Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1916
Battle of Clarenbridge
Owing to the isolation of parts of the country quite closely connected at normal times, the people of Galway did not know that one of the fiercest engagements of the Rising, so far as the county is concerned, took place around the police barracks of Clarenbridge.
The plan of the insurgents appears to have been to attack Oranmore and Clarenbridge police barracks simultaneously and for the purpose of ensuring the success of this venture, they endeavoured to stop traffic by erecting barricades between Clarenbridge and Kilcolgan where there is another barracks garrisoned by over half-a-score of men, and between Clarenbridge and Oranmore.
Simultaneously, a somewhat abortive attempt was made to blow up the bridge near Oranmore on the Galway road, the rails were torn up at Derrydonnell, and the Oranmore signal cabin put out of commission.
Dividing themselves into two forces, the smaller surrounded the little garrison of four men at Oranmore, and whilst this, to quote Sergeant Healy’s description, was being “intermittently shot at by about 30 insurgents”, the equally small garrison at Clarenbridge were fighting for their lives.
Early on the fateful morning of Tuesday, April 25, they were surrounded by a hostile force numbering, it is alleged, over 200. A violent fusillade followed, and the constabulary men “entrenched” themselves as well as they could and replied with vigour.
Glass was smashed and bullets ricocheted about their heads. The insurgents sent a local clergyman to the police, calling upon them to surrender.
“No surrender!” was the reply. The “engagement” continued and it is even suggested that the insurgents hurled bombs and explosives against the barracks.
Later, the insurgents gave the sergeant fifteen minutes in which to surrender.
“You may cut the fifteen minutes,” was the reply. The siege went on, until reinforcements arrived from Kilcolgan, Oranmore was relieved, and the besiegers were compelled to fall in with the general retirement upon the camp at the Department’s Farm at Athenry.
1941
Turf export evil
“According to the official returns, 493,000 tons of turf were cut in County Galway in 1989 and it is expected that the quantity will be at least doubled this year,” said Mr C.I. O’Flynn, County Secretary, at a meeting of Galway County Council.
Replying to comments about the huge quantity of turf that was being sent out from Galway at very high prices to other counties, including Dublin, the County Secretary said that this was an evil which might produce some good.
It might stimulate the production of turf and is production took place on a large scale, prices would come down, and if they did not come down, the Government might step in and prohibit the carriage of turf for some areas.
Work-shy youths
Instances have been brought to my notice of late of young able-bodied men, residing in areas where the dole is paid all the year round, who will not accept employment unless it is of a character entirely to their liking. What a commentary on modern trends!
I was told of one town where an appeal was made for men to help at turf spreading and only a few elderly men turned up at the appointed centre. The young men scoffed at it.
A good many people are coming to believe that no able-bodied man without dependants should be paid the dole in the interval between now and October while there is useful public work which he could and should perform and for which he would receive reasonable remuneration.
Fuel shortage
The Irish Sea Fisheries’ Association at their first meeting in Galway heard of the plight of owners and crew of motor fishing boards in Galway City, Aran, and at other points along the coast of County Galway, who are unable to obtain fuel oil for the engines of their craft.
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
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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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