Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1916
Patient’s disappearance
On Tuesday night of last week, a patient in the Galway County Hospital disappeared, and, despite the most anxious and thorough search on the part of the hospital officials, the man’s own people, and the police, his continued absence remains unexplained.
His name is Fahy and his friends reside in Kilkerrin, Balliansloe. He was seen going out the back door by two of the wardsmaids, who attached no particular significance to the action as, apparently, it implied no violation of the rules of the institution.
When he did not return after a reasonable interval, a search was make of the grounds at the back, and of the dyke, by the hospital officials, but without result.
As it was thought he might have gone home, his people were communicated with, but he had not turned up there. In much alarm his friends at once came to Galway, and minutely went over the same grounds as the hospital, but with no better success.
The police investigated the environs of the lake, but no trace of the missing man could be found. It appeared that Mr. Fahy’s ailment was an affection of the heart and insomnia, but at the time of his disappearance he appeared to be in possession of all his faculties, and to be in good, sound spirits, there being nothing to indicate that, as far as he himself was concerned, he contemplated anything that would account for his non-return.
1941
Prom widening
Galway Corporation has adopted the suggestion made in a Connacht Tribune heading last week, and has recommended that the L.G.D. should give the widening of Salthill Promenade preference over minor road and footpath schemes recently prepared.
Salthill obstruction
Mr. P. O’Flaherty, B.E., Borough Surveyor, reported at the meeting of Galway Corporation that a large heap of sand lay alongside the channel in front of the building that had been erected for Mrs. Toft at Salthill and it appeared that the obstruction was not indicated by a light at night,
His Worship, the Mayor, Ald. J.F. Costello, P.C., H.C., who presided, said he had heard that there was nearly an accident out there.
Mr. Carrick said that a light should be provided or a watchman should be appointed to see that no accident occurred at night. The Corporation asked the Borough Surveyor to approach the owner and ask that a light should be provided.
Gravedigger shortage
Both the cost of living and the cost of dying occupied the attention of Loughrea’s Town Commissioners at their meeting on Monday. Mr. J Devine expressed the opinion that if the Government does not make an effort to stabilise the cost of living immediately, the country can be prepared for another wave of strikes.
Mr. J. Kilboy drew attention to the situation now existing in Loughrea where gravediggers cannot be got “for love or money”.
He gave instances of hardships caused to the bereaved when a funeral took place from Merlin Park to Mount Pleasant Cemetery recently when no one could be got to close the grave after the interment.
In another case it was suggested that as Co. Council workers could not get time off to close a grave until after quitting time in the evening, a funeral could not take place after Requiem Mass one morning to the same cemetery.
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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