Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1917
Race Week
The proposed ban of the Government upon racing was looked upon by the people of Galway with something approaching dismay. In a resolution passed at The Galway Urban District Council some six weeks ago protesting against the stoppage of Galway Races, it was pointed out that the holding of this annual event meant, at least, the spending of £10,000 in the City and its environs, and that the community would be so hard hit if no races were allowed, that, considerable poverty would be bound to result.
To those who do not understand the conditions that obtain in a poor town like Galway, this seems in the nature of an exaggeration. The simple fact is, however, that the revenue reaped from visitors during Race Week provides the wherewithal to carry no inconsiderable section of our population over the winter. Fortunately, the universal protest that went up has prevailed, and Galway Races for 1917 will be held on Wednesday/Thursday, August 1/2.
As the Racing Calendar now falls out, it will be the last autumn event in Ireland this year, and also it will be the biggest. The entries closed on Wednesday last, and for the 12 events of the two days’ meeting they total 244.
Having regard to the fact that only half the bloodstock is being now maintained in training, this is a splendid record. When the entries for the Military Race, which it is proposed to run on the 1st day, are closed, it is expected that the total number of entries will be as large as in any previous year.
For the celebrated Galway Plate, 42 horses have been entered, so we may take it that this classic event will show a big field.
1942
Publicity for Galway
Frequent complaint has been made that tourist publicity for Galway leaves much to be desired. Certainly little or no effort has been made to stress this ancient city’s distinctive personality; its historical interest; its old world charm and picturesque vistas, its unique position as a holiday centre. Most of the publicity bestowed upon Galway, in fact, has had a beautiful vagueness which would have fitted equally well a hundred other places.
For this reason we welcome the appearance of the two articles from the Irish Tourist Association’s bright monthly, Irish Travel. True, Race Week has been “written up” repeatedly (though, perhaps, not with such verve and colour) but the aspect of the city with which the ‘Lady Visitor’ deals has remained virtually untouched. ‘The Glamour of Galway’, in other words, has not been capitalised as it should have been.
Haulage charges
Mr. George Lee, County Surveyor, told Mr. Sonny Cooke at a meeting of the Galway County Council’s Finance Committee that the Great Southern Railways Company were paid a higher rate than private lorry owners for the haulage of turf over roads. The private lorry owners were “suckers” to work for a lower price, Mr. Cooke said. He protested against the discrimination.
Contagious disease
Galway is as safe as possible from sea-borne disease of a contagious character. At the port, elaborate precautions are taken and the utmost vigilance is maintained to safeguard the citizens. These reassuring statements are the result of inquiries made by our representatives in consequence of somewhat disconcerting pronouncements made recently by medical authorities in other parts of the country.
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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