October 13, 2011

Date Published: {J}

1911

Roads meeting

At the Royal Hotel on Friday last, there was a meeting of the Local Centre or Road Committee, formed under the auspices of the Automobile Association and Motor Union.

Mr A. Allen said he had called the meeting to see what could be done with regard to the roads this winter. Before that, he would like to ask Mr. Ward what happened in regard to the Road Board Grant?

They had proposed that the road from Athlone to Ballinasloe and Galway, and from Galway to Clifden district should be done, but he understood that there was some amendment to that.

Mr Ward: At a deputation which we attended, we advocated a road from Athlone to Galway, and from Galway to Connemara straight, but it was put forward by Lord Killanin and others that the road by Spiddal and Costello would be the road to have repaired first and steamrolled, and it is the aim of the Association and this Committee that the roads that wanted to be improved most should be done first, and of course it is our view that the roads are not for motorists alone, but for all users.

The argument they used is that the district through which the alternative road runs is already fed by a railway, but that the Spiddal and Costello district had no railway facilities, and that the road was exceptionally bad – which is it?

Chairman: Is it wide or narrow?

Mr. Ward: Fairly narrow.

Chairman: Because it is very hard to steamroll a narrow road. After a year’s steam-rolling it is very hard to see and results in a narrow road.

Mr Ward: There was another argument they used, and it is almost irresistible – that where roads are costing 2s. 6d. and 2s. 9d. a perch, they would be fairly well maintained without steamrolling, but where the roads are not repaired at all, but done for 8d. or 9d. a perch, they ought to be done, provided they accommodate a large number of the public.

Eventually, it was agreed to organise a motor tour to Tipperary, with a view to demonstrating the advantage of steamrolled roads as they exist there.

1936

Ballinasloe fair

Traders in Ballinasloe report brisk business during the week of the fair and said there was free spending of money and increased business in the shops. This, it was stated, was due to the increased demand and prices for livestock.

Spanish Brigade

At Oughterard on Thursday, six volunteers got ready to leave to join General O’Duffy’s Spanish Brigade. Strict secrecy was maintained up to the last minute regarding the organising of the volunteers, and letters from G.H.Q. to the local organiser, Mr. Henry Stewart, were sent to a ‘convenience’ address.

It was learned that the volunteers intended travelling as ordinary tourists to Morocco. A farewell reception was given to the volunteers in Mr. John King’s house in Oughterard on Wednesday night.

Traffic signals

“It is not for the good of their health that guards stand for hours at windy corners in Ballinasloe or elsewhere,” said Mr. W. P. Cahill, D.J., at Ballinasloe Court at the hearing of a number of summonses for obstruction on market day, with carts and cars. They are there to direct the traffic and for the safety of the public and people will have to obey their signal. This class of case was becoming more prevalent in court, but he would see that people obeyed guards’ signals.

Strange trance

A 16 year-old girl from Ballybaun, Gort, is still in a trance-like state in which she was found over a week ago. She went to the well one morning and when she did not return, a search was made for her. No trace was found until late in the evening. She was found at a hollow at the end of a field not too distant from her house. Thinking her faint from exposure, she was carried home, but since then, she has lain there and has not eaten, or spoken or moved.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.