December 30, 2009

Date Published: {J}

Pig problem

The townspeople of Athenry have a serious grievance in connection with the pig markets, and the sooner this grievance is remedied the better, if the people are not to go back to Paganism.

It has been the custom of the country people for some time past to bring in their pigs to Athenry the night previous to the fair or market, and some of the shopkeepers give stabling to their country customers and friends.

 On Sunday last, it was lamentable from a religious point of view to see the large number of country carts which arrived in town for Monday’s pig market. While the country farmers are to blame for this irreligious practice those in town who encourage them by giving them stables are far worse, and doubly guilty for disturbing the people of the town on Sundays and holidays, which happen to precede fair days.

Another matter which occupies a prominent place in the minds of the townspeople is the manner in which the fairs and pig markets are conducted. The outside public would scarcely believe that a pig fair was in full swing at midnight on Sunday, and any of the businesspeople were compelled to stop up all nght. The fair was over, so far as buying and selling is concerned, at 2 o’clock in the morning, and the country people are all tied away from the town at 8 o’clock a.m.

These fairs are, therefore, no good from a business point of view, and the rule made some years ago of not permitting buying to take place until 8 o’clock in the morning should be strictly enforced.

 Clifden penalties

At the last meeting of Clifden Guardians, the following resolution, proposed by Mr. John D’Arcy, was carried unanimously – “That we, the Clifden Board of Guardian instruct our Clerk to obtain a copy of the Lord Chief Baron’s judgment in the case of the appeal of the Board of Richmond Asylum against the surcharge of the auditor”.

This has arisen owing to the fact that the auditor has already surcharged the Clifden Guardians in the matter of contracts where they had not accepted the lowest tender, and a further surcharge is threatened for the same cause, although the judgment above referred to states that the opinions of public bodies who are entrusted with the disbursement of public monies should be supreme, and that they need not accept the lowest tender, and that no auditor or other person can compel or coerce them to do so.

Town Hall opening

It has been announced by Monsignor McAlpine, P.P., that the Town Hall, Clifden, will be formally opened on January 6, when His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Healy, Archbishop of Tuam, will be present, together with that eminent historian and scholar – Dr. D’Alton – by whom a lecture will be delivered. It is also expected that a few of our M.P.s will be present.

 1935

Cinemagoers spoilt

Picturegoers are being well catered for at Galway’s cinemas this week.

On Tuesday and Wednesday nights “A Cup of Kindness” was screened in Galway’s new super cinema, the Savoy and was a sparkling comedy, guaranteed a laugh bringer.

Christmas rates

The collection of rates in County Galway during the Christmas week showed a decided improvement as compared with the collection during the corresponding week last year.

At the weekly meeting of the Finance Committee of the Galway County Council, Mr Martin Quinn, chairman, presiding, said the rates collected during the week amounted to £2,062 as compared with £960 during Christmas week 1933.

The total collected to date was £61,973 or 32.6 per cent.

 Suicide charge

At Galway Circuit Court on Wednesday, before his lordship, Judge Wyse Power, a man from Tiernea, Lettermore, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted suicide by throwing himself into the sea on November 15, 1934.

His lordship said he believed the accused did not know what he was doing at the time through drink and would therefore discharge him.

Christmas boom

“Business in Galway during the few days prior to Christmas Day was better and brisker than it was during any Christmas advent of recent years.” This is the expressed opinion of many Galway businessmen, but none ventured to offer a reason for the improvement.

A week before Christmas market prices held on the same level as those ruling prior to the previous Christmas and business was not all that might be expected in the shops. The only improvement in prices at the markets came with a strong demand for turkeys on Wednesday.

The improvement in shopping business was noticeable in every section of trade – drapery and millinery, grocery and fancy trade etc., and the range of purchases outside the type of articles generally purchased for gifts was extensive.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.