Galway In Days Gone By

1916

Prisoners released

Although the pleasant sounds of sickle and mowing machine are heard throughout the land, and the scent of new-mown hay gladdens the summer air, many of the Co. Galway boys arrested after the recent Rising still lie in English detention camps.

The process of hearing the appeals of those who claim release is being got through necessarily slow, having regard to the large number to be dealt with.

Messrs. Duffy and Cosgrave, M.P.s, have been doing everything possible to enlist the  aid of those in apposition to help the men detained.

Further, those two Galway members have frequently visited the detention camps, and obtained papers and other comforts for the prisoners.

Great Galway Carnival

What its organisers claim to be one of the greatest attractions ever organised in Galway will be the great Carnival and Fancy Dress Gymkhana to be held in the Square the week after the bazaar in aid of the Connacht Rangers and  Prisoners of War. There will be a bicycle          parade in fancy dress and prizes for the best costumes.

The other attractions will include a flower and confetti fete, a baby competition, and a pretty child competition, tandem bicycle driving in fancy dress, bicycle obstacle race, show riding competitions, egg and spoon race, hat trimming, and costume obstacle race, etc.

There will be a Café Chantant and Dancing Saloon, and the bands of the Connacht Rangers and Sherwood Forresters will attend.

1941

Petrol rations

“Is it rank stupidity or is it downright impertinence?” asked Mr. B. O’Sullivan, secretary of the Galway County Committee of Agriculture, after he had informed the members that the Department, after being recommended to supply thirty gallons of petrol for the month to Mr. Lombard, horticultural instructor, who had a fourteen h.p. car, had allowed only eighteen gallons, while they had allowed twenty-four gallons to a poultry instructress who had an eight h.p. car and had to cover only part of the area covered by Mr. Lombard. He (secretary) had been allowed only eight gallons to cover the whole county.

Galway Races

Twenty horses have accepted for the Galway Plate, and eighteen for the Galway hurdle. Rogers, about whose final selection there has been much speculation, has taken out five, but still has four left.

The Gripper, who, it will be recalled, fell early on in the race last year, will try again this year, and judging by his performance at Leopardstown, should have a great chance.

Ring of God, last year’s winner, will try to bring off a double. Sir Sen, second last year, has been taken out, but Swindon Glory is left in.

Teams selected

The Galway Senior, junior and Minor football teams for the Connacht finals were selected at a meeting of the Galway Co. Football Board, held in the Ivy Hotel, Eyre-street, Galway, on Sunday night, Mr. J.J. Nestor, chairman, presiding.

There are only two changes in the senior team compared with the team that defeated Mayo in the semi-final. Casey and Kitt are back among the subs, while Mulholland, now recovered after his recent injury, and Flavin, who came on to replace Kitt immediately after the interval in the semi-final, are back with the fifteen.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.