Galway In Days Gone By – Threatening the Davenports

1914

Threatening the Davenports

At the City Petty Sessions, Sergt. McMullen summoned Pat King for having on the night of June 25 come out behind the Misses Davenports place at Rockhill at 10.40 and called the ladies filthy names and threatened to knock the wall.

The Sergeant added that there was some trouble about grazing. Mr. T.M. Kenny (of Messrs Blake and Kenny) appeared on behalf of the Misses Davenport and Mr. O’Dea defended.

Sergt. McMullen deposed that the defendant at 10.30pm made use of language calculated to lead to a breach of the peace. He had no coat or cap on at the time, and made use of filthy and insulting remarks to the ladies.

Cross-examined by Mr. O’Dea: Defendant was about 300 yards away from the house at the time. Defendant spoke English; witness was clear on that. Defendant said “They took the land from me, sergeant.”

Complaints had been made of the conduct of the defendant on previous occasions. He had also been summoned for assaulting the police. Defendant was bound to the peace for a period of twelve months, himself in £10 and two sureties of £5 each.

1939

Cinema star’s sister

“What delighted us most about Galway is the friendliness and hospitality of its citizens,” said Mrs. Marion Grant, Connecticut, sister of Katherine Hepburn, the famous film actress, when she landed from the Cunard White Star Liner, Scythia, at Galway on Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Grant, both of whom are twenty-one years of age, are making a five weeks’ honeymoon tour of the West of Ireland.

Hotelier fined

At Galway District Court before Justice Sean Mac Giollarnath, George McCambridge, Royal Hotel, Galway, was charged with a breach of the licensing laws on April 10.

Guard Roger Heneghan gave evidence of visiting the premises at 3.15am and finding the following men on the premises: Brian Mac Dubhaill, Bothair Athair Griobhta; Padraig Ó Cuinn, Gaillimh, and Padraig Cruadhlaoich, An Line Nua, Gaillimh.

Defendant said that he was manager of the Royal Hotel for the past twelve months. The night Boots was in employment there when witness took over. His instructions that the licensing laws should be kept were issued to everyone in his employment. He was most anxious that no drink should be sold after hours.

The Justice said that he was satisfied there could not be proper control over premises as long as the Boots had access to the drink. He imposed a fine of 40s with an endorsement. The men found on the premises were each fined 10s.

Ashford hotel opening

With the opening of Ashford Castle as an hotel, the storied village of Cong will probably be the Mecca of many visitors to the West this summer. Heretofore the beautiful Ashford Park was more or less a closed shop to sight-seers – as admittance was strictly by permit – and consequently one of Ireland’s most interesting historical remains was almost beyond the reach of the general public.

Docks strike settled

The strike at the Galway Docks which resulted in the Limerick Steamship Company’s vessel, Rynanna, leaving on Friday last without her cargo, and held up the same company’s vessel, Maigue, in the Docks for a few days this week, was settled at a conference between representatives of the Galway Harbour Commissioners, the Galway Employers’ Federation and the dockers’ branch of the ITGWU.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.