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

1913

Hospital windfall

At a meeting of the Committee of Management of the County Hospital, Dr. Kinkead informed the Board that he had, a few days before, received a letter from Messrs. Faulkner and Co., solrs., Dublin, enclosing a cheque for £50 and stating that, by her will, the late Eleanor Mary Burke of Castlerea, bequeathed the sum of £50 for the purposes of the Galway Hospital, as well as one-third of the nett residuary of the estate.

The solicitors, in their letter, said they did not see any obligation to hand over the money to the Board of Management. It was left in his hands to do as he thought fit with the gift that had been dedicated.

Miss Burke, the letter added, had great confidence in him (Dr. Kinkead), and thought that it was he should administer the money. When the residue of the estate was ascertained, they would communicate with him again.

Mr. Lydon: May she rest in peace. I hope we will have other professors with such friends as you have had, doctor.

Dr. Kinkead: She was a patient of mine this time twelve months in the hospital, and it is on that account that she left the legacy. I have put the money in the Provincial Bank, so that you will know where to get it if anything happens to me (laughter). It would be better, however, to wait till the residue was ascertained.

1938

Harbour protest

“We should protest against this in the strongest possible manner. We are the local authority and we are the people it damaged.” This statement was made by Mr. E. Corbett, H.C., chairman, at the Galway Harbour Commissioners meeting, when the secretary (Mr. James Campbell) referred to a note which appeared that the end of a report in an issue of the “Irish Independent” last week to the effect that “No Atlantic liners call at Galway port during the winter.”

New Town Clerk

Mr. Christopher O Clearachain, B.A., Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary, has been appointed town clerk and sanitary executive officer of Galway.

Ald. Miss Ashe: He has experience only since last March. It is good enough for us, because we could not expect to get a man for the salary offered. It is a d… shame not to give a proper salary. Mr Carrick: We proposed that he get a good salary. We had notice of motion to give him £500 per year and the Department turned it down.

Shantallow houses

Messrs. Blake and Kenny, solrs, to the Corporation, wrote in regard to the list of names and persons who held loan houses at Shantallow (junction of Maunsell’s road), and the decision of the Corporation to take over these loan houses through the courts, stating that a lot of expense could be saved is the loanees could be prevailed on to surrender possession voluntarily.

In another letter Messrs. Blake and Kenny referred to the decision of the Corporation to expend £30 on protecting derelict loan houses at the Shantallow-Maunsell’s-road junction, and the four derelict loan houses at Munster Lane.

The solicitors stated that, strictly speaking, it was not legal to expend public money on the protection of private property but having regard to the position in regard to these houses, they did not think the Corporation would get into any difficulties by taking steps to protect their securities.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.