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.