Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1914
Ireland’s soldiers
Monday’s demonstration at Athenry, Galway when the massed Volunteer Corps of the county were reviewed by Col. Moore, was one of the most remarkable ever seen in the West of Ireland, and it was unquestionably the most historic and impressive that has taken place in Connacht for the last fifty years.
The spirit of nationality which pervaded the immense gathering and the bearing of the men in the ranks were such that as Mr. J.B. Concannon very aptly put in afterwards “it would make one proud of being an Irishman after having witnessed that day’s proceedings”.
Fully 5,000 people were present, and the strength of the different companies was over 2,000. The interest taken in the review by Galway citizens and merchants may be judged by the fact that many big stores and warehouses were closed down for the day, while three steamers in the dock were allowed to remain idle. Galway City was well represented, but when the question of population is considered, it lost badly in comparison with the country contingents.
In fact, the little village of Craughwell had as many men as Galway. It is hoped, therefore, that the counsel of Col. Moore will not be lost on the citizens, and that when the next review comes round the capital and chief town of the West will set a good example to the country contingents by sending at least eight or ten companies.
1939
Galway’s liner traffic
The transatlantic holiday traffic is once again in full swing and again on Saturday and Sunday, Galway port presented very busy scenes. The homeward-bound Cunard White Star liner, Samaria, arrived at the port on Saturday and was in the harbour for close-on six hours.
One hundred and ten passengers debarked from the liner in the afternoon and arrived at Galway docks on the tender, Cathair na Gaillimhe, shortly after eight o’clock. On the following morning, the Cunard White Star liner, Laconia, outward-bound for Boston and New York arrived and took on board a number of passengers for the Atlantic crossing.
Galway man’s heroism
Mr. Martin Browne, Liam Mellowes Terrace, claims to have rescued about fifty people from danger of death, and certainly the number who owe their lives to his bravery are many. On Friday afternoon, he effected another gallant rescue from Galway docks.
At about 8 o’clock on Friday evening, a four-year-old boy, Alfred Murray, son of Mr. John Murray, stevedore, employed by the Limerick Steamship Company, fell into the sea just outside the gates of the Commercial dock.
Mr. Browne, pausing only to divest himself of his coat and cap, jumped off the pier and, with the assistance of Mr. Patrick O’Donnell, dockgateman, brought the boy to safety. Were it not for Mr. Browne’s promptitude and bravery, the little boy would undoubtedly have lost his life.
Despite Mr. Browne’s many acts of heroism – acts performed unostentatiously and in the spirit which prompted him to withdraw quietly immediately he had performed his gallant deed on Friday evening – he has never received any public tribute other than two small monetary awards. The suggestion has been made that his latest act of courage should be brought to the notice of the Carnegie Hero Trust.
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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