Galway In Days Gone By

1921

A welcome return

The railwaymen of Ireland have given the Irish people the New Year gift of a restored railway service. It now rests with the directors to do their part by restoring normal service with the least possible delay, and making a genuine effort to aid in an economic revival throughout the country.

The decision of the railwaymen to return to work was by no means so simple as some would have us believe; for it entailed on their part a complete reversal of a policy undertaken with the assent and support of a considerable section of their countrymen, and the circumstances of the time made such reversal difficult.

Nevertheless, when the railwaymen found that their policy was only resulting in serious injury to Irish trade and commercial interests, they had the strength of character to recognise its weakness, and to take steps to restore normal working conditions. In this they showed courage and wisdom, and revealed the truth of the statement that when democracy perceives its responsibilities, it is always ready to carry them out. It may make mistakes for a time, but it comes right in the end.

In the circumstances, it is discouraging in the extreme to learn that a hitch has occurred in the carrying out of the agreement come to as between the men and the Midland Great Western Railway. One would have thought that the Midland directors would put forward every effort to make up for lost time, and this appears to be the policy pursued by other companies.

But the Midland has not yet composed the trouble with its boilermakers, and the general manager states that until they have work for the men to do, they cannot undertake to provide all those who were suspended with employment. The matter has been referred by the National Union of Railwaymen to the Ministry of Transport, and we trust a satisfactory settlement will be arrived at without undue delay.

Behind bars

Locked behind prison bars, placed in surroundings that are sombre and monotonous in the extreme, debarred from beholding any of the beautiful works of the Creator except “that little tint of blue that prisoners call the sky,” cut away from everything that tends to brighten and enliven the festive season to Christmas, it was well night impossible for Irishmen interned in the various places of confinement throughout the country to enjoy the festival to any degree.

Still, it would appear that matters were by no means as dull or as morose as the situation would suggest. Many persons, irrespective of politics, sent numerous parcels suitable to the occasion to the prisoners in Galway, and did their upmost to brighten the lot of the captives.

Friends and relatives also sent fowl in abundance, and it is stated that as a result of unbounded generosity, the prisoners have a supply of food to take them over another week.

On the whole, it is stated that the prisoners enjoyed the occasion as well as, if not better than could be expected under the circumstances.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

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.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
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.