Galway In Days Gone By

1915

The submarine menace

The submarine menace is still with us, and the murder policy of the modern Hun was exemplified in the torpedoeing of the ‘Fulgent’ off Skelligs on the Kerry coast on Friday morning last, whereby two deaths must be recorded – that of the captain and a black man.

Nine of the crew of the Fulgent, which encountered a German submarine, were brought into Galway early on Monday morning by one of the Admiralty boats. The crew, seven of whom were blacks, were put up at the Seamen’s Home, where their wants were attended to.

The first shell from the submarine cross the Fulgent’s bows. A second shell shattered the bridge, killing the man at the wheel (a native of Jamaica) and injuring the captain. The crew of 18 at once took to the boats, and shortly after saw the steamer go down by the head,.

The crew, who were in the steamer’s two lifeboats, kept together during the day, but separated at night. The first boat, which contained the captain, was picked up by a trawler and landed on the Kerry coast, and the second boat’s crew were picked up by a collier, which passed them over to the patrol boat. None of the crew had time to save any of their belongings, and they left Galway on Monday afternoon by the mail train for Cardiff.

1940

Éire not for sale

At a convention representative of all the West Galway Fianna Fáil clubs, the Taoiseach, Mr. E. De Valera, who addressed the convention, denied the rumour which had been circulating in Dublin and which, that day, had found its way into an English newspaper that the Government had sold the Irish ports.

“Not an inch of this land is for sale,” he declared.

He said the Government did not desire an election at this time when they should rather be finding a point of unity rather than of difference, but the vacancy had existed for ten months, longer that it was usual to leave a seat vacant, and the Government thought it should be filled.

They were in dangerous times since the war broke out. A war such as it appeared at present would be as likely to affect every people, and the most important thing to remember was that it would affect them in many ways.

“It is a time for every one of us to take this war seriously and to realise that we are in danger.”

Passing of Mr. Kenny

With feelings of deepest sorrow, we announce the death of our Managing Editor, Mr. Thomas J.W. Kenny, which took place at his home at 5, The Crescent, Galway, in the early hours of Thursday morning. Not even the words that flowed like mercury from his facile pen can adequately described the great grief his death has occasioned.

Ireland has lost her staunchest champion, and Ireland will join in our heartfelt sympathy with the members of his family. The late Mr. Kenny was one of the foremost journalists of to-day. He was a brilliant wit and delightful conversationalist and speaker.

1965

Lion’s Tower

A member of Galway Borough Council maintained that Mr. John Higgins had been within his rights to partly demolish the Lion’s Tower Bastion in Eglinton Street.

Ald. Martin Walsh said the word “reconstruct” in his application for permission to do the work authorised him “to knock it to the ground”.

Mr. Higgins, an Eyre Street building contractor, planned to erect a suite of offices within the confines of the tower which he purchased after it ceased to be a national monument.

Work on the site commenced and proceeded until it was discovered that Mr. Higgins had exceeded permission and the site has lain exposed and idle for almost a year.

Tourism scheme delays

Bord Fáilte’s delay in starting the £500,000 Galway-Salthill tourist development scheme, planned over five years ago and due for completion this year, was strongly criticised at the Corporation meeting. The Board will be asked to receive a deputation to discuss the delay in the scheme.

Tennis Club expansion

The 1965 season at Galway Lawn Tennis Club seems destined to be an historic one of great advances. Tremendous changes are projected and will include new hard courts and improved dressing and showering facilities for players.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.