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

1913

Gigantic caravan

The advent of a huge motor caravan to Mr. Ward’s fully equipped modern garage at noon today attracted a considerable amount of public interest. The imposing outlines and build of the car were viewed by an admiring crowd, and the spectator was at once struck by the perfect workmanship, as well as the evident indications of strength and durability which it displayed.

On the invitation of the courteous owner, Mr. Albert Fletcher, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, our representative entered the caravan. The outward appearance of the van conveys no idea, though fitted with cut-glass windows, of the sumptuous appointments of the interior.

It reminded one of a railway corridor carriage, but the latter is not provided with all the comforts of a miniature hotel. A coal stove is fitted at the side of the car, and there is every sanitary convenience. Lockers are arranged at the sides and a compact little pantry is provided.

There are six beds of bunks, and the car throughout is lit with electricity, made as the car is in motion.

“It is simply a pleasure tour,” said Mr. Fletcher. “I am accompanied by six gentlemen, including the chauffeur. We have already visited Belfast, the Giant’s Causeway, Portrush, and around the coast to Galway.”

“What do you think of Irish roads?” he was asked.

“All I have seen up to the present at any rate, are very poor compared with the English roads. We had a terrible job to get from Cong here. We shall stay a month touring Ireland,” he said.

1938

Black with visitors

Sunday, the warmest day experienced in Galway this summer, brought record crowds of visitors to the West. The beaches all along the coast from Salthill to Tully were black with people. A conservative estimate of the number of bathers at Furbough beach would be five thousand.

Galway families intending to pass the heatwave at Barna and Furbough found the strands already overcrowded and were compelled to proceed further afield to Spiddal and Knock.

Two special trains arriving in Galway from Clonmel and Boyle on Sunday brought over eight hundred excursionists. In addition to the usual ‘bus service from Sligo to Galway, four special coaches carried over one hundred visitors to the city.

Most of the visitors, however, travelled in private cars, with which the roads were literally crowded. The Castlebar Troop Catholic Boy Scouts who are under canvas at Furbough, together with between thirty and forty private campers, helped to swell the crowds on the beaches on Sunday. There is also a full attendance of students at the Pearse College, Spiddal.

Never since the inception of the Irish Tourist Association has Connemara reaped such a bountiful harvest from the tourist industry as it is reaping at the moment.

Last year’s season was considered good, but this year’s has broken all records. Since the beginning of July, visitors have been pouring into the area in buses, chars-a-banc, private motor cars, on motor bicycles, push cycles and on foot.

The capacity of the hotels have long since been overtaxed, even when sitting-rooms, dining-rooms and even bathrooms were pressed into service as sleeping quarters.

It was midnight on Tuesday when visitors arriving on the 9pm bus in Clifden had found temporary sleeping accommodation in private houses, whose owners were prevailed upon to take them in for the night.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.