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.