Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Time Gone By – A browse through the archives of the Connacht Tribune.
1913
Portumna mystery
The disappearance of a respectable farmer named John Brooder from his residence, Church Hill, Portumna, has caused a great sensation throughout the district. He was a respected and an amiable man, and resided alone on a large farm for years. He was last seen in town on the 5th August.
Although the most careful search has been made during the last fortnight by the police, under the direction of District Inspector Harrison, aided by the local people, no clue can be got as to his mysterious disappearance.
When last seen, he had close on £50 in his possession, but latterly it has transpired that this is in safe keeping. The most sensational rumours as to his disappearance are being circulated, but there are no grounds for them. He was looked upon as a very harmless man, and universal regret is expressed fearing that he may have met an untimely end.
Mountbellew transport
We notice with pleasure that the movement that is successfully on foot in Mountbellew district, to form a society to work the motor service in the locality. In a district so far remote from any railway station, such a service is badly needed. The district the motor service is intended to work over is a rich one, and we venture to say that before many years those who are now slightly sceptical will wonder at the narrow-mindedness or want of clear thinking which gave rise to the scepticism.
1938
Bus inspector crashes
Edward Walshe, aged 23 years, a mobile bus inspector employed by the Great Southern Railways Company (Galway branch), was admitted to Galway Central Hospital at a late hour on Wednesday night last, suffering from terrible head and other injuries sustained when his motor-cycle crashed at Keleenlane, two miles outside Tuam on the Galway-Tuam road. His condition is stated to be critical.
Mr. Walshe, who is a native of Balllina, was returning to Galway from Tuam at about 10.15pm on Wednesday when, it is stated, three horses, chased by a dog, ran out from a side road in front of the motor-cycle. Mr. Walshe swerved to the right side of the road to avoid them, and had to swerve back again to avoid an oncoming cyclist. He lost control of the machine, which fell on top of him, pinning him to the road.
Footballers for Croker
A game Monaghan team which played spirited football to the end were unable to hold the western champions at Mullingar on Sunday, in the all-Ireland semi-final. Almost from the beginning it was evident that the Galway men would dominate the play, and the only point at issue was the margin which would lie in their favour at the end.
A powerful Galway defence broke up the Monaghan attacks. The Galway pair at centre were severely tested, but they generally got the best of the exchanges. The Monaghan defenders made a great stand, but were unable to break up many of the Galway attacks. It finished Galway 2-10 to Monaghan 2-3.
Fishing ‘goldmine’
“I believe there is a real gold mine in the waters off the West coast and I do not see why the fishing industry could not be operated successfully in the Twenty-six counties as well as in Northern Ireland,” said Mr. W. Craig Pollock, consulting engineer, Stormont, Belfast.
Mr Pollock’s interest in fishing is not just that of the ordinary man who sees in it a neglected industry. He is Convenor for the Northern Ireland Industrial Development Committee, a body organised for the purpose of establishing new industries in the North.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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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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.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
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.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
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.
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
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
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.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
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.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
