Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1914
Possibility of invasion
In local circles, one of the subjects most frequently discussed is the possibility of invasion. We have to remember, however, that even if some straggling German cruisers should get through to here, which is unlikely, the Atlantic squadron lies beyond our shores, patrolling up and down, night and day.
Moreover, aeroplanes skirt the shores, and keep a look-out to sea at frequent intervals; and only a week ago, one of these air-patrols was seen by early risers flying low along the coast.
Although Galway, and indeed, the Western Irish coast generally are practically devoid of permanent fortifications, thus admitting the suspicion that if England were in trouble, she would leave Ireland to take care of herself, it is a well-known fact that, upon the approach of an enemy, landing could be rendered practically impossible by a well-devised system of submarine mines.
For instance, the entrance to Galway Bay, at Aran, could be mined well within a couple of hours. In this way, a landing in force at any well-known harbour could be prevented – provided, of course, the enemy did not steal in unobserved, which, in present circumstances at any rate. Is quite beyond the range of possibility.
The Government, however, would have been well-advised to have established a harbour on the Western Irish coast, to which foodstuffs could easily be conveyed from the colonies in time of war, and communications kept up almost in any eventuality.
1939
Preparing for War
“The war may come at any minute, probably tonight or tomorrow,” telegraphs our London Correspondent at 4pm on Thursday. “I think the Hungarian affair was a ‘blind’ and that the German army is prepared to attack Poland, which holds that with its well-equipped army mobilised, it could keep the Germans at bay even without assistance for six months.
All London police officers who were away on leave have been recalled, and all leave has been stopped in the case of police, army and navy.
Poteen makers
How a party of Gardaí came across a poteen stil under full steam and attended by two men in the small hours of the morning at Burnthouse, Oughterard, was told at Oughterard District Court, when Thomas Carter was charged with illicit distillation and possession of poteen.
Garda Keaney said that on April 14, he was on duty with Gardaí Daly and Twomey at Burnthouse. When they approached a fire which they had seen in the distance at 1.30am they saw defendant and another man working at a stil making poteen.
Witnessed jumped out and caught defendant. The other man ran away, Witness and the other Gardaí seized one five gallon jar and five naggin bottles, all full of poteen. They also seized the still and two forty-gallon barrels.
Mr. L.E. O’Dea pleaded guilty on behalf of the defendant and said that he had lost the stil and worm, which cost him ten or twelve pounds. It was the first occasion upon which he had been charged.
District Justice Sean Mac Giollarnath imposed a suspensory sentence of three months’ imprisonment, not to be enforced if defendant is not convicted of a similar charge within the next three years.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
1923
Gloom after war
The special correspondent of the “Independent”, who has been writing of the aftermath of civil war in the West, notes that a feeling of apathy, due to the uncertainty of events, exists amongst the sorely-tried people of Connemara; that politics are referred to only with disgust and that not more than fifty per cent. of the people would vote at a general election; that poverty and unemployment are rife, and there is a growing tendency towards emigration; and that there are bitter complaints of the huge impost of rates and taxes.
It is only too true that there is enough of material for the pessimist to brood over, and that a feeling of gloom permeates country towns. But it is a poor tribute to patriotism that has survived such horrors to encourage this gloom.
It is the duty of all of us to get this pessimism out of the national body and to rid ourselves of the notion that we have not enough Christianity and moral sense left to restore our people to cheerful and ordered progress and industry.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
1923
Peace negotiations
As we go to press, An Dáil is discussing the Peace negotiations between the Government and Mr. de Valera. It was announced on Wednesday for the first time that such negotiations were begun following Mr. de Valera’s “cease fire” proclamation of April 27, and that by the 30th of the month Senators Andrew Jameson and James Douglas were asked by him to discuss proposals.
They said it was for the Government to discuss; they could only confer. Into the ensuring conferences the Government declined to enter personally, but on May 3 the senators placed before Mr. de Valera the Cabinet’s terms, which were that future issues should be decided by the majority vote of the elected representatives of the people, and that as a corollary and a preliminary to the release of prisoners, all lethal weapons should be in the custody and control of the Executive Government.
Mr. de Valera relied to this on May 7 with a document in which he agreed to majority rule and control of arms, but added that arms should be stored in a suitable building in each province under armed Republican guard until after the elections in September, that the oath should not be made a test in the councils of the nation, and that all political prisoners should be released immediately on the signing of this agreement.
“You have brought back to us,” wrote President Cosgrave, “not an acceptance of our conditions, but a long and wordy document inviting debate where none is possible”.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
1923
State of the parties
Speculation as to parties after the next Irish elections is exceedingly interesting, especially in view of the enlarged franchise.
In Dublin, the view appears to be held by a number of people that Labour will make a great bid for power.
Dublin, however, has a curiously insular habit of thought where matters that concern all Ireland and in which Ireland has a say are concerned. We hope this insularity will rapidly disappear under the new conditions.
The country as a whole is backing the Farmers’ Party, and has not the smallest doubt that it will be the strongest combination in the next Dáil, and that it will oust the purely political parties, the one because it has resorted to force, the other because it has been compelled to use force to supress force, and the Labour Party because Ireland feels that at the back of its policy lurks the danger of Communism.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
