Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Time Gone By – A browse through the archives of the Connacht Tribune
1914
Clifden fire
Between 7 and 8 o’clock on Friday evening, 6th February, an alarming fire, which threatened to have serious consequences, broke out in the premises of Mr. Thomas O’Neill, Victualler, Market-st., Clifden.
Were it not for the timely intervention and gallant action of Mr. John J. McDonnell, Mr. E. Fallon and Constables Ryan and Moran, who worked strenuously, and succeeded in combating the flames, it is certain that the conflagration would have quickly spread all through the house, and to the adjoining premises.
Fortunately the water supply was convenient, and Messrs. McDonnell and Fallon quickly secured buckets and conveyed the water upstairs to the two policemen who were fighting the fire.
The work was very difficult, as they were forced to leave the room several times and seek the fresh air.
However, the four men worked energetically, and without any assistance from any other person, they succeeded in putting out the fire before much serious damage had been done. The cause of the fire cannot be ascertained.
The draper shop of Mr. O’Connor adjoins Mr. O’Toole and if the fire got a hold, this and other houses would be in immediate danger. Mrs. O’Neill – rescued from a burning room – was not removed a moment too soon.
1939
Poverty in Galway
“Give me a few shillings home assistance, for God’s sake, to allow me get some bread, I am starving.” A young man in his late twenties or early thirties made this appeal to the Galway County Board of Health at the month meeting held in the Central Hospital.
When the young man entered the boardroom, he asked for the “head boss”. When directed to the head of the table, he made the appeal.
Mr. John Gallagher explained to him that the board had nothing to do with home assistance, and he advised the man to see Mr. Powell, home assistance superintendent.
When leaving the boardroom, the man said: I wish Hitler or somebody came over here.”
Secretary: There is more poverty in Galway at the present moment that ever I remember. Every Saturday evening about a dozen of those people come to my private house seeking home assistance, and what am I to tell them?”
Ashford duck-shoot
There was a sequel to the sale of the Ashford estate last week when the Hon. A.E. Guinness’ game-keepers carried out a wholesale shoot of the wild ducks for which the place was noted.
The “casualties”, said to have numbered hundreds, were packed into boxes and sent to Dublin.
Mr. Guinness reared an average of seven hundred wild ducks on the estate each year. They were almost tame and for that reason it was necessary to drive them wild before a shoot in order to make the latter anyway enjoyable.
It was once quite a common sight to see these “wild” duck wandering about the streets of Cong and rumour has it that they could often be persuaded, with the help of a little oats, to toddle in and see the neighbours.
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.
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