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.