Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By

1918
Teachers will strike
“We endorse the action taken by our C.E.C. in connection with the demand for Civil Service war bonuses, and we pledge them our whole-hearted support and co-operation.”
This was the principal resolution passed at a meeting of the Co. Galway branch of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation held at the Town Hall, Galway, on Saturday, under the Chairmanship of Mr. P.J. Parker, D.C. (Ballinasloe), County President.
The gathering was one of the most momentous ever held by the Co. Galway Association. Despite a persistent downpour, it was attended by 100 teachers, male and female, every district of the county being represented; and a quiet, earnest determination was displayed throughout the proceedings.
Tribune in Manxland
The wide circle of readers enjoyed by the ‘Connacht Tribune’ and its reputation amongst advertising firms are illustrated by the following communication received by Mr. P.J. Byrnes, Galway, the popular representative in the west for Messrs. Clune’s tobacco manufacturers, Limerick, from Mr. J.T. Foulis, Ramsey, Isle of Man: “Having often noticed your advertisement in the ‘Connacht Tribune’ re Clune’s Limerick tobacco, I would like to try a sample of Sarsfield plug, for which I enclose P.O.”
1943
Prom widening
After a valuer from Dublin had valued the lands adjoining the promenade at Salthill offers would be made to the land owners, and if these were rejected steps would be taken to acquire the land compulsorily.
Mr. C.I. O’Flynn, Co. Manager, told the Corporation on Wednesday that this procedure would be adopted for the purpose of carrying out the big road widening scheme at Salthill, which is estimated to cost £17,800, and on which it is proposed to start work within the next few months.
He maintained that to carry out the scheme on the seaward side of the promenade would involve bigger costs, and that the acquisition of the foreshore would hold up the scheme.
Quarry Danger
Mr. P. Cooke suggested at Saturday’s meeting of the Galway County Council that the old quarry adjoining Maunsell’s Road, Galway, should be made a dumping ground and filled in, as in its present unprotected state, it was a source of danger to children – many families now resided in the locality. The Co. Manager said that the quarry was situated on private property and some of the residents in the district might object to dump. He promised to consider the suggestion.
Farmers in slum conditions
Many small farmers – they should be classed as labourers rather than farmers – lived in conditions which were much worse than those prevailing in slum areas, Mr. R.M. Burke told Galway Co. Council. He urged that they should be considered in post-war planning by the local authority.
He noticed that while the Co. Manager had made provision for the building of about 120 new slum houses to relieve congestion in slum areas, he had not put forward any proposal for the provision of houses for small farmers.
Many farmers who were trying to elsewhere cut their living on very small farms were just as much in need as the dweller of a slum area in the city.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By

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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Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By

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.
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Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By

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.
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