Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1916
Negligent councillors
There was important business to be transacted by the District Council of Oughterard last Thursday, but there was no meeting for want of a quorum. It may not be out of place to remind certain councillors of their lethargy in the discharge of their duties attached to their office.
Any man seeking the office of D.C. should in justice to all concerned, attend at least eight meetings annually, i.e., the quarterly and adjourned meetings.
I heard a very reasonable question asked by some contactors, who came across Lough Corrib at considerable risk and inconvenience to tender for roads, and had to return home again with their tenders unopened: “Where are the absent councillors?”
It has very frequently happened since the last triennial elections at important meetings, and contractors who have come 20 or 30 miles to tender for roads, and spend the previous night in town, have to return home disappointed for want of a quorum.
Firearms raid
A strange raid for firearms is reported to have occurred in the village of Caherhue about four miles from Tuam, on Sunday night week. It is stated that eight young men entered the house of a small farmer named O’Dea and demanded a firearm from him. They searched the dwelling and found a gun which they took away with them. Information as to the identity of the raiders has been given and it is surmised that police action will be taken.
1941
Sunday parade
The parade of the Defence Forces and Auxiliary Services will be held in Galway on Sunday next when the salute will be taken by An Taoiseach at Eyre Square (opposite Bank of Ireland at 3.30pm). Afterwards, An Taoiseach will address the Forces and the public at the Galway Sports Ground.
Airmail service
Why should not Galway have an air mail service to and from Dublin? The Corporation sees no reason why it should not – especially as there is talk of such a service between Dublin and Cork. So, at Thursday’s meeting it was decided, on the suggestion of Mr. P. Lydon, to urge the county’s representatives in the Dáil to get busy in the matter.
Turf problem
The well-to-do of Galway can purchase large supplies of turf, the very poor are catered for by the mayor’s Fuel Fund, but the small wage-earner in the city has neither the money nor the storage space to enable him to get in supplies.
Mr. P. Cooke made the above statement at Saturday’s meeting of the Galway County Council when asking the Council to sell surplus turf to the working people at the all-in cost on a cash and carry basis.
Unauthorised shed
Galway Corporation on Thursday agreed to serve prohibition orders on two persons who, it was reported, were building sheds or garages in Devon Park without having submitted plans to the Corporation for approval. The prohibition orders are intended to have the building work stopped until plans are submitted and approved.
Road flooded
Following heavy rainfall during the weekend, many roads in Connemara were flooded on Monday. The Galway-Clifden road was flooded at many points. A motor car which got stuck in flood water between Oughterard and Ross held up traffic for some time. At this point also, the water came in the door of the morning ‘bus from Clifden to Galway. The Maam Cross-Screebe road.
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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