February 28, 2013

Date Published: 27-Feb-2013

1913

Sheep scab

At Athenry Petty Sessions, Sergt. Maher summoned a defendant for failing to notify the prevalence of scab in his sheep. The complainant deposed that on February 1st he found 14 sheep suffering from scab. Some of them were getting better, and the wool was coming off a number of them.

Chairman: Is he a big farmer? – He is not.

Chairman: Why didn’t the defendant give notice? – I asked him the question, and he said he was doing his best to cure them. I caught him in the act of dressing the sheep.

The complainant mentioned there was a second case against another farmer whose land adjoined the defendant’s in the previous case. He found six sheep, the property of the defendant (John Ward), suffering from scab. Two were recovering and four were really bad. Defendant had sixty-five sheep altogether.

Defendant stated that he did not know it was obligatory on him to report the matter to the police.

Chairman: The public must be protected. – a fine of 10s and costs was imposed in each case.

1938

Bombing of slums

In a discussion on their proposed new housing scheme at Ballinasloe Urban Council, the Chairman, Mr. Michael Connolly, said the clearing of these sites would be costly. He saw in a newspaper where in England councils were asking the aero clubs to clear, or bomb, old slum dwellings, just for practice for the airmen.

He wondered if it would be advisable to ask the Irish Aero Club to clear Ballinasloe’s old slums in the same way. It would be a cheap way of getting them done (laughter).

Modern day ‘evils’

Present-day social dangers are referred to in the Lenten Pastoral Letters read in the churches throughout Ireland on Sunday. The Bishops of Ireland advise the people as to how they should combat these dangers, and exhort a strengthening of the Catholic life.

Among the matters dealt with in the Pastoral Letters read in the western churches are emigration, unemployment, and the dance hall evil.

His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Gilmartin, Archbishop of Tuam, states that he is glad to know that in the diocese the direction to have no dances during Advent and Lent has, with few exceptions, been obeyed.

Dealing with the licensing of halls, His Grace states that he has reason to believe that if all justices agreed to an eleven o’clock rule in winter and twelve o’clock in summer, with no all-night dances, they would have the blessing not only of the fathers and mothers, but also of the great majority of boys and girls. As matters stand at present, they are most unsatisfactory.

Corporation protest

“Any mistakes made by the Corporation should not result in an imposition on the people of Galway,” said Mr. Peter Kelly, vice-chairman of the Galway County Libraries Committee, when speaking at the monthly meeting of the committee on Saturday, on the decision of the Galway Corporation to protest against an increase in the special rate on the city for the upkeep and maintenance of the county libraries.

1963

Spiddal Courthouse

Members of Galway Co. Council at their meeting on Saturday expressed the opinion that the Department of Justice and not the Co. Councils should build and maintain courthouses. The meeting agreed to provide a new courthouse for Spiddal and Mr. Sean Donnellan was informed that the new building will incorporate a library and council offices for engineers and others.

Minister at dinner

Dr. P.J. Hillery, Minister for Education, was guest of honour at the Tuam Fianna Fáil dinner and social held in the Imperial Hotel, Tuam, on Monday night. Dr. Hillery congratulated Tuam Cumann on its strength and said that perhaps the organisation of Fianna Fáil could do more to encourage and protect the natural patriotism of their young people.

Stand for Tuam?

Tuam Stadium may have covered stand accommodation in the not-too-distant future. At present discussions are taking place as to the best possible type of structure, and when finalised plans will be presented to the Stadium Committee for their consideration.

Postal delays

In Dáil Éireann, Ald. Fintan Coogan, T.D., asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will take steps to rectify the unnecessary delays in postal delivery for letters posted in Clifden, for Ballyconneely and Roundstone.

Mr. Hilliard: I am not aware of the unnecessary delays referred to. Letters for both places posted at Clifden in time for the outgoing evening despatch are delivered the following day, Sunday excepted.

If the Deputy will let me have particulars of any specific cases of delay, I will have inquiries made.

Mr. Coogan: Is the Minister aware of the ridiculous situation there is that a letter posted five miles away in Ballyconneely has to go 105 miles before it is delivered, whereas if the bus brought the mail, it could be delivered within an hour.

Mr. Hilliard: I shall have that examined.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.