Galway In Days Gone By

1920

Criminal injuries

The remarks of Mr. Thomas Ruane, Co.C., at the meting of the Galway Rural District Council on Saturday last, reported on page seven, mark, we hope, a healthy awakening on the part of the representatives on our pubic boards to the plight in which the ratepayers of the County Galway are placed by the criminal injuries’ tax.

The announcement in our issue that, in round figures, £20,000 will be claimed at the Easter sittings of the Quarter Sessions has aroused the people to the dangerous reality of the situation.

The rate paying public are being headed straight for bankruptcy, and the sooner they realise it, the better.

If the present state of things continue, if the cattle-maimer, the thief, the arsonite, the night marauder – aye, and the murderer – are allowed to carry on in their campaign unchecked the farmers will find themselves burdened with a cess that will be beyond their capacity to pay; they will be taxed to such an extend that their land will be hardly worth the tilling.

It is not the ratepayers who are guilty of malicious acts of damage for which they are called on to pay so dearly.

It is then, for them to put their foot down. They must make it plain that those who are responsible for the outrages which are piling up the rates by such alarming amounts shall have no place amongst men who are anxious for the country’s welfare and the people’s good.

St Patrick’s celebration

The usual holidaying crowd of people from the country districts came to Galway on St. Patrick’s Day, and with the business houses closed, there were fairly large numbers on the streets although the weather was rough.

The shamrock was worn by everybody. Members of the Fáinne spoke only in Irish, and this rule was followed by many Gaelic Leaguers. Nothing of exceptional interest occurred during the day.

The sermons and devotions in all the churches were in Irish. The Lord Bishop Most Rev. Dr. O’Dea, presided at High Mass at eleven o’clock in the Pro-Cathedral; the Rev. J. Moran, C.C., was celebrant; Rev. Fr. Green, deacon; Rev. T. O’Kelly, sub-deacon; and Rev. J. O’Kelly, P.P., Master of Ceremonies.

In Loughrea the National Festival was fittingly observed. Business houses were closed and tere was a complete cessation of work.

The trefoil was much in evidence and at a few points of vantage the tricolour floated. A gratifying feature of the observance of the day was the complete absence of drunkenness on the streets.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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