Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1918
Military formation
Matthew Hughes and John McNally, at a Crimes Court held by Mr. J. Byrne, R.M. at Ballinasloe, on Saturday, were charged with assisting in arranging a procession in military formation on the 21st June.
Sergeant Dempsey, replying to Mr. Lea, District-Inspector, said that on the 21st June, at 10.15pm, the fife and drum band marched to the Town Hall, where some people were assembled.
The band turned and faced the town, and a number of men fell into sections of fours. Hughes spoke to some of the parties before they fell in. Both men assisted in arranging the sections.
The Procession marched along, and McNally moved his hand, and the “fours” extended. Hughes was at the rear of the procession at the start, and subsequently at the front. McNally was in the leading section all the time. At a signal from Rev. Dr. Dignam, the parties halted at the Town Hall after parading the town. Hughes asked the Sergeant if he saw him arrange the sections of “fours”.
Witness: I saw you assist at arranging them.
Hughes denied that he assisted in arranging the sections.
District-Inspector Lea applied to have defendants returned for trial. He would not oppose bail.
Chairman (to defendants): Can you get bail?
Hughes: Yes, plenty of it.
Police jeered
A camogie match was advertised to be held at the Company’s field, Ballinasloe on Sunday, between the Ballinasloe and Portumna clubs. The promoters were informed during the week that the match could not take place without a permit. Notwithstanding the warning, the Portumna team arrived on Sunday, and immediately thirty police, under the direction of District-Inspector Lea, marched to the field and removed the goal posts. A number of young ladies who had gathered in the field returned to the town.
It is stated the match was played about a half-mile away and resulted in a win for Ballinasloe by 8 goals to 2. When returning, the police were jeered at the Town Hall. The Head-Constable gave the order to clear the street, and the crowd immediately dispersed.
1943
Harbour Board penniless!
The financial condition of the Galway Harbour Commissioners was discussed at length at their meeting today. Commissioners were informed by the Secretary, Mr. J.S. Campbell, that the bank manager had informed him that the bank would not meet any more cheques as the Board had already exceeded its sanctioned overdraft by £200.
The Commissioners were told that this meant the officials of the Board or the dock gatemen could not be paid their wages.
After a long discussion, it was decided to get in touch with the Minister by ‘phone and to afterwards interview the bank manager to see if temporary accommodation for six months could be arranged.
Holiday invasion
The invasion of Galway in great strength has begun. For weeks past, visitors have been pouring into the city from all parts of Ireland and the past week has brought great crowds from the Six Counties for a Western holiday and the Race Week Carnival.
Mr. P. Kelly, Manager of the I.T.A. Information Bureau, told our reporter that all the hotels were booked out and the demand on private accommodation was very heavy.
Never before, he said, had there been such a great influx of people from the North. The demand for the facilities afforded by his office was heavier than in the past and the demand for I.T.A. literature was very keen. The Northern visitors, he added, were delighted with the West and the courtesy and kindness of the people. The charges in hotels and boarding houses were normal, Mr. Kelly said, and no complaints had been made by hotel-keepers or visitors of any shortage of foodstuffs.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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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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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.
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1921
Theft in Renmore
At about eleven o’clock on Saturday morning two employees of Miss Behan, carrier and forwarding agent, Galway, delivering a quantity of groceries, cigarettes, etc., at the Army and Navy Stores, Renmore, were held up at the turn of the road leading into Renmore by six men who had come down from the Oranmore road.
The drivers were requested to stop the horses, and this being done, two members of the party searched the cars minutely. One of the two who had searched the cars took away a box of containing a quantity of cigarettes to the value of £30.
The drivers reported the matter on arrival at the military barracks and subsequently investigations were made but without success.
Death in pavilion blaze
Set ablaze early on Friday morning last, the pavilion at Athenry tennis and cricket ground was destroyed. Half buried in the debris on the morning following were found the charred remains of a human being.
Shortly after midnight many of the inhabitants of Athenry were awakened by the lurid flames from the north side of the town which shone all over the place. After some time, the local R.I.C. visited the place and found the pavilion had been almost gutted and gone beyond any hope of salvage.
They, however, succeeded in removing a quantity of the wool which the caretaker, Mr. P. Doherty, had stored in an adjoining shed. Delph, costly cutlery, linens and furniture to the value of £100 were reduced to ashes, as were also two sets of harness and a small sum of money, the property of the caretaker.
When the place ceased smouldering on the following day the charred remains of a human being rendered unrecognisable by the flames were found in the cellar.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
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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.
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