Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Days Gone By

1919
More than idealism
It is ridiculous to assume that the existing situation in Ireland is altogether the result of causes for which the Irish people are responsible. Yet many people affect to believe that political trouble can be referred entirely to such causes.
The Irish, they say, are too emotional, always rainbow-chasing after some impracticable ideals, given to race hatred, always “agin the law”, and in short endowed in every direction with a double dose of original sin.
It would help more to solve our difficulties if such people would try to discover for themselves whether there may not be more intangible reasons at the root of the matter. For there are such reason, rounded not on vague idealism or fanaticism, but on solid common sense.
If an Irishman say to you, “Why did Great Britain turn the Irish deficit into a surplus of many millions, and refuse to give Ireland some economic benefit by having a fair proportion of war taxation spent in Ireland on munitions?” What reply will you give him?
When an Irishman wonders how it is that Government subsidies can be given to trans-Atlantic lines running to ports in Great Britain; how an immense train-ferry port can be established in an English marsh within a few months; how vast reconstruction schemes can be devised by the Government for the benefit of Great Britain; how in the middle of a world-war, mighty educational reforms can be effected for Great Britain; how British trade and currency can be protected and fostered in every way, while all the time Ireland, which is contributing through her huge surplus taxation to all these benefits and reforms, is unfairly excluded from participating in them, is he to be satisfied with the explanation that his idealism, and his Celtic imagination and other psychological eccentricities render it impossible to enable his country to participate in the material progress of the times?
1944
Pram price controls
The new Order controlling the price of second-hand perambulators, which comes into force on Monday next, will put them beyond the reach of the ordinary working man.
Actually, it is possible to-day to buy new perambulators, complete with all modern fittings, in Galway shops for less than the price that the Minister for Supplies has fixed for second hand vehicles.
Apparently the Order has been provoked by a spate of “pram” profiteering in Dublin where as much as FORTY-EIGHT GUINEAS has been demanded for new perambulators.
The Minister for Supplies has made and order to control the price of perambulators on and from February 7th.
Saved from destruction
The prompt action of two Gardaí on patrol at Barrack-st., at 11.50 p.m. on Friday probably saved the Loughrea Town Hall from destruction by fire.
Attracted by crackling sounds from within the Hall they summoned some neighbouring young men and after breaking a window they forced an entry and found the stage wings and projection screen enveloped in flames which, because of the stormy night, were spreading rapidly.
West is best for wool
Referring to the new prices for wool in the coming season, Mr. C. J. Kearns, President, at the annual meeting of the County Galway Sheep Breeders’ Society in the Agricultural Station, Athenry, on Wednesday, said that the Society had for years past being paying special attention to improving the wool of their stocks and were convinced that their wool now equals in quality that of any other breed in Éire, not even excluding the Oxford Down breed, and consequently should command equal price with the latter.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Connacht Tribune
Galway In Days Gone By

1923
Gloom after war
The special correspondent of the “Independent”, who has been writing of the aftermath of civil war in the West, notes that a feeling of apathy, due to the uncertainty of events, exists amongst the sorely-tried people of Connemara; that politics are referred to only with disgust and that not more than fifty per cent. of the people would vote at a general election; that poverty and unemployment are rife, and there is a growing tendency towards emigration; and that there are bitter complaints of the huge impost of rates and taxes.
It is only too true that there is enough of material for the pessimist to brood over, and that a feeling of gloom permeates country towns. But it is a poor tribute to patriotism that has survived such horrors to encourage this gloom.
It is the duty of all of us to get this pessimism out of the national body and to rid ourselves of the notion that we have not enough Christianity and moral sense left to restore our people to cheerful and ordered progress and industry.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Connacht Tribune
Galway In Days Gone By

1923
Peace negotiations
As we go to press, An Dáil is discussing the Peace negotiations between the Government and Mr. de Valera. It was announced on Wednesday for the first time that such negotiations were begun following Mr. de Valera’s “cease fire” proclamation of April 27, and that by the 30th of the month Senators Andrew Jameson and James Douglas were asked by him to discuss proposals.
They said it was for the Government to discuss; they could only confer. Into the ensuring conferences the Government declined to enter personally, but on May 3 the senators placed before Mr. de Valera the Cabinet’s terms, which were that future issues should be decided by the majority vote of the elected representatives of the people, and that as a corollary and a preliminary to the release of prisoners, all lethal weapons should be in the custody and control of the Executive Government.
Mr. de Valera relied to this on May 7 with a document in which he agreed to majority rule and control of arms, but added that arms should be stored in a suitable building in each province under armed Republican guard until after the elections in September, that the oath should not be made a test in the councils of the nation, and that all political prisoners should be released immediately on the signing of this agreement.
“You have brought back to us,” wrote President Cosgrave, “not an acceptance of our conditions, but a long and wordy document inviting debate where none is possible”.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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Connacht Tribune
Galway In Days Gone By

1923
State of the parties
Speculation as to parties after the next Irish elections is exceedingly interesting, especially in view of the enlarged franchise.
In Dublin, the view appears to be held by a number of people that Labour will make a great bid for power.
Dublin, however, has a curiously insular habit of thought where matters that concern all Ireland and in which Ireland has a say are concerned. We hope this insularity will rapidly disappear under the new conditions.
The country as a whole is backing the Farmers’ Party, and has not the smallest doubt that it will be the strongest combination in the next Dáil, and that it will oust the purely political parties, the one because it has resorted to force, the other because it has been compelled to use force to supress force, and the Labour Party because Ireland feels that at the back of its policy lurks the danger of Communism.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
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Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
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The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.