Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1915
SS Atlanta torpedoed
The SS Atlanta, a 519-ton steamer, was attacked and set on fire or torpedoed by a German submarine off Inishturk Island, between Clew Bay and Killary Harbour, about 11am on Sunday morning.
The admiralty report uses the word “torpedoed”, but the investigations of our special correspondent, who visited the scene and interviewed the crew early on Monday morning, would seem to indicate that the steamer was simply set on fire.
The Germans fired from revolvers and rifles at the crew, the 16 members of which got safely ashore on the island. They were subsequently brought to Tully and Clifden, and thence to Dublin, for Glasgow. The Atlanta was beached in Cleggan Harbour.
This is the furthest distance yet recorded of a submarine’s voyage from her base, and this is also the first time an engagement with a German submarine has taken place off the West Coast of Ireland, so far as is known.
After the crew had been put off in boats, the Germans set fire to the ship, and as the sailors were rowing for Inishturk, they saw the submarine making off at full speed in a south-westerly direction.
In the afternoon, the crew landed at Inishturk, where they were most hospitably entertained by the islanders, who provided them with bread and bacon and eggs.
1940
Connacht Senior Cup
University College, Galway, proved that they are worthy holders of the Connacht Senior Challenge Cup when, at the Sports Ground, on St Patrick’s Day, a large crowd saw them defeat Corinthians in the final by one placed goal and one penalty goal (8 pts) to nil.
While the game was singularly devoid of thrills, it was played at a fast and keen pace throughout. With a few exceptions, the players seemed to drop that Cup final complex of “don’t chance anything” and as a result, we had some splendid passing movements – especially on the College side – in which reversed passing figured largely.
On the Dole
Connacht continues to make a full contribution to the unemployed of Eire or possibly, so far as the West is concerned, it would be more correct to say, to the group of persons with little means, just enough and not much more, to render them ineligible for inclusion in the ‘no means’ category.
Last month, there were 17,621 persons ‘with means’ registered in Connacht, 17,483 being men. There were also 2,224 ‘without means’ registered, mostly men. There is a very stiff unemployment problem in Galway City and the area immediately around it.
‘Bus strike
No settlement has yet been reached in the strike which began in Galway on Tuesday afternoon when three members of the staff if the freight department of the G.S.R. were given notice that they would in future be employed on a casual basis.
Nineteen other workers struck in sympathy with them and when no settlement was reached on Thursday, the staff of the local ‘bus department also struck, with the result that all ‘bus services in city and county districts ceased to operate.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
