Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1916
Intemperance curse
A large and important demonstration took place in the Town Hall, Ballinasloe. The occasion was a lecture by Most Rev. Dr. Gilmartin on ‘Alcohol in other lands’.
Father Joyce, Adm., referred to the condition of temperance in Ballinasloe. Things, he said, were, on the whole, very satisfactory, but a bad impression was created on reports of proceedings in the Courts against drunkards, which did not disclose the locality from which the offenders came.
On the motion of the Bishop, the audience passed, with acclamation, a resolution calling on the publicans, if any were concerned, not to sell drink to a few women who were still bringing disgrace on the town by their periodical brawling drunkenness.
Illegal interment
At Saturday’s meeting of Galway Rural District Council, the Clerk read a letter he had received from Dr. J.J. Loftus, Spiddal, who enclosed a summons he had been served with by the Crown for attending an illegal interment.
The illegality was alleged to have taken place because he attended the funeral of a man named Thomas Keady, who died of fever, the interment taking place in a graveyward which had been closed.
The doctor stated he merely attended the funeral in the interests of the general public and he had no instructions save those of the Public Health Acts.
The Clerk said he had written to Dr. Loftus telling him to appear before the magistrates at the next Spiddal Petty Sessions, and the explain the circumstances – that his only object was to see that the remains were interred with all possible despatch, and that every necessary precaution was taken.
1941
Éire bombed
The Government Information Bureau in Dublin issued the following statement: A series of bombs were dropped in various parts of Eastern Counties last night and early this morning. Five bombs fell near Drogheda, five at Duleek and three at Julianstown. There were no casualties.
At 6.10 this morning, two bombs were dropped at Rathdown Park, Terenure Dublin. Two houses were demolished and several damaged. Seven persons were trapped in the demolished houses, but later were rescued.
Imports may cease
Dr. Ryan, Minister for Agriculture, has envisaged the probable cessation of all imports of foodstuffs for both man and beast in the near future. He said that if our people are to survive the dangers that lie ahead, all essential foodstuffs must be produced at home, and the greater part of his address consisted of an exhortation to the farmers of Ireland to do their utmost urgency.
Petrol hold-up
The petrol hold-up over the week-end gave motorists in Connemara a bad fright and caused very serious inconvenience throughout the area, where public transport services are not all that might be desired.
It should, however, serve one very necessary purpose by conveying to householders, traders and Parish Councils in Connemara some idea of the hardships that would befall the area should an emergency arise at the moment. Even during the few days’ shortage of petrol, some rural districts in Connemara ran short of foodstuffs.
Coming events cast their shadows before, and the day may not be very far distant when Connemara will wake up some morning to find itself completely isolated from all sources of essential supplies.
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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