Galway In Days Gone By

1919

Government raids

On last Friday morning a series of raids and searches for documents and ammunition was carried out all over Ireland on the houses of prominent Sinn Féiners.

In Galway – the raid started about 1 o’clock when parties of military, fully armed and wearing trench helmets, accompanied by some police, entered the Sinn Féin Hall at Prospect Hill, the offices of the “Galway Express,” and the houses of Mr. M. Walsh, Old Malt House, High-st., Mr. M. Flanagan, Merchants’-road, Mr. H. Shields, Francis-st., Mr. George Nicolls, solr., University-road, and Dr. Cusack, M.P., at Anglingham.

Only a few cards of membership and lists of names of members were taken away from the Sinn Féin Hall, and there was no incriminating document found in the “Express” Office.

A few cartridges were found at some of the houses visited, and these were taken away. The raid lasted about an hour. Although the news of the searches came as a surprise, very little interest was manifested in the proceedings by the public, and beyond a few passers-by, who now and then stood to have a look at the houses that were being raided, there were no on-lookers about.

In Clifden – Several houses were raided in Clifden, and Mr. W. A. Clancy, D.C., merchant and publican, was arrested, some ammunition, it is stated, being found on his premises. He is still in custody and will, it is presumed, be tried by court martial.

In Athenry – The houses raided in Athenry included those of Mr. Stephen Jordan, Davis-st., Mr. Larry Lardiner, Church-st., Mr. Jack Broderick, Mr. Christie Broderick, chemist, and the office of Mr. G. Nicolls, B.A., solr., at Murphy’s Hotel, Barrack-st.

As Mr. Nicolls was leaving for Galway, he was searched by the police, but nothing of a seditious nature was discovered on him. Nothing was found on the premises raided.

In Portumna – On Friday last, eight police visited seven houses in town and searched the houses and premises. Similar raids were made in the Abbey and Tynagh districts.

1944

Rigid censorship

Galway County Libraries Committee, at a meeting on Saturday, decided to have new books censored more closely in future, and the Censorship Committee were asked to meet once a month for this purpose.

The Committee unanimously adopted the annual report of the Co. Librarian, Mr. S. J. Maguire, on the working of the library. A copy of the report was published in the “Connacht Tribune” on August 19th.

Banks to blame

The rates of interest charged on loans by the banks were much too high and something should be done to get them reduced, Mr. R. M. Burke told the Galway County Council on Saturday. While the banks paid only one per cent. on money on deposit he believed they could easily reduce the rates charged to borrowers such as County Councils.

Houses could be let to tenants at lower rents if bank interest charges were lower – much of the money due on housing schemes was for interest on overdraft, he said.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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