Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1915
Land begrudgery
At Gort Petty Sessions on Thursday, before Mr. G.E. McElroy, R.M. (presiding); Mr. O’Beirne, D.I., prosecute Frank Hartigan, Bunashragh, for assault on James Flaherty.
Mr. Flaherty deposed that he came to Gort on the market morning about 4a.m. He sold his pigs about 11a.m., and left for home about 3p.m. On the way home, he called into Kerins’ public house and saw Frank Hartigan, to whom he spoke.
Hartigan replied later, and they had an argument and went into the yard. Hartigan accused him of saying something about him when they met on the street. Defendant hit him and kicked him when he was down. William Keane, George’s-street, Gort, settled it.
Chairman: Had you no refreshment?
No; he apologised; and we are on good terms since. Witness added that defendant got some land, and said he (complainant) grudged it to him.
Chairman: The people fight when they don’t get land, and they fight when they get it. It is a good thing that defendant used his fists. It is usually a weapon of some kind that is used. A small fine will meet the case.
Mr. O’Dea (for defendant): Oh, that is absurd. A fine will not do, as he is already bound to the peace.
Mr. O’Beirne: Now we come to it; the blackguard will not keep quiet even when bound to the peace.
Mr. O’Dea: That remark is uncalled for. A country boy, not a blackguard.
Chairman: I think the comment is appropriate.
Michael Flaherty, complainant’s son, swore that Hartigan asked his father for a match. When his father had his hand in his pocket, defendant knocked him and then kicked him.
Defendant was fined 2s 6d and costs.
1940
Dance hall bombed
While a large number of people were dancing at Tiernaloughan, Shanaglish, some night ago, a terrific explosion was heard outside, and some pieces of masonry fell through the roof of the dance hall.
The lights were extinguished, and although pieces of metal shattered part of the roof and wall, no one was injured, and the dance continued for some minutes until the guards investigated.
Outside, it was found that a crude bomb had been placed under the roof and wedged into the downpipe. When this exploded, it raised part of the corrugated roof of the dance hall and left a hole in the concrete wall, as well as shattering part of the downpipe.
Pieces of metal were found embedded in the floor of the dance hall, and at the time the explosion occurred – about 11.30pm – the dance hall was full of people. How all escaped in a miracle.
James Mullins, Crusheen, who was passing the hall at the time of the explosion, was injured in the leg by flying splinters of metal. His injuries were not considered serious. Later, guards from Gort and detective officers and guards from Ballinasloe scoured the districts around Gort investigating the affair
John Brady, Inchaboy and William Loughrey, Boulaphaudeen, Shanaglish, were taken to the guards’ station at Gort, where they were detained for questioning under the provisions of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.
At Gort District Court on Saturday, before Mr. W.P. Cahill, D.J., John Brady and William Loughrey were charged with causing malicious damage to property and remanded to the next district court at Gort.
Mr. Counahan, solr., applied for bail on behalf of the accused, Which Supt. O’Halloran, Gort, opposed. The accused were remanded in custody to May 4 and taken to Limerick Prison.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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.
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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.
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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.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
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.
1923
State of the parties
Speculation as to parties after the next Irish elections is exceedingly interesting, especially in view of the enlarged franchise.
In Dublin, the view appears to be held by a number of people that Labour will make a great bid for power.
Dublin, however, has a curiously insular habit of thought where matters that concern all Ireland and in which Ireland has a say are concerned. We hope this insularity will rapidly disappear under the new conditions.
The country as a whole is backing the Farmers’ Party, and has not the smallest doubt that it will be the strongest combination in the next Dáil, and that it will oust the purely political parties, the one because it has resorted to force, the other because it has been compelled to use force to supress force, and the Labour Party because Ireland feels that at the back of its policy lurks the danger of Communism.
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.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
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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