Galway In Days Gone By

1917

Lively times at Ryehill

At the Tuam Quarter Sessions on Tuesday, His Honour Judge Doy, K.C., was engaged hearing actions and cross-actions between Peter Burke and Mrs. Donlon, Ryehill, with reference to a water passage, and in connection with assaults arising out of the dispute.

Evidence in the plaintiff’s (Burke’s) case was to the effect that the defendants had stopped a water passage, and that when he and his son went to open it, they were assaulted. He never struck plaintiff or knocked her in the sink. She was wet, but it was by the rain. When he attempted to open the drain which she had closed, she tried to strike him with a fork. Plaintiff caught hold of the fork and took it from her.

Cross-examined by Mr. Hosty, witness stated that he did not take hold of Mrs. Donlon by the throat. He heard Dr. Thompson say she had marks on her throat, but he could not account for them. Neither could he account for her rib cage being broken, or the mark behind her ear. He did not tell his son to hit her on the hands with the fork, nor did his son strike her on the hands or ribs. When he was taking the fork from her, it touched her shoulder. Plaintiff put defendant up against the gable, and took the fork from her.

His Honour have a decree for 1s. in the assault process, and a decree in the title process (Burke v. Donlon), and in the cross processes he dismissed the title suit, and gave a decree for £3 in that for assault.

1942

Too many meetings

Beside the staggering millions of the Exchequer return just issued a few points here and there for the travelling expenses of our local legislators may seem scarcely worth considering. But, as we pointed out that nearly three months ago, a flaitheamhlach attitude on this matter might result in a very serious addition to the country’s financial burden.

To-day, the transport position in very part of the country is vastly more serious than it was when we last touched upon the question of travelling expenses for the members of county council and other public bodies. The individuals who objected to travelling in crowded ‘buses and associating with poultry on the way to market can count themselves fortunate if in future they can find any ‘buses at all to bring them to and from meetings.

It is extremely doubtful, too, if any motor cars will be available for hire in the remote areas and it will become virtually impossible for many public representatives to attend meetings of the bodies to which they are accredited.

Obviously, some arrangement will have to be made to ensure that all essential meetings of public bodies will be attended by a number of members sufficient to transact the scheduled business. How that will be done we cannot say, but it seems clear that the first step to be taken is to reduce the number of meetings to the absolute minimum.

Turning the corner

Mr. C. O’Cleireachain, Town Clerk, believes that Galway is turning the corner as far as the city’s rate demand is concerned, and that, should no unforeseen financial burden be placed on the Corporation within the coming twelve months, a rate reduction of about sixpence should be announced a year hence.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.