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

1914

Was it ass flesh?

A peculiar case was heard at Gort Petty Sessions when a local butcher named Martin Kelly was fined 5s. and 13s. 6d. costs for having sold meat which was unfit for human consumption and which baffled a host of analysts, including Sir Charles Cameron.

George Heaney, shoemaker, Nestor’s Lane, Gort, swore that on the evening of January 12th, he was in Mrs. Cloran’s house in Church street.

He saw Martin Kelly come in and offer meat for sale. Witness inquired what sort it was, and Kelly told him it was pork. Witness bought a piece, bulked (1lb), for which he paid defendant fourpence. He got it cooked, but felt suspicious about it, and brought it to the police barracks and entered a complaint. It was not a porksteak, though it might be beef.

Mr. O’Beirne, D.I.: I had the meat forwarded for analysis to Dublin, and received this report: “It is not mutton, beef, horseflesh, or pork; its composition will not answer any test.”

“So you see” added that District Inspector, “it has baffled Sir Charles Cameron and a host of other analysts. It is a most extraordinary piece of meat.” (Loud laughter).

Sergt. Callaghan: Several people in the town are complaining of this man.

Mr. O’Beirne, D.I.: It is very general, but lately the practice has got more serious. The meat, if pork, would be 8d. or 10d.

Mr. Coen: It is very dangerous, and it might be poisonous.

Mr. O’Beirne: Sir Charles Cameron is doubtful if it is ass flesh, as he says there is no real test.

 “No sleep made me drunk”

At Galway Petty Sessions, Constable O’Connor had John Francis summoned for being drunk on the public street. Defendant said he was at the fair of Athenry on Saturday, the 7th inst., and was up all night.

“I was not drunk,” he added, “but want of sleep made me more drunk than all the drink I had taken.” (Laughter).

The Chairman asked defendant if he would take the pledge, and Francis replied that he would, and that if he was caught again, the Bench could give him six months (laughter). He was fined 2s. 6d.

1939

Ashford mystery deepens

The mystery of the sale of Ashford estate appears to be getting deeper. A “Connacht Tribune” reporter was informed on rather reliable authority last week that the estate was not actually sold at all yet.

His informant said that the Forestry Department had made a certain offer but the sale was by no means completed. It appears that the Hon. A.E. Guinness is insisting on certain conditions in the interests of his former employees at Ashford.

Mr. Guinness attended a meeting of the trustees in Dublin last week and it was then he is reported to have disclosed his alleged attitude. He is stated to be insisting that the employees of Ashford should be left undisturbed by a change of ownership.

Failing his obtaining such guarantees, it is said that Mr. Guinness is prepared to buy out the interests of Lord Moyne and Lord Iveagh and keep on the estate himself.

Meanwhile an atmosphere of uncertainty prevails in Cong. None of the management in the office there are prepared to talk and the strictest secrecy is being observed as regards movements and happenings within the castle grounds. Intending visitors to Ashford have been refused admission at the gates.

A “Connacht Tribune” reporter learned, however, that events took a surprising turn there during the weekend, when the auctioneers who have been preparing for the auction marked over three hundred of the more valuable articles “withdrawn”.

Guards fast

“A policeman’s lot is not a happy one.” At least this was the unanimous opinion of the station party in Maam garda barracks when a reporter found them waiting for their breakfast late on Tuesday morning.

Their housekeeper lives some distance from the barracks and the heavy rains on Monday night caused flooding, which marooned her in her house.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.