1925

Demanding telephones

Some time ago, it was announced that a number of people in Tuam had agreed to install the telephone. What is being done about the matter?

Modern means of communication ought to exist between every western town of any importance. It will only exist if the Post Office authorities are compelled by public opinion to grant such facilities, which are of infinitely greater importance than some of the novelties we have heard so much about.

Galway County Council had agreed to install telephone in all its office, but owing to some petty dispute about the extra cost for table telephone, as distinct from wall telephones, this very useful public facility has, so far, been withheld.

One excellent thing the Post Office has done: it has established a public call office at Kilronan, Aran, so that easy communication can be had with the mainland in case of necessity, while the Civic Guards can now telephone from one island to the other.

The public everywhere will get just such facilities as they insist upon having. The Post Office is not an organisation run for profit, and whilst it would be an ideal system that under which it would pay its way, its real purpose is to facilitate the people who maintain it partly by contributing to its revenue, and partly from taxation.

1950

No gas flowing

A complete cessation of gas supplies has arisen in Galway as a result of the strike by labourers and yardmen employed by various Galway firms, including the Galway Gaslight Company, and should the strike continue for some time, there is danger of a coal famine which will affect the poorer people very severely, for they are the people who cannot afford to have stocks laid in.

A total of 222 men are involved in the strike, which was decided on at a meeting of the men on Good Friday after they had considered the decision of the Labour Court on the claim brought on their behalf for an increase of 15/- per week on their present weekly wage of £4 7s. 6d.

Pictured: President Éamon de Valera speaking to a large crowd at the opening of Coláiste Lurgan in Indreabhán on August 4, 1968.