Galway In Days Gone By

1916

The Rebellion

An official wireless despatch, London 29th April, and officially communicated to this office this morning says: From an official message published this morning, apparently the Irish Rebellion is practically crushed and disorganised by the resistance of His Majesty’s Forces, and is rapidly disappearing.

James Connolly, already known to the public in connection with labour troubles in Dublin, has, it is understood, been Chief of the Rebel force, and is reported to have been killed.

The aftermath

We may wisely withhold comment upon the revolutionary outbreaks in Dublin and elsewhere, the bitter dregs of which we are not left to drink, until the data is available for a more settled judgment.

Four ugly features of the affair, however, which every Catholic and Nationalist will deeply deplore, at once reveal themselves. (1) The Casement episode (2) The reference in the Proclamation to our gallant allies in Europe; (3) The Socialists and Communists element in Dublin which seemed to have in some measure controlled the uprising; (4) The dark hints at secret societies.

So far as the aims of the revolutionaries are revealed by the Proclamation issued, their intention appears to have been to set up in Dublin, upon the slender mandate of their own judgment, a Republican Government, and apparently to call in for this purpose the assistance of Germany.

In the circumstances we cannot refrain from the comment that, even if the scheme were feasible and practical, the cure of German intervention would have been much worse than the disease.

Galway Police

Sir, I doubt if the public generally realise how much it is indebted to the magnificent conduct of the Royal Irish Constabulary during this present crisis. The devotion to duty of this splendid body of men has been simply superb.

They have been under arms literally night and day since Easter Monday, not having an opportunity of taking off their clothes for the past six or seven days, and only matching an odd hour’s sleep when and where they could, still armed and ready for a call to duty at any moment. We can never repay them.

Their officers have displayed untiring zeal and energy in safeguarding our lives and property, showing the greatest pluck under fire, under most trying circumstances.

Those who have followed the situation carefully know full well that the daring and brilliant little raid on Carnmore (although we, unfortunately, lost one poor fellow there) was a masterpiece of strategy.

From that moment, I believe the Sinn Féiners were unnerved and the town was safe. Altogether, the city owes a deep debt of gratitude to the R.I.C., and I think this fact should be brought home to everybody.

Lewis A. Tolputt, Taylor’s Hill, Galway.

1941

Conditions not so bleak

Mr. G. Bartley intervened in the debate in the Dáil on the rate for the Gaeltacht Services to correct some impressions which might have been created concerning in Connemara.

He said: “I did not intend to say anything on the estimate, but it is not easy to listen patiently to the position being painted as black as it possibly could be and much blacker than it really is.

“I am quite satisfied about one thing, that is, that the people in the Gaeltacht are certain that more has been done for them, not alone through this Department, which is very much handicapped as everybody knows, but in various other ways than was done for them previously.”

2,000 on the bogs

Mr. G. Lee, B.E., County Surveyor, told the Galway County Council finance committee on Saturday that he had 450 men working on thirty bogs in the county and that he expected to have close on 2,000 men working on fifty bogs before three weeks had passed.

Important Notice

In view of the fuel situation, it is essential that all domestic consumers, institutions, shops & offices reduce their electricity consumption by 25 per cent as from May 1st, 1941. Issued by the Electricity Supply Board.

May Fairs will be held

Once again the Tribune scores! In last week’s issue, our Dublin Correspondent announced that the ban on the holding of fairs in County Galway might be removed in a week. Today, we are happy to announce that his prediction has been realised.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.