Galway In Days Gone By

1914

Reprehensible Tuam assault

At Tuam Petty Sessions, Mr. Comerford, D.I., summoned Wm. Jordan, Barrack-street, for assaulting John Ruane, Galway road, Tuam.

Constable Colleran deposed that on June 11th he was on duty at half-past two at the Square he saw the defendant strike Ruane with an ash plant. Ruane had his hand raised to ward off the blow. Ruane’s hat was cut, apparently the result of a blow to the head.

John Ruane, the assaulted man, stated there was an argument in progress between the defendant and another man, and witness spoke to the latter not to mind defendant, who was drunk. Defendant then hit him a blow on the head with an ash plant. He also struck him on the arm. He did not give the defendant any provocation.

Mr. E.J. Concannon deposed that the first thing he saw the defendant doing was making a vicious blow at Ruane, who was not saying anything to him.

“I never saw a more audacious or blackguardly attempt to injure an old man, who is between eighty and ninety years of age. It was the most blackguardly thing I ever saw.”

Mr. Concannon stated the defendant was going round the town the whole morning looking for a fight until he met the unfortunate man Ruane, who was unable to defend himself.

Sergt. Martin said the defendant was a hard working man in a general dealer’s business. He was on the road every day. He was in the habit of taking and keeping the pledge for twelve months. When he began drinking, he continued until he had all his money spent. When drinking he was not responsible for anything he did. There was nothing against him except charges of drunkenness.

The Bench having consulted, the Chairman announced that the defendant was convicted of a most reprehensible and blackguardly assault on an old man.

If he (Chairman) was acting by himself, he would inflict a heavier sentence than he was about to announce. The sentence of the court was that he be imprisoned for three weeks, at the end of which he should enter into a bond to be of good behaviour for twelve months.

1939

Sheer blackguardism

“It is nothing but sheer, downright blackguardism the manner in which some of the young men – and young ladies, too – create a disturbance going home at night from the dances held here,” said Mr. D.J. O’Connor, when he addressed six hundred dancers at the conclusion of a most enjoyable dance held in the Pavilion, Salthill, on Sunday night.

“Numerous complaints have been made to the licencee of the Pavilion, Mr. Thos. O’Toole, and to myself by a number of respected citizens of Galway and Salthill of the conduct of certain young men going home from dances.

Complaints have also been made to the Gardai. I know some of the offenders, and it would give me the greatest pleasure to supply their names to the Gardai. I do, however, make this last appeal to you, and I ask you to please return home from dances in a mannerly fashion.”

Ready for the Races

For the past three months Messrs. John McNally and Co., the well-known Galway contractors, have been busily engaged in erecting a new modern roof stand at the famous Galway racecourse at Ballybrit to the plans of Mr. R.G. Emerson, architect, Taylor’s Hill.

This is but one of the numerous improvements upon which the Race Committee has entered in preparation for the annual meeting which will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, August 2 and 3, and the total cost of this year’s extensions alone amounts to nearly £5,000.

The new roof to the concrete stand is of reinforced concrete, and is 57 yards in length, affording accommodation for 1,000 people. In addition to a complete view of the course from start to finish, it also affords a wide survey of Galway Bay, the Aran Islands and the Clare hills.

The carpark leading to the enclosure has been extended considerably, and will now afford accommodation for 4,000 vehicles, while the enclosure itself has been extended to a quarter of a mile.

A novel innovation is a ladies’ park, which has been built at the Galway end, with a rock garden in the centre, flower beds, seats and a cocktail bar.

The stake for the Galway Plate this year will be over £1,000.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.