Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1917
Galway Races protest
At the meeting of the Galway Urban Council on Thursday, Mr. M.T. Donnellan, presiding. Mr. M.J. Crowley referred to the stoppage of racing in Ireland, and said there was every danger that the Galway race meeting would not take place this year. He moved:
“That we, the Galway Urban Council, desire to represent to Captain Bathurst and the Chief Secretary for Ireland, that the stoppage of the August Race Meeting in Galway will result in a loss of something like ten thousand pounds to a town already hard hit by the war, and will spell disaster for many of the small hotel and lodging-house keepers, as well as for a number of others, who derive a considerable income from the influx of visitors for the event. That in view of the serious condition of traders and others in the town, most of whom must be reduced to absolute poverty next winter if their earning capacity is further seriously restricted, copies of this resolution be sent to Messrs. Redmond and Dillon, and the County members, as well as to the Lord Lieutenant, and the Turf Club.”
Mr. Griffin seconded, and the motion was adopted. Mr. Crowley remarking that a few cranks in office were responsible for the whole thing. The English people did not understand the Irish, and “we must try to educate them” (laughter).
1942
Galway is so safe!
Galway City Vocational Education Committee reluctantly have been compelled to refuse the County Secretary a room in their school for exclusive use in connection with Air Raid Precautions. They could not spare it. Not being aware that A.R.P. existed in Galway, we endeavoured to discover for exactly what purpose the room was required. We are still without the information.
Instead we were told once more by “the A.R.P. authority” [air raid protection] for Galway City and County that “The authorities in Dublin regard Galway as one of the safest areas in the country and do not consider that a full scheme of A.R.P. is necessary”.
Since that information first was vouchsafed to us many moons ago, the citizens of Galway have had it made abundantly clear to them that “the authorities in Dublin” have considered it necessary to take a remarkable number of precautions in connection with this superlatively “safe” area.
We are still told, however, that it is held to be quite sufficient to have provided a fire-fighting service – three auxiliary fire engines in the city, one in Ballinasloe and one in Tuam. One decontamination square has been formed and there are two rescue squads – a ridiculously inadequate number.
It should be clear to the meanest intelligence that, even with our few extra fire engines, it would be impossible to deal effectively with showers of incendiary bombs scattered over the miles of roof tops that comprise Galway today.
Unless the people themselves are fully equipped and instructed to deael with incendiary bombs, a conflagration is possible against which out existing fire-fighting apparatus would be utterly impotent.
If this is considered “one of the safest areas in the country”, why has it been found necessary to give the city three extra fire pumps, to organise a decontamination square and to arrange for three first-aid posts – three over an area of several miles, not to mention the rescue and demolition squads?
A clear statement as to what has been done – but, more particularly, what has been left undone – would let the citizens know the full extent of the danger which threatens.
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.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
