Galway In Days Gone By

1918

Women attack barracks

Members of the Galway branch Cumann na mBan, numbering about thirty, who left the city on Sunday for the purpose of carrying out evolutions, had an exciting encounter with police near Barna.

They were met on the outward journey by Sergeant Linnane, Barna, who returned to his barracks, and proceeded with constables after them. The police met the party of ladies marching back.

They appeared to be under the command of Mr. Henry Shield, St. Francis-st., Galway, whose instructions were obeyed. On nearing Barna police barracks, Sergeant Linnane asked Mr. Shiels for his name. The latter refusing, Sergeant Linnane placed him under arrest.

It is stated that Mr. Shiels struck the sergeant in the face. The constables having come to the assistance of the sergeant, the ladies attempted to rescue Mr. Shiels. In the scuffle, the police received rough handling, and had their caps knocked off, but eventually succeeded in placing their capture in the barrack cell.

A fusillade of stone and bottle firing on the barracks was indulged by the ladies, whose demeanour became so violent that they only ceased when a revolver shot was discharged in the air by one of the policemen.

Mr. Shiels was taken by motor to Eglinton-st. on Sunday night, and detained there until Wednesday evening, when he was handed over to the military authorities. He is stated to hail from Belfast, and fought in the 1916 Rebellion, in which one of his arms was injured. He has been residing in Galway for some months.

1943

Connemara blow

It is very unfortunate that the Great Southern Railways Company should have chosen this particular moment to increase substantially its rates for the carriage of goods by road to Connemara. West Galway has suffered more than any other part of this State from the Emergency conditions and the Connemara area in particular never was less fitted to endure additional burdens.

Doubtless, the railway company is strictly within its rights in increasing the rates for road transport, but if ever there was a case for the non-enforcement of those rights, it exists just now in Connemara.

Almost daily emigration is taking heavy toll of the population and those that are left are finding it very hard, indeed, to keep body and soul together in these bitterly lean years.

Connemara’s fight against the increase G.S.R. charges reached another stage on Sunday when, at a public meeting in Clifden, a deputation was appointed to interview the Minister for Industry and commerce on the subject.

It is possible that Counsel’s advice may be taken with a view to testing the legality of the G.S.R. action in removing the Galway-Clifden track.

Art gallery project

Negotiations between the Committee of the proposed Galway Arts Gallery and the Corporation have come to an end. The Committee took strong exception to the conditions laid down by Mr. C.I. O’Flynn, County Manager, for the establishment of a Municipal Art Gallery.

They also complain of the “scant courtesy” shown to them in their negotiations with the Corporation.

Nevertheless, the project of an art gallery for Galway goes ahead, and we understand that the Committee has acquired an alternative to the Borough Council Chamber as a home for the pictures.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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