Galway In Days Gone By

1915

Boys’ jail threat

At the City Petty Sessions, Thomas Dean, Henry-street West, Galway summoned two boys named Bartly Naughton and Dan Reilly of the same street for injury to his door to the amount of 10s.

Complainant deposited that he had warned Naughton’s mother previously to take her hens out of his garden. On the night of the 8th inst., shortly after he went to bed, the stoning of his door started, and was kept up for some time.

When witness looked out he saw about ten boys, of whom the defenders were the ring leaders, opposite the house behind the wall, firing the stones. There was a barrow-full of stones in front of the door.

Sergt. Golden said youngsters did a lot of mischief in that locality, and ran away when the police came on the scene.

Michael Naughton, father of one of the defendants, deposed that the two defendants were in his house that night at the time he (witness) heard the stone throwing going on.

Complainant: Are you aware the boys have a house there for gambling and every rascality. Defendant replied that some boys had a room there as a club.

Chairman: We think the old man has identified these boys sufficiently, and they will be fined 5s. Each, and 5s. Compensation and costs. The Chairman added that to his own knowledge, the conduct of the boys in Henry-street was exceptionally bad, as an instance of which he referred to the damage done to the urban Council cottages built there – the building which had done so much to raise the status of the town.

Such conduct was a disgrace, and if any of the boys, or others, were brought up again, they would have to go to jail.

1940

Body in suitcase

At Galway District Court before Justice Sean Mac Giollarnath, a domestic servant from Bohermore was charged with attempting to conceal the birth of her infant.

Dr. Joseph McHale, Galway No. 2 Dispensary District, deposed that on January 9 at about 8pm, in response to a telephone message, he went to Eglinton-street Garda station.

Inspector Leen was present and handed witness a suitcase. The suitcase was opened in his presence. It contained underclothing and the body of an infant. The suitcase and body were removed to the morgue at the Central Hospital.

A post mortem examination found that it was the body of a full-term female infant. There were no external marks of violence on the body. Witness formed the opinion that the child was still-born.

After hearing further evidence in camera, the Justice returned the accused for trial to Galway Circuit Court on her own bail of £20 and one surety of £10.

Protest against executions

Tuam Beet Factory workers made their protest against the executions of the two Irishmen, Peter Barnes and James McCormick, in England, by marching in formation from the factory on Saturday last and through the streets of the town. A decade of the Rosary was recited at the Square.

Diseases report

There were ten diphtheria cases and eighteen scarlet fever cases in County Galway in December, according to a report just issued by Dr. B. O’Beirne, county medical officer of health. There were three diphtheria cases in Moycullen, three in Woodford, two in Ardrahan, one in Galway and one in Mountbellew.

Eight of the scarlet fever cases were in Lettermore, four in Ballinasloe, two in Ahascragh, two in Clonbur, one in the Ballinasloe rural district and one in Kiltormer. There were altogether 33 cases of infectious diseases in the county during the month.

Protestant community

The position of the Protestant community has weakened very much in Galway. In county Galway, the number had fallen from 8,500 in 1871 to 1,800 in 1936. Galway [borough], with its population of 18,000 has only got 440 Protestants.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.