February 10, 2011

Date Published: {J}

1911

Kilcahill sensation

A sensational occurrence is alleged to have happened on Sunday night last at Kilcahill, near Tuam, in Cummer sub-police district. From the special court proceedings arising out of it and held in Tuam on the following day, it is alleged that a revolver shot was fired at three police who left Tuam on patrol duty at about 7 o’clock on Sunday evening.

After remaining some time within the vicinity of the house of John Burke, who resides at Currandrum and is under police protection, the police patrol proceeded along the road in the direction of Tuam. After passing Corrandrum school house, a horse and car on which there were six passengers was met, and immediately it had passed the police transport car, the report of a revolver shot was heard.

The police immediately turned round in pursuit of the car they had passed which trotted away quickly. The chase was continued as far as Annaghdown where four young men were arrested.

Shot dead

Patrick Sheehan, a herd and small farmer of Drumacoo, was shot dead at about half-past eight last night as he was on his way home from Kilcolgan. The fatal shot was fired from the Tyrone demesne wall, which is over six feet high. Sheehan fell to the ground, and when found afterwards was quite dead, a gun-shot wound being found in his right temple. It is believed that death was instantaneous.

Sheehan, who holds some land, and is also a herd, has been boycotted for a considerable time. He was carrying his food home for the night when he was shot and the parcel was subsequently found grasped tightly in his hands. Four men were later arrested for the murder.

Killimore eviction

A special meeting was held on the 5th inst. for the purpose of discussing the contemplated eviction of Michael Flannery, Sismihil, by John Donohoe, Heathlawn. The eviction would be as ill timed as it is repugnant to the Nationalist sentiment. The constructive policy has displaced the destructive in this parish. We have had a breathing space here for some time past, and it would be infortunate to have eviction scenes again renewed.

1936

Ballinasloe hospital

The Local Government Department wrote to the Galway County Board of Health with reference to the proposal to build a district hospital in Ballinasloe, stating that the Board of Health should advertise for an architect of experience, the fees payable to be the usual professional fees. The Board decided that Messrs. J. Gannon, B.E., and M. Sweeney be appointed engineers, both men being willing to call in an approved architect.

Regarding the selection of a site for the hospital, the secretary said he had received a letter from the Local Government Department stating that persons offering land should be expected to state the price expected.

Rumour denied

The rumour that the Galway Industrial School at Lower Salthill is to be closed and the boys transferred to the Letterfrack school has been denied by the community of the Irish Christian Brothers by whom the school is conducted. A Connacht Tribune representative who visited the school was informed that the suggestion of a transfer was not made at any time by anyone connected with the school and that there was no foundation whatsoever for the rumour. The Commission appointed to investigate the industrial school system in the Free State have not yet made their report.

Knock claims

Most. Rev. Dr. Gilmartin, Archbishop of Tuam, has had forwarded to the Holy See a copy of the recently published book on the Shrine at Knock, Co. Mayo, by District Justice W.D. Coyne. The book will be translated into Italian and placed before the Congregation of Sacred Rites, to whom His Grace is also submitting the other necessary documents and data.

Mrs. Mary O’Connell, of Knock, one of the two surviving witnesses who claim to have seen the apparition of the Blessed Virgin outside the little Church of Knock on August 21, 1879, is at present seriously ill.

Prior to her illness, she made a sworn statement before a Commissioner of Oaths, in which she again related her story of the Apparition.

Her account is similar to the one she had given many times when interviewed, but in concluding the sworn statement she said: “I am quite clear about everything I have said, and I make this statement knowing that I am going before God.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.