Galway In Days Gone By

1915

A serious problem

Although taking the country as a whole, there has been a decrease in the deaths from all forms of tuberculosis disease, the returns for Co. Galway dealt with in a report by the Tuberculosis Medical Officer, do not disclose any great improvement in that county.

In the year 1913, the deaths from consumption in Galway numbered 289, or 136 more than the deaths from all the epidemic diseases combined.

In 1914, the deaths from all forms of tuberculosis came to 277, or nearly one-third of the total deaths from that disease in the entire province of Connacht.

Estimating that there are eight existing cases for each death, Dr. O’Beirne points out that there must be something like 2,312 persons in the county suffering from consumption.

Vice regal visitors

The Earl and Countess of Wimborne, who had been staying as the guests of Lord Dunraven at Adare for some days past, on Monday afternoon reached Tuam by special train, which had been placed at their disposal by the Great Southern and Western Railway Co.

Mr. Geo. E. Smyth, Superintendent, who had accompanied their Excellencies throughout their tour, also travelled by special train. The children and tutor from Adare accompanied their Excellencies as far as Limerick, when they left by the evening train for Dublin.

Lord and Lady Wimborne then proceeded by special train to Tuam, and were accompanied by Captain Graham, Aide-de-camp; Captain Humphrey Lloyd, Private Secretary, and Lord Basil Blackwood.

Although the news of their arrival in Tuam had only become known a short time before, a small crowd collected on the platform.

Her Excellency met Mr. R.F. Mullery, Clerk of Galway Union, who happened to be on the platform. She told him that: They found Ireland to be a most delightful country, and the people were the kindliest and best-natured they had ever met.

1940

Air raid shelters

Galway Harbour Commissioners at their fortnightly meeting discussed the advisability of providing air raid shelters at the Docks for the protection of their employees.

Captain Tierney: We have a mason here and it could be done cheaper if the Board decides that shelters should be provided. If there is any place at all around here that is to be bombed, it will be the Docks.

The matter was adjourned for one month.

Family dispute

At Galway District Court, before District Justice Sean Mac Giollarnath, Martin Bermingham, Eire Hotel, Salthill, was charged with assaulting Michael Staunton and with unlawfully entering his dwelllinghouse at Salthill on June 9.

Sergeant T. Baker said that on June 9 he went to the house in question and found the defendant there with his son. He arrested the defendant, who was charged at a special court and remanded to Limerick Jail for one week.

In reply to Mr. Conway (solr., defending), witness said that he did not see the complainant striking the defendant. He was aware that the house was in dispute between those two people.

Since the case had been adjourned, nothing had happened and the defendant had in no way broken the undertaking he had given.

Michael Staunton said that he was a son-in-law of the defendant and lived next door to him. On June 9, the defendant assaulted him. They had words before the assault took place. The defendant put witness’s wife and child out of the house.

Witness was not there at the time, but when he got back he got into the house and slept there. It was when he got back the assault took place, but it was not a serious assault.

In reply to Mr. Conway, witness said another daughter of the defendant’s, Mary, was a guest in his house and she had some words with witness’s wife. He denied that he struck Mary Bermingham and gave her a black eye. For the past three months, the defendant had behaved admirably.

Mr. Conway said that the defendant had spent a week in jail and having regard to the fact the he had since been so well-behaved, he would ask the Justice to take a lenient view of the case.

On the assault charge, the Justice fined the defendant 2s. 6d., with £1 1s. costs, and in the other case, with interference of lawful possession of the house, he sentenced defendant to seven days imprisonment, to date from the day of his arrest.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.