Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1915
Big city blaze
The people of Galway were much surprised to find on last Saturday morning (the morning of the great September fair) that the commodious drapery premises of Messrs. Frank McDonagh and Co., Williamsgate-street, had been the scene of a big fire during the night.
The whole place was practically gutted with the exception of the ground floor of the shop, where, however, portion of the valuable stock was seriously damaged by water.
The outbreak was first noticed by a young man named Allen, who is in the employment of Mr. Walsh of the Square. This was about 4 o’clock, a.m. Mr. Allen noticed smoke issuing from the windows and at once gave information to the police patrol, which was not far off.
They immediately raised the alarm, and, with the assistance of the men on night duty, hastily procured the post office fire hose, which in a short time was pouring a continuous jet of water into the burning building.
The fire hose which the Urban Council keeps for such emergencies, was brought into operation at the same time, but it proved to be defective.
The origin of the fire is unknown, but it was first noticed on the top storeys, and in less than a few minutes after its discovery, had taken complete possession of that portion of the house, and all the valuable stock was consumed.
The firm had just got their winter supply of costly furs, millinery, costumes, etc., so that the loss sustained in this department alone must have been considerable.
At one time, it was very doubtful if the premises of Mr. Michael Costello, victualler, and Mr. J. O’Donovan, fruiterer, which adjoin on either side, could be saved; but fortunately, the worst fears were not realised.
‘Whip’ jailed
At the City Petty Sessions, Tom O’Neill (“Whip”) was charged by Head-Constable Killacky with being drunk and disorderly outside the parochial house.
Defendant asked to be let off, and he would not be up for three years again.
Complainant said defendant was a general nuisance. When he took drink, he lost his senses. Their worships ordered him to be kept in jail for 14 days.
1940
Communal kitchen
Rahoon Parish Council at their meeting discussed the possibility of establishing communal kitchens in Galway, at which the poor could be fed during an emergency.
Mr. Faller, who suggested the idea, said that the people seemed to be under the impression that if an emergency arose the Government would hand them out tea, sugar and other commodities.
Very Rev. P. Canon Davis, P.P., Chairman, agreed and said that while the country people already had essential foodstuffs such as potatoes, eggs and butter, the townspeople, especially the labourers, were the trouble, and the Committee should therefore try to get the richer people to lay in essential commodities so that they could help the poorer in time of emergency.
Rev. Chairman: The centres in our own parish would be Henry-street, White Strand Road, Minster lane and Shantalla. We would want to find out how many families a kitchen would cater for.
Tactical exercises
The beautiful wooded glens of Moycullen, where some of the most exciting episodes of the Anglo-Irish war took place, re-echoed once more to the sounds of marching feet and machine-gun fire, when on Sunday nearly a thousand men, members of the Galway Local Security Force and the men of the National Army took part in the first large-scale tactical exercises.
The purpose of the operations, which lasted from 2pm to 7pm, was to show the difficulties which beset an attacking force in wooded and hilly country, and much-needed information was obtained.
The operations cleverly demonstrated the fact that in difficult terrain, L.S.F. men with a good local knowledge of the country could hold off an enemy, no matter how well equipped, until trained troops arrived – a very valuable demonstration.
The attacking force had failed to advance more than ten miles in five hours.
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.
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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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