March 3, 2011

Date Published: {J}

1911

Lazy horse

At a meeting of the Urban Council, Mr. Molloy reported that the black horse refused to work, and he suggested that he be sold.

Mr Costello: When did he develop this genius?

Mr. Crowley said the complaints about the horse were numerous. Mr. Griffin said he was awful.

Mr. Crowley: He does nothing except bite and eat grass.

Chairman (to the Press representatives): Gentlemen, don’t take that down; say that we have a most admirable horse for sale (laughter).

It was decided to sell the horse by public auction (or by any other way in which he can be disposed of).

Buy Irish

The Galway Industrial Development Association wrote asking if the Council had any resolution on the books with regard to supporting Irish goods. The query was prompted by the fact that in the Council’s advertisements there was no desire to acquire, or even to give preference to Irish goods. Several members said Irish goods always got preference in that Council.

Dogs, cats and rats

Arising out of a letter from the L.G. Board to Ballinasloe District Council on the subject of the rat destruction, Mr. Cahill said we must have some means of protecting the cat and dog if we want to put down the rat plague. How can it be put down when 5s is given for a dog’s tail and 1s for a cat’s. As far as I know, he said, vermin are accumulating to a great extent, because the cat and the dogs are murdered.

Mr. Cahill said parties were to be seen with three or four cat’s tails in their pockets. The Chairman told Mr. Gill to write to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Society and say that it was stated at their meeting that money is being paid for the tails of dogs and cats by Lord Ashtown.

1936

Musical interlude

The proceedings at the special meeting of Galway County Council on Saturday were enlivenced by a verse of an Irish song sung by Tomas O’Niadh. The Council had decided to appoint twenty-three inspectors to enforce the terms of the Warble Fly (Treatment of Cattle Order), 1936, in the county and were considering the qualifications when Mr O’Niadh sang his verse.

Uneconomic proposition

At a County Council meeting, the secretary, Mr. C.I. O’Flynn, read a letter from the Office of Public Works stating that the scheme for the cleaning of the river from Pouladulla to Clifden for the purpose of reclaiming land had no economic justification and would not be included in any scheme of relief works. The cost of the reclaimed land, it was pointed out, would be about £300 per acre.

Unusual prosecution

An unusual prosecution was heard at Westport District Court when a number of people found dancing in an unlicensed dance hall were prosecuted. Supt. Glynn said the guards failed to find an owner, management committee or trustees to proceed against, and faced with such a position, a prosecution was ordered against the dancers.

The hall was built on “no man’s land” and was not in the County Council books for rating purposes. Mr. J.C. Garvey, defending, claimed that the superintendent not being a solicitor had no authority to represent the Attorney General.

The hall was rigidly restricted to the people of the chapel area, and the older inhabitants, feeling that it would be made a public amusement if a licence was taken out, declined to do so, as the place was reserved for games. The prosecution should fail as occupants could not be proved.

District Justice Coyne said he would adjourn to give these people a chance of taking out a licence. If they did not, he would hold the dancers were properly before the court.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.