February 5, 2010

Date Published: {J}

School attendance

Mr. Thomas Sloyan, school attendance inspector, obtained orders for attendance at school against two children named Byrne and Rorke.

In the case against Byrne, Mr. Sloyan stated that the child had been 60 days absent from June til December 31.

The father said the child was sent regularly to school every day, but mitched. He tried the birch-rod and did everything possible to make him go. He was afraid that the rising generation in Tuam were doing him harm.

Chairman: He is one of them; so try your best to improve him.

Children’s Act

Mrs Anne Diskin, publican, High Street, Tuam was prosecuted for a breach of the new Children’s Act. Constable Confrey stated that on 4th January he saw two tramps named Ward in the house of Mrs. Diskin. One of them, a woman, had a six months’ old baby in her arms.

Mrs. Diskin said she could not get the Wards out. They were drunk when they entered the shop. She sent for the police, but the messenger did not go, and in the meantime, the constable entered.

Constable Confrey said there was a man behind the counter at the time.

The Bench held that she was liable to a fine of £5, this being her second offence. A fine of 2s 6d and costs was imposed.

Cruel eviction

Last Monday, there was an eviction of a cruel type in Athenry when a Mrs. Warde was thrown out on the street with her furniture and family. A great many asked where was the Town Tenants’ League? Since the eviction a great many have asked the same question, and what is to be done with this poor woman in her misery?

The case is a particularly hard one. Mrs Warde purchased her house recently when the Lambert estate was being sold, and has as a matter of fact paid three instalments of the Government annuity. Her husband was declared bankrupt some 12 months ago, and during the juggle, the Court officials decided on selling out the interest of this house.

No one would think that in Athenry houses would be bought over the heads of tenants, much less the tenant who could have purchased it. As a matter of fact, there are a number of purchasers for this poor woman’s house, and probably there will be a row when the purchaser is declared.

Animal welfare

At Ballinasloe Petty Sessions, Constable McGill charged Thomas Horne and Robert B. McDonnell, Ballyforan, the former with cruelly ill-treating a jennet and the latter for causing and procuring. Complainant said that on the 21st January, he found Thomas Horne with a jennet, attached to a car, with four sores on its breast – two on the right side and two on the left. The lining of the collar was sticking to them and matter and blood came from them.

Those on the left were the size of a five-shilling and a shilling, and were in similar condition. When Horne was questioned, he said the animal got wet and the hair turned.

Horne was fined 1s and costs and Mr. McDonnell, the owner 5s and costs.

1935

Fierce gale

A fierce gale swept over South Galway during the weekend. Crops and house property in many districts suffered more or less damage from the storm.

Hay and corn stacks were blown away, galvanised roofs were dislodged and slates torn off. Trees were also blown down.

In Loughrea, the storm raged with unabated violence for about two days. The roof on the dwelling house occupied by Mr. Michael O’Halloran, the owner of a bakery at Bride Street, was partially demolished in the height of the storm on Friday night, and the debris coming on contact with an electric cable caused a momentary breakdown in the town lighting system.

The storm was accompanied by heavy rains and intermittent showers of snow. Flooding has also taken place over a wide area.

Rents withheld

Mr. Michael Hunt, president, presided at a general meeting of the Loughrea branch Town Tenants’ Association held at the Temperance Hall. There was a large attendance of members.

The secretary (Mr. M. Hynes, T.C.) explained the main reason for calling the meeting was as they knew a number of circulars for rent had been received by tenants from the estate agent during the week and it was already decided by the association that no rents be paid until such time as the landlord conceded their demand of 50 per cent reduction. He hoped that no member of the organisation would be as weak as to go behind its back and pay rent, pending a satisfactory solution of the demand put forward by the organisation.

The attitude already decided on was that the agent was to deal directly with the association and not with individuals, and for that reason the tenants were asked to leave matters entirely in the hands of the branch.

There was no doubt as to the result of their agitation for the reduction of 50 per cent, if the members stood together and presented a united front to the landlord.

Bye-election

The County Galway bye-election to the vacancy in the Dáil created by the death of Mr. Martin McDonogh, T.D. (FG), Galway, will probably be held in March. The Fine Gael party have decided to move for the writ soon after the re-assembly of the Dáil on February 13.

Two prominent members of Fianna Fáil in the county, Dr. Thomas Powell, ex-T.D., and Mr Eamon Corbett, chairman, Galway County Council, have been chosen in their respective divisions of the county for the contest, and it is very likely the choice for the election will rest between them. There appears to be no definite decision yet as to who will contest the election in Fine Gael interests.

For more, read page 34 of this week’s Connacht Tribune.