February 16, 2012

Date Published: {J}

1912

Birthday milestone

Within view and hearing of the deep sounding Atlantic waves, in the village of Aillebrack, some eight miles from Clifden, is the cottage home of Thomas Malley, a respectable farmer who has just completed his 106th year. In the same house, his father and grandfather have lived and died.

Comforted and cared for by many members of his family, a son is now qualified for the old age pension, and the great grandchildren are attending a local school. Still hale and hearty, there is a prospect of many more Connemara winters before him, his only physical defect being a little deafness.

Ever active in his habits and an early riser, Malley is now much concerned in the progress of his spring work and has given directions to procure a certain class of new spade.

Licensing case

At Milltown Petty Sessions on Tuesday, District-Inspector Fitzgerald, Dunmore, prosecuted Mrs. Giblin, licensed publican, Pollaturick, Milltown, for a breach of the Licensing Act. Four men named Michael Feerick, Martin Feerick, Thomas Feerick and Patrick Keely were charged with being on the premises.

Thomas Feerick, in reply to Mr Hosty, solr., stated that after the remains of his mother were brought to the chapel he and his cousins and Keely came to Giblin’s public house.

They knocked at the kitchen door, Mr. Giblin opened it, and witness asked him for the car to take the remains to the graveyard. Mr. Giblin promised to give the car. Martin Feerick came in and asked for a drink, saying that he was after coming home from England that morning and Martin and he went to get a drink. Witness, with the others, went out. There was nothing said about getting a gallon of porter.

After legal arguments, the Bench consulted, and the Chairman announced that by a majority the cases were dismissed. He considered there should be a conviction.

1937

Arson attempt

Another attempt at an outrage on the Lord Gough estate has been reported. This time it was frustrated through the vigilance of the guards. While patrolling, the vicinity of the estate a few evenings ago, the Gardaí discovered some smouldering sacks around the entrance gates on the Ennis-Limerick Road. The sacks were found, on further investigation, to be saturated with petrol or paraffin, and it was obvious that an attempt had been made to set them alight.

It seemed from the appearance of the sacks and the scene that those who had placed them there had been interrupted in their work while attempting to set them alight and that they heard the Garda patrol. Escape is easy, as the place is deeply wooded in parts. The sacks, which were smouldering, showed that the attempt at lighting them was recent.

For some years, there have been periodic attempts at making trouble on the estate; there were some recent attempts and shooting and other lesser attempts on the estate lands from time to time. The guards’ strength had been more than doubled in the district; there are now over 20 Gardaí.

The normal strength in Gort station was six men and a sergeant. Recently the strength of the local Gardaí has been supplemented by extra members of the Detective division from Ballinasloe headquarters and other districts.

There are over 2,000 acres on the estate and there has been agitation to have it divided for years. This is believed to be the cause of the many attempts made there recently – none of them serious. Some months ago, shots were fired from a distance at the house of a local farmer, who, some time previously, had transactions regarding the purchase of lands on this estate.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.