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.