Galway In Days Gone By

1916

Youthful Volunteer

There is an air of romance about the experiences of Lieutenant Harry Tweedy, who rejoined his regiment, the 3rd Batt. Dublin Fusiliers, this week. Lieut. Tweedy, who is a mere boy, instead of returning to his studies at the Grammar School, donned the khaki as a private, and was subsequently made Corporal. He has now attained to the dignity of a long sword. His father was a former D.I. of Spiddal, and is now Co. Inspector at Bantry.

Tramway fares

We are informed that the Galway and Salthill Tramways Co. have decided to increase their fares. The new scale will be: Galway to Nile lodge, 1 ½d; Nile Lodge to Salthill, Nile Lodge to Salthill, 1 ½d; Galway to Salthill or vice versa, 3d., Children, any distance 1 ½d.

Flooding scandal

At the quarterly session of Tuam District Council, Mr. J.W. Ronaldson asked the County Surveyor what steps, if any, were being taken to remove the flood, eighty yards long and one foot deep, on the Sylane road.

Six or seven years ago, compensation was allowed to the man living on the side of the road for permitting the water to enter his land.

County Surveyor: The contractor told me that the man would not allow the water to be taken off to where it always went.

Mr. Ronaldson: What will we do?

Co. Surveyor: The contractor should summon him to the Petty Sessions, and I told him to do so.

Mr. Ronaldson: It is a scandal to allow it remain there. Something should be done to remove it.

Co. Surveyor: It is evidently stopped on purpose.

The Chairman Mr. P. Dermody, J.P., said that he saw several of the passages for the conveyance of the water off the roads stopped.

Mr. P.J. Costello: They can be prosecuted for that.

Chairman: It would be a good thing if we knew that they could.

1941

Emergency hospital

His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. M. Browne, Bishop of Galway, said on Sunday that he hoped an emergency hospital could be built in Galway on the east side of the river.

“The present Central Hospital is on the west side of the river and if any untoward events should occur, transport across the river might be impossible and, therefore, an emergency hospital would be needed on the east side of the river for the large population which exists there, because First Aid stations can only give first aid.”

Air Raid Precautions

Experienced drivers who are willing to volunteer their services for A.R.P. work, ambulance work, and other emergency duties, are requested to register with the Secretary, Galway County Council, stating their details, the types of vehicle which they are capable of driving (private car, van, or lorry), and whether they are willing to make their cars or other vehicles available for any duties required.

Service withdrawal

The Great Southern Railway Company gives notice that, owing to the serious restriction in the country’s petrol supplies, large reductions in the present passenger omnibus services have become imperative.

Services to be withdrawn: (Moneenageisha Cross-Eyre Square and Seamount), Galway and Clifden via Cong, Galway and Lisdoonvarna, Galway and Castlerea, Galway and Loughgeorge, Galway and Oughterard, Galway and Carraroe, Galway and Headford, Galway and Kilkerrin, Dunmore and Woodlawn.

Services to be altered or reduced: Galway City Services (Prospect Hill-Eyre Square-Salthill), Galway and Lettermullen, Galway and Sligo, Galway and Clifden via Oughterard, Galway and Limerick, Galway and Ballina.

The least possible reductions have been made in public services where there is no railway alternative, and the public are requested to utilise the railway services wherever alternative rail and road services are still retained, and thus help the country in the emergency that has arisen.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.