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

1913

Irish Volunteers

A meeting of delegates from the various societies in Galway was held in the Town Hall on Sunday for the purpose of taking initial steps to form a branch of the Irish Volunteers in Galway.

The following societies were represented – A.O.H., U.I.L., Sinn Féin and the Gaelic League. A large number of University students were also present.

A resolution was unanimously adopted constituting the meeting into a Provisional Committee for the purpose of arranging the details in connection with the formation of a corps of the Irish Volunteers in Galway. It was also decided to get into communication with the promoters of the movement in Dublin.

Arrangements were made for a monster public meeting to be held on December 10 in the Town Hall, at which volunteers will be enrolled.

Lantern an heirloom

Constable McGlade summoned John J. Broderick for using a vehicle without a lighted lamp being attached.

The defendant had an old lantern fixed on to the cart, but in his opinion it had not boon used for seven years. It was kind of a decoy (laughter).

Defendant: It was a new lantern. Defendant’s mother appeared, and stated that the lantern was newly-bought by her husband in November. There was a great storm on the night in question, and the lamp went out at Boyhill. The constable had made a mistake.

Constable: I don’t think I have. Apparently that lantern is in the family for a generation.

Chairman: We will not go into the history or pedigree of the lantern. Whether it was a new or old is nothing to us. Fined 1s and costs.

1938

Salthill improvements

Plans for the development and improvement of the foreshore at Salthill, the removal of all loose boulders, the building of a reinforced concrete revetment wall, the provision of railings along the entire length of the promenade, the provision of a swimming pool, lavatories, seats and shelters, the laying of concrete roads and gravelled paths in Salthill Park, the provision of tennis courts, and a concrete pitch for amusements, terraced slopes, seats and shrubs in the park, and other improvements in the city, all at a cost of about £54,000, are contained in a report prepared by Mr. C.J. O’Callaghan, borough surveyor, and submitted to the Galway Corporation.

“I have considered the development and improvement of the foreshore at Salthill Promenade. At the present time, rock and loose boulders form some protection for the promenade wall. At low tides, the place is unsightly, and I propose that all loose boulders be removed and broken, and that existing rock be blasted away to under low tide level; that this rock be used as displacers in forming a reinforced concrete revetment wall at the base of the existing wall,” said the surveyor.

Kept home from school

Excuses offered to District Justice W.P. Cahill at Kinvara District Court, for keeping children at home from school during periods saving hay, raising the potato and beet crops, etc., were that labour was difficult to obtain this year, and owing to the unfavourable weather harvest work was backward and they were obliged to keep the children to help at home.

John Linnane, one of the parents summoned, said that on previous years it was easy to get labourers from Connemara. This year it was very difficult to get these labourers, as they were not visiting the district seeking work, and they were, it was believed, going lo England instead.

Being short of help, he kept the children at home from school a few days. For years previous to this year, he said, he always had Connemara labour with his crops. The Justice marked the summons against him ‘Cautioned’.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.