April 19, 2012

Date Published: 18-Apr-2012

1912

Foreign games

On Wednesday, a meeting of the Galway Co. Board Gaelic Athletic Association was held in Athenry. The Secretary (Mr. L. Lardner) read a letter from Mr. A. C. Harty, Secretary Athletic Council, with reference to the permit applied for by the Ballinasloe Asylum Sports Committee to hold a Sports Day under the G.A.A. rules.

The Council considered that the Co. Board was acting within its province in withholding the permit, but pointed out that as the I.C.A. had disappeared from the West, even if a sacrifice had to be made, they should keep that body from again resurrecting itself in athletics in the West.

The Chairman explained that the Ballinasloe Asylum Sports Committee had applied to them for a permit to hold their sports under the G.A.A. rules, and they refused to sanction the permit owing to the action of Dr. Kirwan, the R.M.S. in fostering foreign games in the institution.

They objected to former members of the G.A.A. who became warders and attendants in the institution playing foreign games, as some all-Ireland hurlers from the county have done. He remembered being one of a deputation that waited on Dr. Kirwan, who stated that he never asked one of the officials to play hockey. The officials, he pointed out, were afforded the accommodation of Gaelic games. There was never any pressure brought to bear on them to play hockey or any foreign games.

Williamstwon UIL

A meeting was held of Williamsown U.I.L., Rev. Fr. Fallon, P.P., presiding. Following a long discussion on the Home Rule Bill, the Rev. Chairman said he would be glad to attend the National Convention and he hoped the branch would send a worthy representation if only to show their gratitude to Mr. John E. Redmond and his colleagues for having wrung from the British Government what purported to be the best measure of self-government that has hitherto been offered to the Irish people.

1937

Leprechaun found

An extraordinary report that a leprechaun had been captured at Barnaderg near Tuam has resulted in an influx of credulous visitors to the village. During last weekend, the house in which the leprechaun was stated to be held in captivity had been besieged by people, who, disappointed in their foolish quest, spread the report still further rather than admit their own simplicity.

The owner of the house told “The Connacht Tribune” Tuam correspondent how the absurd story originated. Her young son, she said, had formed a habit of putting a black kitten into a box. Other children of the village asked him what was in the box, and he said a leprechaun.

The children talked about the mysterious box and its occupant, and the report that there was a leprechaun in the house spread rapidly.

One night a youth concealed himself behind the box when some visitors asked to be allowed to see the Greasaidhe (leprechaun). They heard the words “beig amagh me” (“let me out”) coming, as they believed, from the box. When the visitors left, they were convinced that the box really contained a leprechaun.

The fantastic report continued to circulate and some of the visitors went so far as to described the “little man”. One night at 10 o’clock, four men called at the house and asked to be allowed to view the captive. They were informed that it was the joke of the village and they replied that they had cycled fourteen miles, having been told that the leprechaun had been seen in the house.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.