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

1914

Dastardly attack

A terrible outrage was perpetrated on Friday week at the establishment of Mr. P. Varden, merchant, Anbally, Tuam. About 8pm on that evening, several shots were fired in through the windows of the shop and the front of the house.

Some parties in the shop at the time narrowly escaped injury, and Mrs. Varden, the publican’s wife, we understand, had a miraculous escape from being shot.

A large mirror in the shop was considerably damaged, also other articles of property. Stones were also used with the other missiles, which included guns and revolvers.

This is the second attack of a similar nature on Mr. Varden’s premises, and on the former occasion serious damage was also inflicted, but not so grave as in the recent occurrences.

The authorities have not, up to the time of going to Press, apprehended any person in connection with the outrage.

 The ass and Moloney

At Galway Petty sessions, Constable Callinan summoned Peter Duggan for turning loose a donkey on the public road. The penalty, he said, was 10s., and the police had come to the conclusion that they should bring the case under section 10, in consequence of the recurrence of cases of wandering.

Chairman: That is a bigger penalty that 2s. one, Peter.

Defendant: Well, your worship, if I may be allowed to speak a word. I was fined this day three weeks for the same ass, which I told you I sold to Pat Moloney (laughter). The donkey stayed only two days with him, when he went away.

Chairman: What has that go to do with the case?

Defendant: But Moloney didn’t look for him, and he came back to my place, and Lydon’s children put him out of the field.

He was fined 2s.

1939

Leprechauns off Gold Standard

From Connemara this week comes the disturbing news that Leprechauns have gone off the gold standard! According to Mr. Joseph Walsh, Rossroe, Cashel, these little secretaries of the fairy treasuries no longer count their pots of gold but wet their thumbs and fly through their wads of notes with a speed and a slickness that would shame our modern bank cashiers.

To Mr. Walsh we are also grateful for still another new angle on Leprechauns. They are no longer the mild but cunning little fellows we used to know. They no longer resort to guile or any of their stock tricks when you nab them from behind. They just simply get tough right away and give you the “works” in style.

Mr. Walsh, who is a very sensible and sober young farmer relates a most extraordinary experience with Leprechauns which set his native townland of Cashel, Connemara, all agog last week.

He says that as he was passing by an old ruined house near his home, he saw two little men sitting in front of a fire in the rain counting wads of notes. He watched them for a moment and then something compelled him to grab the money.

The moment he did, the little men attacked him savagely, scratched him and tore his clothes. They then disappeared up the old chimney, taking their fire and their money with them.

When Mr. Walsh returned home, his face, hands and clothes bore evidence of the struggle which he related to his friends and neighbours.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.