January 10, 2013

Date Published: 09-Jan-2013

1913

Storm in Kinvara

The approach of Christmas was ushered in at Kinvara on the eve of the glorious festival by a hurricane the like of which had not been witnessed in the district for years. It blew a whole gale for hours, carrying everything before it, slates, chimney pots, walls, trees and corrugated iron sheds in its destructive course.

The district along by the sea-board at Duras suffered most heavily. Trees were uprooted on the Wilson Lynch demesne, and the sea wall of “cush” connecting the Burren with the district of Kinvara, was almost completely wiped out.

The sea wall which runs along the sea for about 80 yards has cost more to keep in repair than would buy the fee-simple of the island. The Gort District Council are after the storm inviting tenders for a £50 repair, and they might as well throw the money in the Atlantic.

The contract is given to some local “gubbaun” who knows as much about a concrete wall as he does about making a watch, and the moment the wall is passed and the contractor paid, down comes another “mouth” like a hundred of bricks. The County Council ought to insist on doing it right, and make a good job of it, and not be continually erecting a temple of folly.

1938

Beet factory closes

After a campaign of seven weeks, the Tuam beet factory closes this week. The last of the beet was brought in on Monday. It was the shortest campaign in the factory since it opened. The cause, of course, is the small return of beet this year, due in large measure to the damage to the crop by mangold fly in several parts of the country.

There is, however, a general complaint that farmers are not as anxious to sow as much beet as they eagerly sowed in the first year. Several reasons are given for this, including the price paid for the beet, the poor yield of beet from some land, the cost of labour where growers have not much assistance of their own, and the hardships of pulling the beet in severe weather.

It is generally believed now that the beet will not be grown in sufficient quantity for the factory next year unless there is a substantial increase in the price offered by the Sugar Board, and some farmers go so far as to say they will not grow it under any circumstances.

Wage demands

The large number of applications for increases in salaries and wages by the staff of Ballinasloe Mental Hospital on Monday last reflects the increase cost of living during the past twelve months. Many of those who went in on what were considered adequate salaries some few years ago now find themselves in the position of being unable to meet calls of rents, rates, taxes and other increased costs.

This is especially so in the case of married attendants, who have to find house rents, which in the past few years have considerably increased, due principally to the need for new houses in Ballinasloe and district.

New bishop

The Connacht Tribune this week gives record in print of the consecration of the new Titular Bishop of Cela and Auxiliary Bishop of Tuam. Without using the language of hyperbole, the occasion may be described as historic, for Tuam has played a great part in the history of the western province.

Most Rev. Dr. Walsh is in every sense a man of the people, for not merely has he been born and reared amongst them, but he has spent most of the best years of his life in Tuam as a teacher and preacher, a worker and administrator, a guide philosopher and friend.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.