Galway In Days Gone By

1919

Ban on public gatherings

The proclamation of the 20th of last month banning fairs, markets and public assemblies in four electoral divisions of the rural district of Portumna still remains in force.

Representations and protests have been sent to the Government in authority demanding the withdrawal of this unjust and iniquitous order from the localities named and each have received the stereotyped reply, “They regret circumstances do not permit even the holding of a market or fair.”

The fair on the 17th October was banned, thereby causing serious loss to the traders of the town and grave inconvenience to many owners of sheep and cattle for miles around Portumna.

It is a well-known fact that the October fair in Portumna comes next to the great Ballinasloe fair in the West, buyers coming from the great sheep and cattle centres of Ireland to make their winter purchases.

Those people varied the quality of stock they received, and year after year they were present in October and exchanged thousands of pounds in purchases.

Disgraceful scenes

Disgraceful scenes marked a hurling match at Athenry on Sunday between Craughwell and Galway (Thomas Ashe).

After the referee putting several players off the field a sort of general melee ensued and a number of players were hurt. Fleming, Galway, was badly injured, and had to be attended by Dr. Quinlan, being struck, it is alleged, in the stomach with a hurley by one of the Craughwell team.

Call to recognise union

Loughrea Town Commissioners at their meeting on Monday adopted a resolution calling on the directors of Banks to avert the threatened serious disorganisation of the business of the country by agreeing to recognise the Irish Bank Officials’ Association.

The resolution continued: “We are confident that the recognition of an Association such as this composed of gentlemen known as us all cannot be hurtful to any banking institution, but would tend rather to promote the good feeling that ought to exist between employers and the employed.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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