Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1919
Essential publicity
At the conclusion of the quarterly meeting of Galway County Council on Wednesday of last week, the question of the county advertising was discussed. The subject came up at the end of a three hours’ sitting, the great part of which was concerned with demands for increases in salaries.
In fact, if these demands had been cut out, there would be very little County Council left! But the attendance had petered away, and scarcely a quorum was left to decide whether the Council should or should not advertise its various activities in the principal newspapers in County Galway.
The attitude of these remaining members was decidedly friendly and intelligent. But the attitude of the two principal officials of the Council, both of whom took part in the discussion, deserves careful examination.
For it has to be remembered that without publicity – adequate and full publicity – a representative money-spending authority must cease to function healthily as such and may become a danger and a menace to the community.
Moreover, a cardinal principal of democracy is undermined by the refusal to adopt or frankly to submit to such publicity, and the most vicious form of bureaucracy is enthroned in its stead.
Let there be no mistake on this point. We have already seen how necessary. how absolutely essential, is the fullest and frankest publicity in relation to the administration of public bodies in County Galway. It is therefore of relatively greater significance when It concerns the premier spending authority.
Pay increase
Last evening, Mr. E. P. Harte, organiser of the Dock Labourers’ Union, with Mr. P. Garvey, chairman of the branch, and Mr. W. Flaherty, secretary, met the Employers Federation in conference, Mr. Martin McDonogh in the chair, and as a result of an interchange of views an all-round increase of 4s. was granted for all classes of men, with the exception of the workers in the flour mills who have recently had an advance under the Government scheme.
The proceedings were most cordial, and the utmost good-will was displayed on both sides. This brings the wages of the ordinary worker up to £2 5s. 6d. weekly.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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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
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.
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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