Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Time Gone By – A browse through the archives of the Connacht Tribune.
1913
House purchase protest
The purchase by certain parties in the town of Tuam of the houses of the occupying tenants, who were either negotiating for their purchase or anxious to buy, has evoked a public protest from the Tuam branch of the United Irish League, which was recently re-organised on a sound basis and with a membership embracing the representative people of the town and parish.
It is anticipated, unless satisfactory settlements are carried out, that a severe form of reprobation will have to be taken against the parties.
In view of the approach of the season of “goodwill and cheer”, and when all are expected to cast aside their petty differences and jealousies for the better and happy enjoyment of friendship and peace, we make the suggestion in the hope that it will be adopted; that those parties who are bringing unpleasantness to their very doors should remember their actions, and have restored to them the confidence, respect and goodwill of the people.
At a UIL meeting in Letterfrack, the prevailing feeling was that a determined effort should be made to make 1914 the last year of grazierism in the district.
The Estates Committee sent in a communication they received from the C.D.B. with reference to the Blake estate, and also conveying the information that the maps and documents connected with the Thompson estate had been lodged.
The announcement was received with cheers, and the question of raising the no-rent strike on this estate was left over till next meeting.
The doings of “scabs” and those with whom they came in contact during the fortnight, was under discussion for a considerable time.
1938
Minister for Deuce
At Galway District Court before District Justice Sean MacGiollarnath, John Dowdall, 70, Lower Salthill, Galway, was charged with being in possession of a quantity of poteen.
Supt. Sean Murphy prosecuted. Defendant was not professionally represented.
Garda James Murphy gave evidence of having arrested the defendant. He found him in possession of the bottle of poteen. The defendant was intoxicated.
He asked for his name, defendant replied: “Frank Aiken, Minister for Deuce.”
Asked if he had anything to say, the defendant replied that he was a stranger to the West of Ireland. He met an old pal whom he had not seen since his schooldays and was a victim of circumstances.
In reply to Supt. Murphy, witness said that he had a wife and family in Drogheda. The Justice adjourned the case for three months and made an order that the guards should enquire if he supported his wife and family, if not, a fine would be imposed.
New schools
It is likely that advertisements will be issued within the next fortnight inviting tenders for the construction of two new vocational education schools, one at Gort and the other at Portumna. Plans and specifications, as prepared by Mr. Geo. Lee, B.E., county surveyor, have been approved by the Department of Education, and as soon as the bills of quantities are ready, tenders for the building work will be invited.
At the monthly meeting of the County Vocational Education Committee, the CEO, Mr Sean O Dochartaigh, said there was a little glasshouse erected at Carraroe, and the rural science teacher wished to have a lorry load of suitable soil supplied for it. The soil should be suitable for the growing of tomatoes. It was agreed to supply soil from the nearest point from which suitable soil could be procured.
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
