August 4, 1991

Date Published: 04-Aug-2011

1911

Drowning rescue

On last Friday as a hooker from Oranmore was proceeding under full sail to Ballynahown for a load of turf, it was caught in a sudden squall, and sunk immediately in Galway Bay, close to the Castle Point at Inverin.

The occupants of the boat were two brothers named Pat and Michael Barnangham,

of Illauniddy, and both were unable to swim, but as the boat was sinking, they managed to secure an oar each, which they placed under their arms, and by this means kept afloat.

Their cries for help came to the attention of Bartley Conneely and Martin McDonagh, who were lobster-fishing in the vicinity, and they immediately rowed their canoe to their assistance of the drowning men, who were by this time in a very exhausted state.

Owing to the fragility of the canoe, the men could not be taken into it. A rope was therefore cast to each man, and they were towed along, eventually being put on board a hooker going to Costello Bay, where they subsequently landed safely.

Were it not for the courage and coolness displayed by Conneely and McDonagh, there is not the slightest doubt that those two men would be drowned. It is hoped that the Royal Humane Society will grant a reward to both men for their gallant and heroic conduct on the occasion.

1936

Galway treasure

A remarkable story relating to gold and precious stones having been placed on the coast of Galway was told at Kilkenny, when George Skelkings, aged about 30, was charged with having obtained £3 from a traveller by false pretences, and also with being an alien who had landed in this country contrary to the Aliens Order.

District Justice O’Shea dismissed the first charge, and applied the Probation Act on the charge of being an alien, with a view to the circumstances being reported to the Alien authorities.

The traveller, in evidence, stated that Skelkings said he was born in Galway, and when two years old went to Russia and lived through the revolution, after which he went to Finland. He said he had been in the Russian Air Force.

Defendant said that when he was finished his course in the Russian Air Force, he was detailed by his commander to place a certain amount of money on the coast of Galway, the idea being that the owner of the money was afraid that Russia would overpower England at that time, and that he wanted to get to America.

Later, in Kilkenny, defendant made a suggestion about going to Galway, and witness sent him £3.

1961

Racing history

The accents of half a dozen nations intermingled with those of the home racing fraternity when the three-day Galway Race meeting got underway at Ballybrit on Tuesday and was highlighted by the Players’ Navy-Cut Amateur Handicap where J.R. “Bunny” Cox made racing history by bringing home 100 to 8 shot, Old Mull, half a length clear of Hunch and Don’t Comment.

Plate Day was again the day of greatest spectacle and a heart-warming day for the punters who had made Clipador favourite. Bright sunshine and colourful frocks, costumes and millinery made it a gaily fashionable occasion. Rain washed the colour from Hurdle Day, but there was nevertheless a big rain-coated attendance.

All in all, this was the greatest race meeting held at famed Ballybrit. It was an occasion of tote and attendance records and excellent fields in keen contest, but apart from exceptions like Clipador, it was not a money-making meeting for punters.

1986

Traveller hardstands

At least five hard stands for itinerants to be provided in immediate city areas – that’s the key recommendation in a blueprint unveiled this week in an effort to finally resolve the contentious traveller accommodation problem in Galway.

The plan, put before city councillors who were meeting behind closed doors on Tuesday, reportedly paves the way for sites to be agreed upon this month.

Pool hazard

Allegations that the pool at Leisureland is dirty and dangerous have been dismissed by both the Manager and the Chairman of the Board of the centre, following incidents after which two people had to be hospitalised in the past week.

In one case a person had to be given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation by one of the lifeguards because there was no oxygen in the oxygen cylinder. In the second, a man who got into difficulty and was lying at the bottom of the pool almost went unnoticed because the water was so cloudy.

For more articles from our archive see Days Gone By in this week’s Tribune