Galway In Days Gone By

1921

Visit cancelled

Considerable disappointment was caused at Loughrea on Friday when Mr. de Valera’s inability to visit the town that day and remain overnight with His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. O’Doherty, Bishop of Clonfert, as arranged, became known.

An urgent message, stated to be in connection with the present peace negotiations, while engaged in inspecting I.R.A. units in Clare, necessitated his prompt return to Dublin, whither he was accompanied by Mr. Cathal Brugha, Minister of Defence.

His tour in South-East Galway was to consist of an inspection of first, second and third battalions of the South-East Galway I.R.A. Brigade at Kilricle on Saturday, and on the fourth and fifth battalions of the same Brigade at Greendoor, Portumna, afterwards.

Equally keen was the disappointment created at Ballinasloe where elaborate preparations were made for the reception of the distinguished visitor.

A meeting of representatives of public bodies in the Town Hall, Ballinasloe, on Saturday night, to be addressed by the President, was necessarily cancelled, as well as the proposed reception and illuminations in Loughrea on the previous night.

The business on Saturday conducted by Mr. R. J. Mulcahy, I.R.A. Chief of Staff, was confined to purely military affairs.

The review at Kilricle on Saturday was a most impressive one. Composed of the first, second and third battalions of the South-East Galway Brigade, I.R.A., the parade was witnessed by a large crowd. In the parade were between twenty and thirty members of the Ballinasloe Cumann na mBan and forty of the Ballinasloe Fianna Éireann.

The latter, many of whom dressed in full uniform, presented a smart appearance and were the object of much admiration.

Oranmore fracas

A disquieting story comes from Oranmore of an incident which is alleged to have taken place between the I.R.A. and Black and Tans on Tuesday night.

On the part of the police, it is alleged that they were challenged by the I.R.A., and when one of the police pulled out a cigarette case the latter withdrew some distance and fired a shot.

On the other hand, it is alleged that the Black and Tans demanded drink at Costelloe’s public house free of charge, which was refused, and it is also stated that they used ugly expressions. The matter is being investigated by the liaison and police officers.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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