Galway In Days Gone By – A browse through the archives of the Connacht Tribune

1913

Suicide attempt

A fair-haired lad, of apparently not more than twenty, was put into the dock before Mr. Justice Madden, at the Galway Summer Assizes, and indicted for an attempt to commit suicide on 20th December last. He pleaded guilty.

Mr. Fetherstonhaugh, K.C., who, with Mr. Coll, B.L. (instructed by Mr. Golding, Crown Solicitor), replying to a question from his lordship, said he understood that the boy’s mother would look after him.

He had been in an asylum for some time, and had to be looked after as a result of the severe injury he had inflicted on himself. His mother was a poor woman.

Mr. Justice Madden, in allowing the prisoner out on his own recognisances of £10, said that he had made enquiries, and learned that the prisoner committed this injury on himself probably as a result of drink. He warned him to keep away from drink in the future.

The prisoner was then allowed out, and left the Court accompanied by his mother, who promised to look after him.

1938

New bridges

For the erection of two new canal bridges in Galway City – one at University road and the other at Claddagh – Galway County Council’s finance committee had before them at their weekly meeting six cross-Channel tenders and one Galway tender.

The two new bridges will replace the existing old bridges, and it is the intention of the County Council to proceed later with the replacement of the three other canal bridges in the city.

Shark struggle

Michael Roche and John F. King, two fishermen of Keeraunmore, Aillebrack, had a four-hours struggle with a shark which became entangled in their mackerel nets, last week.

When the fishermen, who were in a currach, held on to the nets, the shark dragged them for miles before they eventually succeeded in dispatching him with the blade of a scythe which they carried in the boat.

They then dragged him ashore and disentangled him from the nets, which were badly damaged. The shark was over twenty feet long.

Weather spoilsport

Because of the inclemency of the weather, all sporting fixtures were postponed in Galway on Sunday. By the aid of the “loudspeaker on wheels”, Galway people were notified early on Sunday morning that the Galway Swimming Club’s sixth annual gala was off.

Connacht title clash

The stage is set for what should prove a titanic struggle when the old rivals, Mayo and Galway, meet in the Connacht Senior football final at Roscommon on Sunday next.

Not alone is the Connacht title at stake, according to some, but also the All-Ireland, as it is freely expressed that the Connacht winners will be favourites for the “major” title.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.