Galway In Days Gone By

1914

Home rule meeting

An historic demonstration in pursuance of the Home Rule campaign was held at Glenamaddy, Galway on Sunday. The attendance was very large, and the enthusiasm displayed was of a very impressive character, and disposed effectively the charges of apathy made against the Irish people and their demand for self-government.

As in other parts of Ireland where similar meetings have been held, there was nothing to indicate a weakness in the popular demand for the restoration of an Irish Parliament, but rather striking evidence of a stronger determination that ever to continue the fight for freedom till it is satisfactorily concluded.

The speeches made were of a very instructive and eloquent description, the salient points of the first principles of the national policy being dealt with in explicit terms.

Messrs. Hazleton and O’Malley, M.P.s, in their addresses, dealt with the Ulster bogey, and at the close of their remarks, no fears remained amongst their large audience on the prospects of “civil war” or the march of the Ulster “die-hards” if Home Rule becomes the law of the land.

1939

Irish talkies

Dr. Proinnsias O’Sullivan, M.A., Divisional Inspector of Schools, Galway suggested that all cinemas should be obliged to give at least ten minutes running commentary in Irish on a question of the day if the could not give an Irish talkie film.

All newspapers circulating in Ireland should be obliged to give a tenth of their matter in the Irish language. All prayers and sermons at the children’s Mass should be in the Irish language.

There should be playing fields or recreation parks for children in every town conducted by competent Irish speakers trained in the matter of promoting games suitable for children, and Irish should be the language of those playing fields or recreation parks.

All games under G.A.A. auspices five years from now should be conducted in the Irish language. A beginning should at once be made with juvenile and junior teams from primary schools.

All matters concerning local government in Irish-speaking district should be conducted through the medium of Irish.

The £2 Irish scheme should be extended so as to give, say, £1 per pupil in the purely Irish-speaking districts and 10s in the English-speaking areas, the teacher, manager and inspector to see that the conditions were fulfilled – namely, that the child was competent in the Irish language, spoke it at school, going to and coming from school and in the home. Irish dances should be compulsory in all schools.

Whitsuntide holidays

Every available craft, from the unpretentious rowing-boat to the luxury steam launch, was pressed into service on Lough Corrib on Sunday to cater for the Whitsuntide holiday-makers.

The weather was by no means ideal for fishing, but Corrib has other attractions. The myriad of little islands which dot its expansive waters provide ideal picnic retreats “away from the madding crowd”.

These were availed of to the fullest extent during the Whit weekend, the island of Inchagoill, with its beautiful woodlands, ancient remains, and old-world atmosphere proved the greatest attraction. The lonely keeper of the island, old genial Thomas Nevin, had a busy day receiving the visitors at the pier.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.