Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1916
Farmers victimised
Three daring shooting outrages are reported to have occurred on Friday night in the neighbourhood of Loughgeorge, Galway. The dwelling houses of three farmers were in each case attacked, gunshots being fired in through the kitchen, parlour and bedroom windows.
In the house of Thomas Caulfield, Ballymoneen, Michael Brannelly and Thomas Lardiner, Cregmore, three, four and five shots, respectively, were fired and the glass completely broken.
It is alleged as a motive for the outrages that the parties supplied farm produce to a local gentleman looked on by a section of the public as unpopular in the district.
No arrests have yet been made in connection with the shootings in the Loughgeorge sub-district.
The only motive alleged for these wanton outrages is that the parties recently sold turnips and other farm products to Mr. Frank Shaw-Taylor, Moorpark, Athenry.
Ancient memorials
The recent death of Mrs. Kirwan, the owner of Lynch’s Castle, Galway, recalls the discussions that took place in archaeological circles some time ago.
A project was in contemplation to take over this relic of the past and preserve it as one of Galway’s ancient memorials. Some will say that, at a time when history is in the making before our eyes, when the fortunes of empires are resting upon shifting foundation, we should look at the present and to the future rather than on the past.
1941
Seed on credit
A scheme to enable farmers to get seed, wheat, seed oats, seed barley, seed potatoes and, if available, fertilizers on credit, was adopted by the Finance Committee of the Galway County Council. The benefits of the scheme will be open to all farmers who provide two approved sureties, each with a valuation of £10 or over.
The Council will pay cash down to the merchants who supply the seeds and fertilizers and will collect five per cent interest from the recipients on or before December 31st next.
Fuel shortages
Connemara seems to be facing one of the greatest emergencies in its history since the families. Less than two months ago, I wrote in this column that it would not require an invasion to bring this about; and now it appears that my statement was only too true.
The effects of the petrol restrictions have already been felt acutely in the outlying districts where temporary local famines for such essential supplies as flour, bread, and paraffin oil have been experienced during the past fortnight.
The Galway wholesale vans which supplied practically all the shops in the area have reduced or completely discontinued their Connemara journeys.
The same is true of the bread vans, and even the G.S.R. lorries do not appear to be making their usual runs. Every shop in the area usually dealt with a number of different wholesalers’ vans, buying small supplies two or three times a week, so that when the vans ceased to call, these shops were left with perhaps only one-third of a week’s supply.
Biscuits instead of bread
A member of the station party in one Connemara Garda barracks told me that they had nothing to eat with their breakfast and tea for the past week but biscuits. They had been depending on loaf bread and the bread vans let them down.
I have known many poor families in the Connemara area who, during the flour shortage last week, had not even biscuits, for the simple reason that they could not afford to buy them in sufficient quantities to take the place of bread.
Add to that the spectacle of the whole household down with the ‘flu and you have a picture of misery that requires no embellishment.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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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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.
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
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.
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