Galway In Days Gone By

1915

Clifden murder

Clifden has been the scene of a terrible tragedy, as a result of which Owen Coyne, a Cleggan farmer, aged 60, met his death. The unfortunate man was present at Clifden fair on Friday last.

While he was standing in the street, two young men came along. One of them shoved him, and the other struck him on the head. The man fell heavily on the footpath. He never spoke afterwards, and died fifteen minutes later.

On Sunday, Festy Walsh, a native of Inishturk Island, who had been arrested by the police in the mountains, was charged at a Special Court in Clifden with the wilful murder of Owen Coyne and remanded to Galway Jail.

A clever ruse

At a meeting of the Letterfrack branch of the United Irish League at Tullycross, a letter was read from the C.D. Board, which had been forwarded by Mr. O’Malley, M.P., stating that they had made inquiries re the Curragh farm, Renvyle, and the solicitors for the landlord had stated that no proceedings were pending in any Court for the sale of those lands.

Commenting on the letter, Mr. Lacy said it had been reported by the landlord’s followers some time ago that this farm was to be disposed of. It was now seen that the statement was altogether unfounded, and it was certainly a very mean dodge to spread such a rumour. The report was put out for a purpose and that purpose was very apparent.

It was to lull the people into the belief that all would be well and that the League would not be further needed, on order that the graziers might again have full sway.

1940

Lack of civic spirit

At this week’s meeting of Galway Corporation, Mr. Faller said the fountains all over the town are in a shocking state.

Ald. Miss Ashe: What is our Water Inspector doing?

The Mayor remarked that the Borough Surveyor should also see to the matter.

Mr. Redington said that it was a disgrace the way the fountains in Bohermore were being treated. Every time they were repaired, they were damaged again. In his opinion, these fountains should be taken away altogether and then the people of Bohermore might learn to respect public property.

Ald. O’Flaherty: I am sorry to say that the lack of civic spirit in Galway is most pronounced.

Ald. Miss Ashe remarked that the man who assisted the Water Inspector lived in Bohermore and he should know who was damaging the fountains.

Ald. O’Flaherty: I saw a fountain running and a Corporation employee who was there would not go to the trouble to turn it off; I had to turn it off myself.

Ald. Miss Ashe: If the public fountains were taken away altogether, the people who are being accommodated by them would have to reconnect with the water main.

Mr. Redington concurred and added that it would be no harm to make such people realised that they were getting services for which they were not paying.

Rate collectors warning

Mr. C.I. O Floinn, County Secretary, told the finance committee of Galway County Council he was sick of issuing warnings to rate collectors. He pointed out that where a collection was better than previous year’s collection it did not necessarily mean that it was good. Collections should not be compared with what they should be and not what they had been.

When the committee were considering the remission of penalties imposed on some of the collectors the County Secretary told the members that the collection would not improve while penalties were being remitted.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.