Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

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5 years ago

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Tom Feeney, Fairhill Road, pointing to the damage on the Claddagh Coach outside his home. A David versus Goliath tug of war has developed between Tom and C.I.E. over the preservation of the Claddagh Coach. The citizen distressed by the deterioration of the coach which was parked for some years in the C.I.E. main city yard took the coach to his own home and wanted to preserve it properly or be given a guarantee that C.I.E. would do so before he handed it back. The Claddagh Coach was a first class example of the transport of its era and sections of it at least are several hundreds of years old. Its origins are not quite clear but the coach made its first public appearance of modern times about the mid 1950s when the late Brian B. Collins, then manager of the Great Southern Hotel, had it redecorated and introduced a coach tour of Galway which was very popular with tourists for many years.

1920

Apathetic electorate

“Utter apathy” is the phrase that would best describe the attitude of the general public towards the Local government elections which will be held in June. Indeed, as far as County Galway is concerned, these elections are all but over.

Twelve members of the County Council have already been elected; only eight remain to be elected for the Galway and Connemara areas. Thus in three of the five county electoral areas there will be no contests.

In the Galway area there are six candidates for four seats; in the Oughterard (Connemara) area there are five candidates for four seats.

The most noteworthy feature of the county and rural elections is the disappearance out of public life of old and familiar figures. A few of those who had themselves nominated have since withdrawn.

Only stalwart fighters like Mr. Martin McDonogh remain to carry the contest to the polling booth.

Secret societies

Mr. A. Staunton (Chairman) presided at the weekly meeting of the Ballinasloe Urban Council on Tuesday evening, Mary 4. The other members present were: Messrs. J. Shaughnessy, F. Clayton, Craughwell, T. Derham, T. Murray, McDonnell, M. Connolly, Michl. Ryan, M. Nevin and Dr. Rutherford.

This was the first meeting to be held at the new hour – eight o’clock. The members assembled in committee at 7 o’clock to discuss an important question concerning the rents and tenants of the Council’s cottages.

The proceedings continued on to eight o’clock, when the estimate for the current year was also discussed in detail, but no decision was arrived at. The Press was not permitted to be present. The rate question was again gone into at the Council meeting proper, which was held at 8.30.

Mrs. Gavin was waiting from 7 until 8.30 with a view to asking the Council to provide a recreation ground for the town. When allowed into the council chamber, she indignantly said: “It is scandalous to keep ratepayers outside – they should be allowed to be present.”

Proceeding, Mrs. Gavin said she was kept waiting in the cold for an hour and a half, and it was the people who were saying rates should be allowed to be present.

“There should be no secret societies,” she asserted with great heat.

Chairman: The meeting should only start at 8 o’clock. – “There should be no secret societies behind the ratepayers’ back,” answered Mrs. Gavin. “Waiting for an hour and a half is uncalled for.”

The minutes having been read, Mrs. Gavin asked if there was anything regarding the deputation that was to wait on Mr. Davidson regarding the horse show grounds.

The Chairman said there was a letter from Mr. Davidson saying it was his recollection that the trustees of the Clancarty estate would not consent to the extension of the grounds for various reasons.

Mr. Ryan suggested that a point deputation from the Council and parties interested in town wait on Mr. Davidson. Mr Clayton seconded, the Chairman agreed, and this was the decision come to.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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