evident that he was rapidly sinking and on Saturday morning, he peacefully passed away.

1943

Salthill Pavilion

The action of the Salthill Citizens’ Association in securing a lease of The Dance Pavilion (“The Hangar”) for a year from next September is indicative of the energy and enterprise that is eventually going to put the seaside suburb prominently on the tourist map with, or without the assistance of the I.T.A. and the I.T.B. [Irish Tourist Association and Irish Tourist Board].

If the town organisations mentioned with this alphabetic brevity are inclined to be too dictatorial as to the manner in which the Salthill of the future should develop, or too laggard in lending their assistance, it looks as if the Salthill Citizen’s Organisation could be relied upon to do the job with complete satisfaction to all concerned.

Nobody here wants Salthill to be exploited on the lines of Blackpool or Margate, but we really fail to see why there should be an objection to a typical seaside resort pier with a pavilion on the end of it. The pier is badly needed if the place is to develop materially, and if we are going to build a pier, it might as well be designed to bring in all the money possible. There is no use in building a sort of concrete boat slip and expecting marvellous benefits to result from it.

Notice to readers

Owing to shortage of newsprint, it is necessary to curtail the number of copies of our papers printed to absolute requirements. We would, therefore, as readers, in order to avoid disappointment, to place a standing order for The Connacht Tribune and The Connacht Sentinel with their newsagents.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

1 week 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.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

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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.