Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1915
Hero Sergeant
At the Galway Petty Sessions, Sergeant Bernard Leo Phillips, A.S.C., was presented with a cheque for £10 and a framed certificate on behalf of the Carnegie Hero Fund for great bravery displayed by him last May when he jumped into the Eglinton Canal, Galway and rescued a drowning man.
Chairman Joseph Kilbride, R.M., said the incident redounded to the credit and valour of the Galway people, as represented by Sergeant Phillips, who when home on sick leave, and actually lying in bed at the time, heard cries for help coming from the Canal, and immediately got up, dived into the water at a very dangerous spot, and succeeded in reaching the person who was then below the surface of the water.
With very considerable difficulty, he succeeded in bringing the man to land, at the imminent risk of his own.
They all recognised that, of course, as one of the best acts any human being could perform, for “greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friend”.
Such acts were being performed every day on the battlefield, but a man who did what Sergeant Phillips had done displayed more valour than that of the bravest man whose blood was up on the battlefield, and he (Chairman) was sure that young man would add further laurels to those he had already won.
1940
Kicked out by wives
A letter was read from Supt. Walsh, Garda Siochana, at Tuam Town Commissioners, with reference to the report of alleged malicious damage to unoccupied houses on Gilmartin road, and stating that a Garda patrol had visited the locality.
On one night they found the back doors of six houses wide open and two men lying on grass in one house beside the kitchen fire. The explanation given by the two men was that their wives would not allow them into their own houses, and the men therefore decided to stay in those two houses for the night, The Superintendent stated the Gardai found no evidence of malicious damage.
Local security force
About 700 members of the North Galway Local Security Force “A” section, took part in a special parade at Castlehacket on Sunday last. Contingents were present from practically all units in the area.
The Tuam section of about ninety men, in the charge of Michael Powell, Vice-O.C., cycled from Tuam and created a big impression as a mobile unit. These men were given instructions in the use of firearms, and Lieutenant P. Kelly, a Tuam man, gave instruction in the use of the machine gun. Sergeant John Burke, the Galway county footballer, also acted as an instructor.
At the conclusion of the day’s manoeuvres, the men were addressed by Major O’Connor, Commandant, who congratulated them on the enthusiasm and discipline in that area and on the loyal manner in which they had answered their country’s call in the present crisis.
Death sentence
The sentence of death passed by a special military court in Dublin upon Patrick McGrath and Thomas Green, alias Francis Hart, for the murder of Detective Officer Richard Hyland, at Rathgar-road, Dublin, was carried out on Friday at 6.40a.m.
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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