Galway In Days Gone By

1916

Home from the trenches

On Tuesday night last, Lieut. Anderson (son of the President of University College, Galway) arrived home from the trenches for a brief holiday. Lieutenant Anderson joined the Connaught Rangers in October 1914, and after spending nearly twelve months in training, was sent to the fighting line in France, where he has been for the past three months and a half.

In the trenches, Lieutenant Anderson had been in charge of trench mortars. The famous battle of Loos had only been fought when he took his place in the firing line, and since then the fighting has been of an intermittent character, although not as severe as in the autumn.

The men, he says, are in fine condition, and are all confident of the result of the war.

The general health of the troops is very good. He met two Galway men, Lieut. Rowland and a soldier named Sullivan, of the Royal Engineers. The troops, he said, are well provided with newspapers, and follow the developments of the war on all fronts. Lieut. Anderson leaves again for the front on the 1st February.

Carpenters leave town

A statement was made at a recent meeting of the City branch of the Town Tenants Association that a certain firm (whose name was not given) had refused an order for the making of ammunition boxes in Galway, and that several carpenters had to leave the town in consequence.

Messrs. Thomas McDonogh and Sons inform us that they quoted for, and went to some considerable trouble to obtain, the order for ammunition boxes, but so far it has not come their way. When it does, they will be only too happy to execute it. Meanwhile, no carpenters have left their employment.

1941

New regional hospital

Plans for Galway’s new regional hospital are now ready, the Mayor, Alderman J.F. Costello, H.C., told members of Galway Corporation.

“It may be said that building at the present time is out of the question,” said the Mayor, “but a start could be made clearing the space and preparing the ground for the new building.

“It would be of incalculable value to the unemployed, as you all know, conditions in the city were never so bad.”

Mr. Young agreed that the question of the new hospital was very important. A few days ago, he said, a ‘plane came down in Cork. A similar thing could happen in Galway.

“If a ‘plane fell in a city, considerable destruction would be done to property and many people would likely be injured. If something like that happened in Galway, there is no place to which the injured could be removed for treatment. There is no room in the present hospital.

Air raid danger

At a meeting of Galway Corporation, County Commissioner Mr. C.I. O’Flynn said: “It will be appreciated that if we should become involved in hostilities, or even if there should be isolated air raids such as those which occurred in Dublin and some of the eastern counties, damage might be caused to water mains and sewerage pipes, and if the necessary pipes are not now provided for the repair of any damage done, difficulty may be experienced in obtaining the pipes at a later date.”

More bad meat

The seizure of meat at Galway abattoir on five occasions during the past month and its destruction on the grounds that it was unfit for human food was also reported to the meeting. The County Medical Officer of Health stated in his report that the veterinary Inspector made nine periodic surprise visits to the abattoir and made ante and post mortem examinations of all animals and carcases on the premises on each occasion.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.