Galway In Days Gone By

1917

Letter to the Editor

Sir, Allow me to draw the attention of Mr. Kennedy, Co. Surveyor to the scandalous condition of the road which leads from Clonboo cross towards Drumgriffin Cross, in the Annaghdown district, for the maintenance and repair of which he has been directly responsible since his appointment to the West Riding.

If this intolerable danger to public safety, not to say gross neglect of public convenience or comfort, be not remedied, I shall have something to say in the near future that may help public officials to realise their duties to the ratepayer.

Pro Bono Publico.

Pig market

Messrs. James O’Mara and Sons, Ltd., Limerick, wrote thanking Galway Urban Council for the facilities offered for the purchase of pigs in the district, and regretting that they could not at present avail of them.

“Some day,” the latter added “we hope to be able to attend Galway weekly”.

The Acting Secretary explained that they had written to a number of bacon-curers asking them to open a weekly market in the City for the purchase of pigs by weight.

Dash of slops

Mr. Young complained at Galway Urban Council of the habit people had of throwing water out on the street, so that as people passed, they were liable to get it (laughter).

Mr. Curran: I saw a person getting a dash of slops in that way (renewed laughter).

The insanitary habit of throwing waste on the street was generally condemned, and the Chairman instructed Mr. Molloy, Town Steward, to look after the matter.

1942

Soldier sold his boots

The sale of military boots by soldiers engaged in conveying turf by motor lorries from Trehill bog had a sequel before District Justice Mangan at Ballygar Court, when James Gately, Currahulia and Patrick Killilea, Bohill, were charged with unlawfully receiving one pair of boots each, said boots being the property of the Minister for Defence.

Supt. O’Halloran (Ballinasloe) said that the Private about to give evidence had already been charged in connection with the transaction.

Private McIntyre said that towards the end of November he was engaged drawing turf from Trehill bog. Gately came to him and asked him if he had any boots for sale. He told him he had a surplus pair and would take them along next day. He sold them to Gately for 12s. They usual price of them was 18s.

Lieutenant Brady, Athlone, said that the boots produced were the property of the Minister for Defence and although issued to soldiers as their kit, they had no authority to sell them.

Patrick Killilea (defendant) said he bought the boots openly from a soldier who told them they were his own property.

The Justice said that in this case he was satisfied there was no guilty knowledge and he would dismiss the charges on the merits. In the case against Gately, he would apply the Probation Act on payment of 5s. expenses and allow him fourteen days to pay this amount.

Roads funding

Galway County Council, at their annual road works meeting, decided to levy £127,625 on the county for expenditure on roads in the coming year – an increase of nearly £2,000 on the amount levied for roads in the current year.

The importance of the by-roads was stressed by Mr. P. Beegan, T.D., who said that the farmers in the out of the way places were good workers and good ratepayers and it was vital in these days when food production was so essential to the nation that the roads over which they had to travel to the markets should be made good.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.