Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1920
Ardrahan’s agony
In the early hours of Sunday morning men who, it is alleged, described themselves as “Black and Tans”, committed much destruction in Ardrahan and the surrounding villages, ill-treated some of the inhabitants, and threw the people into a state of panic and terror.
The little village of Ardrahan had long been noted as one of the most peaceable and law-abiding in the county. The attack is supposed to have been in reprisal for the ambush on the preceding Thursday.
The following is a list of the principal places destroyed:
Pk. Joyces, Ardrahan, dwelling-house and furniture totally burned;
Ml. Burke, Ballinaguive, dwelling-house and belongings, totally burned;
John Higgins, Ardrahan, haggard burned;
St. Teresa’s Parochial Hall, Labane, burned to the ground. Only the walls remain.
It would appear that on Thursday last a party of five police was proceeding to Drumharsna Castle, for the purpose of protecting a man named MacKey, who for a number of years has been in charge of the property of Lord Ashtown.
The police are said to have opened fire upon the ambushing party, which thereupon fled, leaving two revolvers and a shot-gun after them. None of the patrol appears to have been wounded.
The events of Sunday morning may be summarised as follows: At about a quarter to one a.m. (new time) four motor lorries arrived at Ardrahan. Almost immediately the men, who were armed, some of them being disguised and wearing trench coats and soft hats, rushed at the licenced premises of Mrs. James Joyce, smashed in the door with a sledge, and rushed upstairs.
Accosting John Joyce, son of Mrs. Joyce, they pointed a revolver at him and threatened him. Mrs. Joyce and her two daughters came out of their rooms, and Mrs. Joyce asked the men what they wanted. Then, it is alleged, a voice from outside shouted: “That is not the house,” and the raiders retreated.
They thereupon went to the house of Patrick Joyce, a smith, who lived a couple of doors away, and asked for John Joyce (Patrick Joyce’s son). The father said he did not know where he was.
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.
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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
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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.
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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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