Galway In Days Gone By

1915

Cow decorated

Loughrea was the scene of great animation on Wednesday week, when a very effective demonstration on behalf of rent reduction was made by the Town Tenants’ Association.

Recently, the Association made a general demand for a reduction of 25 per cent. This demand was conceded in almost every case.

There were, however, a few landlords who stoutly resisted and brought the tenants into court. Mr. Tom Doherty, who is landlord of a house in the Main-street occupied by Mr. James Raftery, was one of those who refused to grant this concession.

He proceeded against the tenant for full demand of a half-year’s rent up to last gale day, and got a decree before the Recorded at the recent Quarter Sessions for the rent due and costs.

The decree was put in the hands of the sheriff’s bailiff and one of Mr. Raftery’s cows was seized and impounded.

A meeting of protest was held by the Tenants’ Association, at which the action of Mr. Doherty was strongly condemned, and it was decided to fight the matter out to a finish. Mr. Raftery placed himself in the hands of the Association, and it was agreed to allow the cow to be sold under strong town tenants’ protests.

But owing to the unmistakeable attitude taken up by the latter, other counsels prevailed with Mr. Doherty, and he conceded the full demand of the tenant, namely 25 per cent reduction, with costs remitted.

On a settlement being arrived at, the Tenants’ Committee, and a large body of members proceeded to the pound, took out Mr. Raftery’s cow, and had her decorated with suitable mottos – 25 per cent reduction in the rents – in large characters on her forehead.

The cow was then driven through the town, followed by a large crowd.

1940

Girls drinking at dances

The Very Rev. P. Canon Nestor, P.P., V.F., speaking at twelve o’clock mass in St. Nicholas’ Cathedral, said that it had come to the notice of the clergy that young girls attending dances at Salthill often took drink on the occasion of these dances. Fathers and mothers should have some control over their children and should see that such conduct not continue.

Not only were these girls who took drink doing themselves harm spiritually, but they were destroying their prospects of marriage. No man would marry a girl who, he knew, took drink; he would leave her there.

The Very Rev. Canon, speaking on drunkenness in general, said that drunkenness led to sins against almost every one of the commandments.

It led to neglect of God, neglect of self and neglect of family. He also issued a warning against “tippling” and asked whose who had a craving for drink to ask God to help them to overcome the temptation.

Car burned out

A brand new Ford Ten motor car, which was not even “run in”, mysteriously caught fire while its owner, Mr. Comyn, a commercial traveller employed by the Aga Cooker Co., was attending the annual charity ball in aid of the poor of Galway in the Dancing Pavilion, Salthill.

Seeing the car, which was parked near the supper-room enclosure, on fire, a passer-by raised the alarm shortly after 3 a.m., and the registration number was immediately announced over the microphone, as were also the registration numbers of some other cars which were parked near the blazing vehicle.

Mr. Thos. O’Toole, with the aid of some of the dancers, fought the flames with the fire extinguishers with which the Pavilion is equipped, but the blaze got too strong a hold, and the car was burned out.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.