Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1917
Second Easter rising
Two men who were arrested in New York on Tuesday have given their names as Liam Mellowes, who is alleged to be one of the leaders of the Sinn Féin movement, and Baron von Recklinghausen. The latter is described as a “patent” engineer of no little ability, and is declared to have been an intimate associate of Sinn Féiners. Papers found in his rooms show that large sums of money were forwarded to France to be used on behalf of Germany. The Baron will be interned.
Mellowes, when arrested, was in possession of a seaman’s passport in the name of Patrick Donnelly, which he asserted he intended to use in order to return to Ireland at the earlier opportunity.
Mellowes arrived in the United States shortly after the suppression of the Irish revolution, the authorities having learned of his association with Dr. Patrick McCartan, known as the first Ambassador in America of the Irish Republic.
The “New York Times” says the arrests of Mellowes and Von Recklinghausen have frustrated a Sinn Féin Rebellion, which was planned for next Easter, on the anniversary of the Dublin rebellion.
Threatening language
At Galway Petty Sessions, John Murphy, Tonabrucky, summoned John Murphy (Tom) for abusive and threatening language. Mr. P.S. McDonnell, solr., appeared for the defendant.
Complainant produced in court a large stone, which he alleged was thrown at him by the defendant.
Mr. McDonnell: Put that away. You have that here for dramatic effect. You are evidently fond of drama (laughter).
Complainant, in the course of cross-examination, admitted that he was sentenced to six months imprisonment, but it was 40 years ago. There was a cross-case for abusive language and assault, but the magistrates dismissed both cases on the merits.
1942
Outbreak of typhus
There have been further outbreaks of typhus over a rather widespread area in Spiddal district during the week. Cases have now been reported from both west and east of the village, and it appears as if the as if the virus had been well-dispersed before the disease manifested itself. Residents in Cois Fharraige are greatly alarmed as they recall that about thirty years ago when a similar epidemic occurred in the district it took a heavy toll of life.
Armed raid
Lettermore Gardaí are investigating a cowardly robbery with violence which took place in Lettermullen on Wednesday night, Oct. 21st, the victim being an eighty-years-old widow, Mrs. Mary Conneely, who lives with her seventy-five-years-old sister, Miss Celia O’Donnell.
It appears that at about 10.30p.m. on the date in question, three masked men entered Mrs. Conneely’s house and demanded money. When Mrs. Conneely said that she had none, the men immediately made for the bedrooms.
Miss O’Donnell tried to stop them, and one of the men struck her in the face. Proceeding to the bedroom, the men smashed open a press with the aid of a hatchet, and after they had left, it was found that the old ladies’ savings amounting to £30 were missing.
Both Mrs. Conneely and her sister are feeble and they were unable to summon help until a neighbour called the following morning.
Maritime training
To encourage the provision of suitable personnel for apprentice cadets in the Irish Mercantile Marine, a scheme has been organised whereby boys who desire to take up the sea as a career may compete in a examination for scholarships tenable in the marine classes of the Galway City Technical School.
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
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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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