Galway In Days Gone By

1914
Battle of Mons

Private Duffy, of the Connaught Rangers, has come home to Galway, suffering from wounds sustained at Mons. He was engaged with his regiment, when he was struck on the hip by a portion of a spent shell.

The Connaughts, he said, arrived in France on the 15th August, and they were in action nine days later.

“We were not unduly rushed to the front, but were told that the French and Belgian armies needed reinforcements and we were not slow in moving forward.”

Prince of Wales Fund

Already distress is making itself felt in the city, as is apparent to even the most casual observer, and it is to be hoped, therefore, that the Committee formed to control the Prince of Wales’ Fund will take immediate steps to utilise the fund to the best advantage, and establish an organisation, the machinery of which will be entirely adequate to meet the needs of the city, and prevent complaints.

Complaints have reached us that, although the Fund has been distributed elsewhere, Galway has been behind in reaping any advantage. The Fund, it should be noted, is not confined to those who have relatives at the war, but it is for the benefit of anyone who is suffering from the effects of the war.

1939

The blackout effect

The blackout was the first drastic reminder people had of the outbreak of hostilities, and at first this caused some inconvenience to shoppers and pedestrians in Ballinasloe. It has now within the past week been taken as a matter of course, and business and private houses have cooperated in every way in complying with the order.

It is, however, in a few weeks hence, when winter time begins and the dark nights approach, that the full effects of the blackout restrictions will be felt by those attending fairs and markets, and especially in business houses.

Already it has been noticed that people are not inclined to remain outdoor as late as before the coming of the blackout, and business at markets and fairs are, as a consequence, expedited, and people from rural areas return home earlier.

State of panic

There was pandemonium on the Bundoracha side of Killary Bay last week, when a large metal object was seen floating in the sea a short distance from the shore. Cattle and sheep were removed from the vicinity and local inhabitants were in a state of dread,

A playboy in the crowd that watched the object from a distance identified it as a harmless buoy. Keeping his knowledge to himself, he procured a .22 rifle and informed the panic-stricken bystanders that he was about to fire at the “mine” and explode it.

“Evacuation” of the threatened area was carried out immediately and the crowd went scurrying up the hillside to take cover. With bated breath, they watched the playboy advance to the shore with his rifle.

Slowly and deliberately, he took aim and fired. Of course, he missed twice to prolong the agony and the “mine” was within a few yards of the shore when he hit it.

When it failed to explode, the playboy went one better by wading out and rolling the “mine” ashore. Even then he found it hard to convince the crowd that the thing was harmless.

For more, read this week’s Tribune.