Galway In Days Gone By

1914

Meeting sabotaged

One of the largest and most representatively attended public demonstrations ever witnessed in the Town Hall, Galway, was held last evening, in response to the invitation of the Urban Council that the manhood of the city and surroundings should meet together in this crisis in the country’s history to support the attitude of the Irish Leader in regard to the present war.

The Hall was crowded in every part, and a huge mass of people clamoured for admission at the doors. A feature of the proceedings was the large number of Conservatives and ladies present.

Mr. Stephen Gwynn, M.P., received a most enthusiastic ovation, the little clique had all the day been threatening to break up the meeting, not daring to show their identity by openly interrupting.

Mr Gwynn had not been speaking ten minutes when suddenly the hall was plunged into darkness by a pre-arranged plan. Five of the main cables had been cut by the riverside and at a signal, the sixth was severed. Almost at the same moment, little glass globes containing sulphuric acid and carbide of calcium were flung towards the platform and into the body of the hall.

They burst, emitting a foul-smelling liquid that created a disgusting stench throughout the hall. Fortunately, there was no panic.

There were a number of ladies in the front seats, and the cowardly action of the contemptible little clique might well have precipitated a panic.

It was announced the meeting would be held on the Courthouse steps.

1939

Connemara self-sufficient

Connemara is determined to become as self-sufficient as possible for the duration of the present war. The potato crop, which is being dug at the moment, is one of the best for ever so many years, and now almost every farmer in the area is preparing to sow winter wheat.

Many small farmers have gone back to rearing bonhams, which was one of the best paying industries in Connemara up to recent times. At least two years supply of turf was saved this summer, so no one in the area need worry about coal.

Good supplies of fish for local consumption are being landed at Cleggan, Roundstone and Kilkerrin, and the surplus is being cured by local dealers. On the whole, Connemara has no need to fear a famine.

Press censorship

The result of the Press censorship in Connemara has been a crop of most fantastic rumours, and our representative there is being literally bewildered with tips of real “hot news”.

Heretofore, the unsurpassable objection to such stories was “there was nothing about it in the paper”, but now that objection no longer holds good. When one hears down in Carraroe that certain people were arrested in Leenane, one can neither reject nor accept the story. The same is the case when one is told in Leenane that a submarine put into Clifden.

The type of rumour mentioned may be harmless enough, but when stories get out regarding the stability of the State and the doings of people in high places, a lot of havoc can be wrought.

The obvious remedy for such a state of affairs is a free Press in regard to domestic happenings at least.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.