Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1916
The nation’s decision
Under the War Emergency Measure, it is proposed to set up immediately for 26 counties of Ireland a Home Rule Parliament in Dublin with an Irish Executive responsible to it, “with”, to quote Captain Stephen Gwynn, M.P., “both the Great British Parties committed to make it a success.”
This is a temporary expedient which will be reviewed at the Colonial Conference after the war, when the Premiers, many of them of Irish descent and all of them plighted Home Rulers, will have a voice in deciding the crucial question of the inclusion of the six Ulster Counties.
Will Ireland accept the settlement? Should she accept it? This is the question of the hour. It was discussed in all its possibilities at two memorable conferences held in Galway this week when Mr. O’Malley, M.P., and Capt. Gwynn, M.P., fresh from the party meeting on Saturday, put the situation clearly and ably before the people.
Accident at the Square
On Wednesday afternoon, a farmer from Moneymore, Oranmore, named Commins, sustained an accident in the city which necessitated treatment in the Co. Hospital where he is now detained. It would appear that on the afternoon of that day, he was driving a common car down Eyre Square East.
He somehow let the reins fall and they trailed on the ground, frightening the rather spirited horse attached to the vehicle. The latter charged down the incline, and when opposite Mr. Lydon’s licensed premises, Forster-street, Commins, who had held on till then, leapt off, and the car passed over him.
First aid was rendered by the military doctor of the troops now stationed at Oranmore. He was found to be suffering from bruises on the leg and severe fractures on the face, but his injuries are not considered serious.
1941
No rates increase
A rate of thirty shillings in the pound valuation has been struck by the Galway Corporation for the maintenance of social services in the city in the coming year. This is the first time since the Corporation came into office at the end of 1937 that it has been found possible to keep the rates at the same level for two consecutive years.
The new Connacht
A phrase used by the Minister for Defence when visiting the Shanafeistin reclamation scheme graphically epitomised the work which is being done there by members of the Construction Corps.
“These splendid young men,” said Mr. Traynor, “are undoing Cromwell’s work by providing comfortable homes for the descendants of those who were given the choice of hell or Connacht.”
It is, we believe, the most ambitious land reclamation scheme ever attempted in this country and should be the first of many similar schemes to be inaugurated.
There is plenty of land in the West waiting to be reclaimed and the successful execution of such works on a large scale would confer a benefit not only upon Connacht, but upon the country as a whole.
Mayor’s Fuel Fund
How to keep the home fires burning in the houses of the Galway poor always has been one of the greatest problems confronting those who sought to relieve distress in the city.
This fact was referred to by His Lordship, the Most Rev. Dr. Browne, Bishop of Galway, when addressing a meeting to support the Mayor’s Fuel Fund. In this respect, he said the fund had lifted an immense burden from the other charitable organisations in the city.
His Lordship spoke of the value of the fund in keeping homes together and the disastrous consequences to children who were deprived of home life. A great deal of the spirit of destructiveness of which they heard so much recently could be traced back to the fact that children had not proper homes.
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.
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.
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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