Galway In Days Gone By

1920

Shadow over Christmas

The suspicion of irony is inseparable from the Christmas wish this year. Nevertheless, although cynics may complain that to wish the Irish people a happy Christmas in the circumstances sounds suspiciously like whistling in a cemetery, we must abide by the time-honoured tradition, and, in conveying the old, old greeting, couple it with the fervent prayer that the shadow hanging over the country during this season may quickly pass.

Man’s chief happiness in this world consists in the power “to do proper things” – in other words, in the power to do his duty as he conceives it in the light of the message that was brought to the cradle in Bethlehem twenty centuries ago.

Ireland is essentially a land of peace. If the shadow of militarism were once lifted, we believe there is a great future before our people.

In this hope, at least, we can get a distant glimpse of happiness, however gloomy the outlook at the moment.

As we repair our altars and hearths, let the spirit of the season inspire our thoughts and actions, and let our fervent pray or be that the end of Ireland’s long-drawn out agony is at hand.

Island ‘round-up’

Two men were shot dead on the hills beyond Kilronan, Aran Islands, during a “round-up” there in the early hours of Sunday morning, when 250 men in full war equipment took up positions on the heights, whilst the village was being searched.

At ten o’clock on Saturday night a full mixed party of police and military in full war equipment with machine guns embarked on a cruiser at Galway, and steamed at full speed for the Middle Island of Aran, in Galway Bay.

During the darkness of the night, shortly after the moon had set, the cruiser landed the party on the island. Armed men silently took up positions on the hills overlooking the sleeping town, whilst others proceeded to search for men who are “wanted” or were supposed to be “on the run” there.

Some men were captured in the search; others are stated to have escaped in the night, which was dark and foggy.

In the morning the sentinels upon the hills saw men coming towards them. It appears that fire was opened. One man is said to have dashed through a veritable hail of bullets. He was pursued, and, putting up his hands, surrendered and was taken captive.

Two men, however, were shot dead in, it is stated, attempting to escape on the hills about two miles beyond Kilronan.

Eleven prisoners were taken to Galway on the destroyer, and have been lodged in the recent established internment camp at the Town Hall. It is stated that others were wounded during the firing, which appears to have taken place at intervals from dawn until mid-day on Sunday.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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