Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1915
Mad with drink
A remarkable story of a son’s return from a fair “mad with drink”, of his assault upon his aged father, of his being bound with ropes – an operation in which his wife assisted – while the members of the family went to get a warrant for his arrest, and of the burning of the barn with two live pigs, during their absence, was told at Spiddal Petty Sessions.
Stephen Walsh junr., a man of 50, was charged in custody with assault upon his father, a man of 84, and with arson. From the evidence of the father and brother, it appeared that the accused, who had been drinking for the past three years, was like a lunatic when he got drunk, and some time ago his wife had applied for an order to a magistrate to commit him to an asylum.
The doctor had let him off on his undertaking not to take any more drink, and not to attack his wife again.
On the present occasion, as they were binding him, he bit his father’s thumb, and drew blood. Accused said he had taken the pledge for life in prison on the previous day.
He was returned for trial to the Quarter Sessions, bail being allowed. Sergeant Reidy, Spiddal, said he had no positive evidence that could connect the accused with the arson charge.
1940
Dole abolition
On October 29th the employment period under the Unemployment Assistance Act will come to an end. After that date, it is doubtful if the “dole” will again be paid to able-bodied men. I learn that the government is seriously considering the whole position at the moment and is strongly in favour of scrapping the whole “dole” system.
Unless some better system can be put into operation Connemara would suffer acutely under such a change. Even as things are, there are families in the Rosmuc and Carraroe areas who have been left destitute as a result of the “employment period” regulation.
During that period only fathers of families having a certain maximum valuation are eligible for the “dole”, but there is nothing in the Act to provide for landless men.
In the areas mentioned there are dozens of landless men with large families living in little hovels which they built for themselves on commonages. Since the “employment period” came in, these families have been existing solely on the charity of their neighbours and the local clergy.
The situation is becoming more desperate day by day and unless something is done immediately, it will assume the proportions of tragedy.
Bohermore sabotage
Three other medical officers who have knowledge of the insanitary conditions prevailing in connection with the septic tank at Bohermore have been asked to attend the first meeting of the Galway Corporation at which Dr. O’Beirne, County Medical Officer of Health, can be present to discuss the matter.
At the same meeting, it was revealed that the stream from the septic tank was deliberately blocked up with buckets, rags, clay and parts of motor cars taken from the municipal dump. It was mentioned that the carcass of a sheep had been thrown down a manhole at Shantalla.
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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