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.