Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1916
Sheltering in the Roads
The roadsteads of Galway bay presented a rather crowded appearance this week. This was owing to the excessive inclemency of the weather, many units of the Bay fishing fleet sheltering in the Docks. On Monday night it blew a gale that almost rose to a storm, and while Tuesday was calm, Wednesday night, especially the latter half, was scarcely less tempestuous. For almost a fortnight the weather has been as consistently and severely wet as the “oldest inhabitant” need care to recall, and, altogether, it appears as if we are in for an early and severe winter.
Accident on Dominick Street
The Galway County Council engine, crusher and van met with an accident at the head of Dominick-street on Saturday morning, which somewhat impeded the traffic, especially the tram traffic, for a considerable time.
The tram had crossed O’Brien’s bridge and was about to proceed down Dominick-street when, opposite Mr. P.J. Gallagher’s licensed premises, one of the right-hand wheels came out at the crusher, which implied a general breakdown.
The vehicles were partly over the tram track at the time. Mr. P.J. McCarthy, Manager of the Tram Company, was quickly on the scene, and Co. Council officials were speedily sent for. It was some considerable time before the passage was thoroughly cleared.
1941
Grattan land endangered
Galway Corporation on Thursday decided to have notices erected on the foreshore in the borough area warning persons that the removal of sand from the foreshore would involve prosecution, and to proceed against all offenders in future.
The cutting away of a large part of the sand and gravel bank south of Grattan Lodge had the effect of allowing the tides to sweep away portion of the land and that would eventually endanger the house.
The Guards took numbers of names of offenders, but no legal action was taken. Probably due to the slackness of building activities, less material was removed during the past two years, but for some reason quite recently large quantities were being removed right up against the land fences of Grattan Lodge.
A Guard arrested a man as he was coming out of the road and, no doubt, reported the matter.
‘Disgraceful’ Eyre Square
After hearing the view expressed that the lavatories at Eyre Square should not be closed as early as 8p.m. as was done in past winters and that the lavatories in Salthill should not be closed before the end of October, the Galway Corporation decided to Keep Eyre Square lavatories open until 9p.m. during the winter.
Mr. Faller remarked that he did not know if the attendant at the men’s lavatory was confined to looking after the lavatory or if his duties extended to looking after the Park. The Park was in a disgraceful condition during the summer. About three weeks ago it was evident that the Park was not receiving attention.
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.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
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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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