Galway in Days Gone By
Galway in days gone by
1914
Man under train
A the Galway City Petty Sessions, the M.G.W.R. Co. prosecuted Michael Hynes, Moycullen, for wilful trespass on the permanent way on the 18th April last.
An engine driver named Kidney, deposed that on the date in question he was driving the engine to Clifden. Just before he started the engine at the crossing at the bridge, he observed the defendant standing on the line, and he then disappeared. Afterwards, he saw the defendant lying under the engine about 50 or 60 yards up the line. Witness stopped the train, and the man was taken out.
Hynes state that he got frightened when the train left him, and he made a rush to catch it. The steam smothered him, and he threw himself under the engine.
Mr. Casserly, acting station master, stated that a copy of the notice was published at the station, cautioning people not to trespass. Mr Blake (prosecuting) said the danger was that the man might have been killed. Defendant was fined 10s.
Total Abstinence Congress
The Rev. M.J. Burke, C.C., the Honorary Secretary of the Total Abstinence Congress, notifies us that:
It is encouraging to note that the Docese of Galway has applied for 12,000 cards of membership, Clonfert 17,000 and Tuam 7,000. The movement is a final appeal to all Catholics to lend a hand in the great work of temperance reform.
Never did a national movement come at a more appropriate time. It is but too sadly true, and we only need the evidence of our eyes to recognise, that there is still need for such a movement on a broad national basis that will embrace and enthuse in its favour every class of the community.
The best brains and energies of our people overcome an evil that has brought disgrace upon us as a nation, and that has brought unhappiness and degradation to our people.
1939
An acquired habit
“We realise that boys do not take naturally to work; it is a habit which is acquired, but if it be not acquired early in life, then the penalty is that slackness and weakness of character which degenerates so quickly into the type of wastrel who lounges around the betting saloon and publichouse.”
This statement was made by his lordship, Most Rev. Dr., Michael Browne, Bishop of Galway, when he addressed the boys of St. Mary’s Diocesan College, Galway.
Drainage relief
The visit last week of a number of engineers who inspected the river in the Eyrecourt, Meelick and Banagher districts gave people in these districts hopes that something was going to be done about getting this area drained before the floods set in this season.
Last year, thousands of acres of pasture and some tillage land along the Shannon basin were flooded, and for weeks, some farmers’ suffered to the extent that at times they feared not alone for the safety of their stocks, for themselves.
Being unable to get out through the floods, food supplies were running dangerously short.
Athenry Benediction
One of the greatest manifestations of the Faith ever seen in Athenry was witnessed here today, when five thousand people marched through the streets in the annual Corpus Christi procession.
The procession, which was headed by schoolchildren charmingly dressed in white, formed up outside the church and marched through the streets to the Square, where Benediction was celebrated in the open air at a specially-erected altar.
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.
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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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