August 30, 2012

Date Published: 29-Aug-2012

1912

Burglary at school

On Sunday night a number of small boys broke into St. Mary’s College (which had been formally opened and blessed on the previous day) but found nothing portable which they were able to take away. They then consoled themselves with drinking champagne left over by the abstentious participants of the previous evening’s lunch, and on Monday morning were found wandering about the grounds in that exhilarated state which is said to be one of the rewards of the famous French wine.

Galway Cathedral

The foundation stone of the Galway Cathedral, which, in style and splendour, is going to throw the old into the shade, will be laid on St. Patrick’s Day, 1914.

It is going to be an everlasting specimen of Irish architecture, carried to its full logical development, which it has never been yet and may be looked upon as the first authentic expression of the Romanesque school, rising up under the aegis of the new National University.

In everything but old memories, our new shrine will eclipse St. Nicholas’s. The one or two who have been permitted to see the design have been carried away in transports by its exquisite delicacy and lace-like loveliness of its frontage. Verily, they say it will be “a thing of beauty and joy forever.”

Famous visitor

Galway is to be favoured next week with a visit to the Town Hall of the great London comedian, Mr Charles Coborn, the original “Man who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo.” And the gentleman of “Two Lovely Black Eyes.”

He will be supported by a strong array of specially selected artistes, including Miss Mabel Mavis, the most wonderful lady musical entertainer in the world (direct from the London Hippodrome).

It may be mentioned that Mr Coborn was specially held in reserve to appear at the recent Royal Command performance at the Palace Theatre, London. Coming with strong credentials, Mr Coborn and his company should attract crowded houses to the Town Hall next Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Seats may be secured in advance at Miss Sweeney’s, Mainguard Street.

1937

Cemeteries a ‘disgrace’

“Ireland is the only Catholic country in the world where cemeteries are kept in a careless and disgraceful manner,” observed Most Rev. Dr. Doorly, Bishop of Elphan, prior to consecrating the new cemetery for the Strandhill (County Sligo) parish.

“I dare say all those old burial places up and down the country were at one time, consecrated with the same ceremonies we are using today,” went on his lordship. “They were placed in the neighbourhoods of religious houses, and while these houses still stood, the cemeteries were kept with scrupulous care.

After a time, the foreign invader came and drove the religious from their monasteries; the endowments for Masses were confiscated, and the care of the cemeteries handed over to the ministers of the foreign religion and afterwards to the secular power – the Boards of Health. The cemeteries were then called graveyards; the good old name of the cemetery, or sleeping place for the dead was lost.

Rat infestation

Residents in Mount Pleasant Avenue, Ballinasloe, complained to the Ballinasloe Urban Council that refuse dumped in the Duggan Memorial Park and Sports Field was causing an unbearable nuisance and asked the Council to take the necessary steps to abate it.

The complainant stated that owing to the dumping, there was a plague of rats and flies in the place and a most unpleasant odour.

Mount Pleasant Avenue adjoined the park, which was used as a football pitch and the filth in the football grounds and in a lane at Mount Pleasant Avenue should be abated in the interest of the residents’ health.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.