Galway in Days Gone By
Galway In Time Gone By – A browse through the archives of the Connacht Tribune.
1914
Salthill seating
At a meeting of the Urban Council, Messrs. Boland and Moon appeared with reference to the lack of seating accommodation at Salthill. Mr. Boland said they wished to draw the attention of the Council to what they considered would be not only a great advantage to Salthill but to the town, and that was the seating accommodation on the promenade.
In recent years the Council had to be congratulated on the work they had done in the matter of seating benches in Salthill. The present seats had been such a success that they were “hungry” for more (laughter).
The present accommodation was only for 93 people. He requested that six more seats be put there, which would practically double the accommodation.
Man glassed
At the Oughterard Sessions, before Mr. J.B.K. Hill, R.M. (in the chair), Mr. W.A. Woods, D.I., had Martin Halloran summoned for striking Pat Conneely with a glass on the head, causing a wound in which nine stitches had to be inserted.
Sergt. Molloy stated that the injured man declined to prosecute, and the police were obliged to take up the case. Conneely, examined, deposed that a dispute arose about a gun. They were in a public-house, and Halloran said that witness owed him 2s. 6d. more than he really owed.
He threw a glass at witness which struck him on the head. He was five days laid up.
Martin Halloran stated there was a crowd in the public-house at the time he sold a gun to the defendant. Previous to that he owed him a half-crown, and would not give it to him. They were both under the influence of drink, and he could not say whether he struck Conneely with the glass or not.
Other witnesses were examined, who stated that they only heard the noise of the glass as it fell to the ground. The Chairman said the charge was a serious one, and he would fine defendant £1 and costs.
1939
Connemara’s ‘Boys’ Town’
Connemara has a ‘Boys’ Town’, writes a “Connacht Tribune” special correspondent. When I was a bold, bad boy ever so many years ago, I was afraid of nothing but the devil and Letterfrack Industrial School.
I still have a wholesome fear of the former, but last week my feelings towards the latter underwent a complete change. And now when I look back on boyhood nightmares, of grim prison walls behind which demoniacal monks flogged and flogged while little half-starved urchins howled and howled.
How I thank my luck stars that I had the courage to overcome a lifelong prejudice and drive down the avenue leading to the school. It was the bunch of healthy, happy-looking boys I had met on the road that did the trick.
Led by an eager group of willing little guides, overflowing with that proprietorial pride which only boys can display, I wandered through Connemara’s ‘Boys’ Town’.
It was as I was returning from the farmyard that I met the genial Superior, Rev. Brother McGrath, and I do not know how it happened – I just had to make an open confession of my former prejudices and humbly apologised.
But he only smiled sadly. “You are not the only one who had these prejudices against us and our work. Unfortunately for many poor boys, such unfounded prejudices are far too rampant even yet.
“The result is we have room for nearly twice the number of boys we have at present, but they won’t be sent to us.”
Such is the great work for God and Ireland that goes on unobtrusively amidst a beautiful sylvan setting beneath the shadow of the Diamond mountain on the site of an Old Quaker settlement in Letterfrack, Connemara. And to think that for all these years I thought it was a sort of penitentiary.
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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