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.