Galway In Days Gone By

1918

Shooting outrage

From further particulars regarding the firing at Mr. J.G. Alcorn, J.P., Kilroe House, Headford, while on his way to Mass at Currandulla, it appears that his assailant had fired the shot when Mr. Alcorn had gone on some yards past the point where he was concealed behind the hedge.

It seems that a woman on her way from early Mass met Mr. Alcorn and the man, Burke, who were on a car on the road just opposite the place where the person was concealed, and this evidently prevented his firing when he had Mr. Alcorn in a direct range, as he was probably afraid of shooting the woman.

Five bullets lodged in Mr. Alcorn’s jaw and neck. The remainder of the charge lodged in the two heavy coats which he was wearing, thereby saving him from being seriously wounded in the side and shoulders.

With blood flowing freely from the wounds in his jaw and neck, Mr. Alcorn attended at Mass, and after it was over, addressed the congregation outside the chapel.

He told the people of what had occurred to him, and said he was sorry he had not been shot dead, instead of being left alive in a place where there were such savages as those who perpetrated such an outrage. He never thought that there were such people in Annaghdown.

Mr. Alcorn was afterwards treated at the Monastery, and had his wounds dressed. The report concludes with the usual formula, “No arrests have been made”.

The local Catholic Curate also denounced the outrage strongly at Mass.

1943

Seaside licensing laws

In addition to providing both open-air and indoor amusements for Salthill during the past twelve months, and securing a good deal of first-class publicity for the place, the Salthill Citizens’ Organisation has asked other Irish seaside resorts to cooperate in obtaining an amendment of the licensing laws.

This was revealed at the annual meeting of the organisation, which drew a large attendance to the Salthill Pavilion on Friday night. It was also stated that a sub-committee had acquired a lease of the Pavilion for twelve months.

To secure some relief from the provision of the Licensing Laws, the Committee sponsored an application for an exemption order, on behalf of the licensing trade generally.

A resolution was to be sent to the organising bodies in other seaside reports asking for their cooperation in obtaining the amendment of the Licensing Laws “which, as at present constituted, are most unfair to seaside resorts and visitors”.

Salthill school

The need for a school at Salthill was stressed at the meeting of the Salthill Citizens’ Organisation. It was pointed out that at present, little children in the district had to travel a long way to school and, because of the restricted ’bus service, were not always able to get a seat on a ’bus on wet days.

Oat crop rumour

Mr. Fitzgerald-Kenney stated in the Dáil on Thursday that a new disease had appeared in the oat crop in the West. He asked for official views on the matter. Mr. B. O’Sullivan, Secretary of the County Galway Committee of Agriculture, interviews by a Connacht Tribune representative on the following day, stated that he had heard nothing about a new disease in the oat crop in the West, and added that there were already plenty of old ones.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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