Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1915
Gas explosion
On Monday last, a serious explosion took place in the gas main outside the Medical Hall, William Street. The iron cover was blown clean into the air and the heavy stone sets were scattered across the street.
Fortunately, nobody was injured, the only mishap being that a lady who was passing, had some of the sand blown into her eyes. A similar, though not so serious an explosion, occurred at the same place some time ago.
Full house
Full houses were the rule at the Victoria Cinema this week. The pictures were of an unusually high standard of excellence. The greatest attraction was, however, the Mezzettis, two artistes whose acrobatic feats created somewhat of a sensation. Their performances on the trapeze bars were wonderful, anything like them having never before been seen in Galway.
Muddy streets
The attention directed to the condition of Tuam streets at the last meeting of the Tuam Commissioners, and the caustic references made by Mr. Gore Moriarty, R.M. at Tuam Petty Sessions on Monday, evidence more than local gossip on the subject.
Since the lapse of the contract in September into the hands of the Co. Surveyor, there has been strong reason for complaint, owing to lack of adequate attention to them.
On different occasions mud has been left in heaps for considerable period, delay in the main cleaning operations. We do not suggest that the responsibility for this condition of affairs on any particular person or persons, but they are matters which the Co. Council or Co. Surveyor should inquire into.
1940
Awful plight
“I must say that the Sergeant has acted very properly in this case,” remarked District Justice Hamilton, at a Children’s Court at the conclusion of an application brought by Sergeant Harman, Loughglynn, for an order of the court concerning the custody of two boys named William and Michael Jennings, of Breanamore, Loughglynn, whose mother was dead and whose father was killed during the recent air raid in Coventry.
Sergeant Harman said he found the boys in their home sleeping on braches of trees and supplied them with the clothes they were wearing in court.
Sergeant Harman said a neighbour named John Connelly was prepared to take charge of the boys and he considered him a most suitable person.
Quiet Christmas
There was little or no sign of the coming Christmas festival in Galway until Wednesday, when thousands of people from the outlying country districts flocked into the City to do their Christmas shopping and also to attend the last market, but one, before the holiday.
The market, however, was small, although ‘buses, motor cars and horses and carts, carrying picturesquely-attired country people, started to arrive in the City early.
The horses and carts, with their quotas of geese and turkeys, quickly took their places in the market square in orderly fashion, backing up against the footpath to leave ample room for other traffic to pass on its way.
Galway’s main shopping centre, always a busy place, was busier than ever since Wednesday, when the streets became moving rivers of humanity. At this time, the children seem to take charge, and harassed fathers and mothers dragged – or are dragged by – their young in a slow progress from window to window where the wonders of toyland are displayed.
It must be admitted that the shopkeepers of Galway have done their share towards brightening up this Yuletide.
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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