Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By
1914
Connaught Rangers in action
Private J. Sweeney, 2nd. Battalion, Connaught Rangers, who has just returned to his home at Keelogues, near Creggs, Co. Galway, wounded from the front, gives an interesting account of his experiences.
Pte Sweeney is a special reserve man, and has had the unique experience of serving under three crowned heads – Queen Victoria, King Edward, King George. In his early life he took part in several engagements in India, including the famous Tibet Expedition under Col. Sir Blindon Blood.
When the present war broke out, he at once joined his old regiment, and went out with the first expeditionary force under General Sir John French.
After landing in France, he says, we immediately proceeded northwards, ultimately reaching the Allies’ lines as they were retiring from Mons. My regiment took part in numerous other engagements during that retreat, and although a good many were killed and wounded, still we accounted for a good many Germans.
We made an exceptional stand against overwhelming numbers on the banks of the Aisne. For nine weeks, we were entrenched along the river side and notwithstanding the fierce attacks both day and night by the Germans, we held our own.
The heavy artillery fire of the Germans was very effective, and the accuracy with which they found range was most remarkable. With the rifle they are practically useless, and the British troops score wonderfully in bayonet charges.
The Germans have a holy horror of the bayonet, and fly in the most cowardly manner when charged. I took part in the battle of Sedan. For several days there was continuous, fierce fighting. The Germans were constantly dropping their shells in our midst, our position being accurately gauged by their aeroplanes.
These aeroplanes are damnable things, and it is extremely hard to evade them. Many of them were brought down, but it was no easy task to do so. It was subsequent to the battle of the river Marne, while on the march, that I got wounded by a shell bursting close to our ranks, a portion of which cut me deeply on the thigh.
In hospital, both doctors and nurses were very kind. I was on active service for about 26 weeks, and can bear personal witness to the fact that the Scots’ Greys, the Coldstreams, the Connaught Rangers and the Irish Guards acquitted themselves with great bravery on the battlefield.
1939
Cruelty is rare
Speaking at the annual meeting of the Galway branch of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, his lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Browne, Bishop of Galway said the work of the Society was a work that should appeal to all religious, charitable and humane people.
Anyone who had any experience of life knew that children suffered intensely in body and in mind from cruelty or neglect. The children were God’s most dear and innocent creatures and anyone who tried to protect them was doing Christ-like work.
“Fortunately,” said his lordship, “in this country, deliberate cruelty is rare. But neglect arising from drunkenness or from laziness or from misfortune through death of a parent or loss of property is frequent.
“When they find cases, it is not true that the inspectors bring them all into court, as we can see. Out of 134 cases dealt with affecting 445 children, only three cases were prosecuted.
“The object of the Society is to try to meet each case in the most humane and tactful way possible. It is not true that it is the policy of the Society to run all children into an institution.”
Dancing by candlelight
A large portion of Galway was plunged into darkness at about 9.40 on Sunday night when the electric current failed and the performances in the Town Hall and Savoy Cinemas were brought to an abrupt ending.
A dance which had been in progress in the Galway Rowing Club at Woodquay was also held up for some time, but dancing continued in candlelight.
Officials of the E.S.B. found that the trouble had been caused by a piece of copper wire being thrown over the mains and Woodquay and full lighting was restored inside an hour. Gardaí are investigating the matter.
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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