1925

The price of health

At the monthly meeting of the County Galway Board of Health on Wednesday, May 27, the possibility of closing down some of the medical services in the county owing to the serious financial position in which the board finds itself was discussed.

The secretary, Mr. Gallagher, read the following letter which had been addressed by the secretary of the County Council to the Local Government Department, and to which there was no reply:

“I am directed by the County Council to send herewith letter from Mr. J. J. Hanafin, dated 27th April, relative to the finances of the County Homes and Home Assistance Committee; letter from Mr. J. Gallagher, relative to the finances of the Board of Health; letter and telegram from the R.M.S. and chairman, respectively, at the Mental Hospital, requesting sanction to an advance of £10,000 by way of overdraft. the power to sanction overdrafts does not lie with the County Council, and in any event, it is unlikely in view of recent correspondence with the Council’s treasurer, that any further accommodation by way of overdraft can be obtained.

“The Council’s loan commitments have been largely increased owing to the provision of a loan of £74,000 under the Rates on Agricultural Land Act and to the transfer of the Council of liability for union and dispensary loans.”

1950

Abuse of horns

The Whitsun holiday was not outstandingly successful from the point of view of the weather, but it did nevertheless attract to the tourist areas, and especially the West, a notable number of visitors.

The arrival of June, and the ending of petrol rationing in Britain, which, presumably, will soon be followed by its formal ending here, should result in a steadily increasing influx, which will include a great proportion of people driving their own cars.

This fact makes it timely to draw attention once again to the use and abuse of motor horns. There are still far too many drivers who believe that they are bound to give a loud blast on the horn at every street corner, particularly in towns with narrow streets such as Galway.

This, they fondly believe, is the one and only thing they must do to avoid responsibility for any accident. The result is that persons working in shops or offices near street corners are driven almost demented the noise.

Pictured:  Prizewinners at the Galway Camera Club annual awards presentation on May 19, 1984. From left: Des Toal, Chairman of the club who won the Whelan Trophy for advanced colour slide (Galway Camera Club), Jean Claude Alliot from Claregalway, first prize winner in the people section (open, slide), and Dermot Lanigan from Roscommon who won the Christy’s Cup for his colour print (any subject, open).