Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1916
Boy hero
Not all the deeds of heroism are performed amid the heat and excitement of battle. Little James Finnerty, of Athenry, a lad of nine, by his heroism, on Thursday last, the 28th September, deserves the highest award that it is in the gift of the Royal Humane Society to bestow.
It has been said that the modern schoolboy has degenerated. The simple story we tell below is a conclusive answer, and needs no epic style to adorn it. The deed, we trust, will act as an inspiration throughout the little lad’s career.
On the evening of the 28th September, a little girl named Christina Collins, aged four years, tumbled off Athenry bridge into the river, and was swept away by the current.
A young lad named James Finnerty, aged 9 years, who witnessed the occurrence, ran along the road which adjoins the river, and, as the child was swept from under the archway of a second bridge, 100 yards further down, young Finnerty plunged into the stream, caught the girl by the hair, and between wading and swimming, held her head over the water until both were assisted out by a young man named Cleary.
Had the current taken the child a few yards further, there would have been little hope of rescue. Save for the shock, the child was little the worse of her immersion.
Lucky escape
During the thunder storm in Connemara on Wednesday night week, the lightning entered the house of Mr. MI Connolly, and split a steel hay fork which was standing near the door, and tore up a part of the hearth and broke the hob. The occupants had a miraculous escape.
1941
Salthill’s needs
Vigorous criticism of the Galway Corporation’s attitude towards Salthill was voiced at a meeting attended by about 130 Salthill residents in the Pavilion, Salthill. Many of the amenities essential to the development of a seaside resort were lacking, it was pointed out, and it was held that some of the works undertaken at Salthill had been allowed to deteriorate into eyesores, or had not justified the expense.
Among the improvements suggested were: the cleaning of the foreshore; better sanitary accommodation; the provision of a railing that would make the Promenade safe for pedestrians; the provision of shelters on the Promenade and seats in the Park; the provision of amusements.
Mrs. Emerson (Eglinton Hotel) said of the old Garda barracks at Salthill that she offered to dispose of it to the Corporation so that they could provide up-to-date baths there.
She believed that proper baths at that place – a very suitable place – would be a paying proposition. She got a typewritten reply stating that the Corporation were not interested.
Mrs. Emerson referred to complaints that she had heard about the condition of the bathing boxes and said that the Corporation should have the boxes inspected occasionally to see that they were kept in a sanitary condition.
Tea ration doubles
The Minister for Supplies has decided to double the householder’s tea ration for the week commencing October 19. The new ration will be one ounce per week instead of the half-ounce which has been in operation since mid-April, 1941.
General Election
These rumours about the imminence of a General Election are disturbing. It is not desired by the rank and file of either of the big parties in Dáil Éireann and it most certainly is not desired by the general public, however much they may “grouse” about existing conditions and put the blame on Mr. de Valera’s Government.
Yet we are credibly informed that instructions have been given to the Government organisations to make all needful preparations for a General Election in the immediate future.
There are even rumours that the upheaval may take place next month, though these are discounted in responsible circles.
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.
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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.
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