Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

5 years ago

November 15, 2018

Stephen Corrigan

1918

Great War ends

The section of people in this country who, purely for political motives, cultivated as one of their many delusions, the belief that the Central Empires were invincible, the news that came to hand on Monday morning seemed almost incredible.

Yet so it was: victory for the Allies, and the unconditional surrender of Germany. So the armies on the field had long believed it would be; so those who have had the opportunity of studying the conditions on the western front at first hand have repeatedly stated, although few of the many who spoke and wrote on the war anticipated until a few weeks ago that the end was so nigh.

Loughrea influenza attack

A number of residents in the town have been attacked by influenza, and during last week nine deaths occurred from pneumonia. The victims include Mr. John Flynn, son of Mr. M. Flynn, Dunkellin-st; Mrs. M. Tierney, Galway-rd.; Mrs. T. Naughton, Abbey-st; and the Misses Nellie and Delia Cunnaire, Church-st., who were interred on the same day. Their father, Mr. John Cunnaire, has since died. Among the sufferers are five of the local clergy, the Master of the Workhouse, and three hospital nurses.

On Friday evening the remains were conveyed from Dublin for internment at Killeenadeema of Miss Nellie Flynn, daughter of Mr. M. Flynn, Cahercrea, who contracted influenza while engaged at business in the city. There are no fresh cases reported and the epidemic appears to be on the wane.

Mistreated mule

At Galway Petty Sessions on Monday before Messrs. J. Kilbride and J. B. K. Hill. R.Ms – Constable Cullen charged Thomas Roche, a rag dealer, stated to hail from Athlone, with working a mule while suffering from sores.

There were three sores, one of which appeared to come into contact with the shaft of the ear. The animal was in an ill-fed condition. Mrs. Shewell, Hon. Secretary, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, stated that she purchased the animal for two pounds, and in consequence of its delicate condition she had it shot. – Defendant was fined 40s.

1943

Poteen haul

Thanks to Sergeant O’Flaherty, Gortmore, there will be about twenty gallons less of poteen in circulation on the Christmas market this year. According to his evidence at Spiddal Court on Tuesday, where Peter Nee, Derryrush, was charged under the Illicit Distillation Act, the Sergeant found Nee in a still-house in front of a still with all preparations made for “a run.” The material in the still-house would make twenty gallons of poteen. Nee pleaded guilty and was fined £6 to be paid within two months.

Another interesting poteen case at Spiddal Court on Tuesday was one in which the defendant was a woman named Mrs. Peg Folan, of Inisherk, Lettermore.

Garda Gibbons, Lettermore, said that on July 15th he and Garda Kinnealy paid a surprise visit to Inisherk.

As they approached Mrs. Folan’s house they saw a boy standing at the gable apparently keeping a look-out. They next saw a woman running towards the shore. About fifteen yards from the house was a stable from which they noticed smoke. Inside the stable they found everything ready for the making of poteen. Mrs. Folan subsequently admitted ownership of the still and other things found in the stable.

Mr. M. Conroy, solicitor, defending, said that Mrs. Folan’s husband was in England and she was a very poor woman.

Deputy District Justice J. P. O’Reilly imposed a fine of £6 to be paid within three months.

Parental responsibility

His Lordship the Most Rev. Dr. Browne, Bishop of Galway, stated at the annual meeting of the Galway Branch of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (of which he is Patron) in the G.S.R. Hotel, Eyre Square, on Wednesday afternoon that at the present time there was a greater need than ever for the society.

The increased need, his Lordship said, was due in the first instance to the absence of many fathers either in the Army or across the water, and in the second to a decline in the acceptance of parental responsibility and a loss of interest in children.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

5 days ago

June 1, 2023

Stephen Corrigan

A group of young people sitting on PJ Ruane's horse cart off New Road near the canal in Parkavara, Galway City in 1985.

1923 – The impact of war

It is just nine years since the news of the European War fell upon a Galway gathering to celebrate Race Week. The banks closed, international credit and stability rocked upon their foundations.

True, the waves of that terrible conflict broke harmlessly enough upon our shores; our farmers and our few manufacturers grew opulent by supplying John Bull with food and clothing for the war, a few of our towns benefited by a temporary, if fickle and untrustworthy, increase in trade.

But that evening in 1914 marked the beginning of a period during which the progress of ordinary business sense was impossible.

The intervening nine years have not been wasted years: they have been rich with gain to Ireland; they will yield greater wealth in the future if only all of us, putting personal vanities or the desire for political domination aside, will work for the honour and glory of Ireland, material as well as punctual.

One useful way in which this can be done immediately is by brightening our towns, making them put on a cheerful and attractive summer garb, keeping our streets and alleyways bright and clean. In Galway there is little encouragement to do this, for deserts of dust and limestone grit lie upon the streets and are the sport of every wind that blows.

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

May 18, 2023

Stephen Corrigan

Some of the attendance at the opening of the new school in Ballymacward on June 24, 1974.

1923

Gloom after war

The special correspondent of the “Independent”, who has been writing of the aftermath of civil war in the West, notes that a feeling of apathy, due to the uncertainty of events, exists amongst the sorely-tried people of Connemara; that politics are referred to only with disgust and that not more than fifty per cent. of the people would vote at a general election; that poverty and unemployment are rife, and there is a growing tendency towards emigration; and that there are bitter complaints of the huge impost of rates and taxes.

It is only too true that there is enough of material for the pessimist to brood over, and that a feeling of gloom permeates country towns. But it is a poor tribute to patriotism that has survived such horrors to encourage this gloom.

It is the duty of all of us to get this pessimism out of the national body and to rid ourselves of the notion that we have not enough Christianity and moral sense left to restore our people to cheerful and ordered progress and industry.

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.

Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

4 weeks ago

May 11, 2023

Stephen Corrigan

Nurses on strike on May 10, 1980, protesting a sub-standard pay offer. Around 700 nurses took part in the protest, hitting services at Gawlay Regional Hospital where only emergency cases were being admitted.

1923

Peace negotiations

As we go to press, An Dáil is discussing the Peace negotiations between the Government and Mr. de Valera. It was announced on Wednesday for the first time that such negotiations were begun following Mr. de Valera’s “cease fire” proclamation of April 27, and that by the 30th of the month Senators Andrew Jameson and James Douglas were asked by him to discuss proposals.

They said it was for the Government to discuss; they could only confer. Into the ensuring conferences the Government declined to enter personally, but on May 3 the senators placed before Mr. de Valera the Cabinet’s terms, which were that future issues should be decided by the majority vote of the elected representatives of the people, and that as a corollary and a preliminary to the release of prisoners, all lethal weapons should be in the custody and control of the Executive Government.

Mr. de Valera relied to this on May 7 with a document in which he agreed to majority rule and control of arms, but added that arms should be stored in a suitable building in each province under armed Republican guard until after the elections in September, that the oath should not be made a test in the councils of the nation, and that all political prisoners should be released immediately on the signing of this agreement.

“You have brought back to us,” wrote President Cosgrave, “not an acceptance of our conditions, but a long and wordy document inviting debate where none is possible”.

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.