October 21, 2010

Date Published: {J}

1910

New band

The St. Patrick’s Fife and Drum Band Society has taken on hands the work of establishing a new brass and reed band. The esteem and popularity of the society which has taken the matter on hands will win for it a large measure of support; but apart from any other motive, the project is worthy of the support of every true Nationalist in the city.

Large numbers have already contributed generously. On to-night and to-morrow night, Mr. J. Almo will give benefit entertainments in aid of the project at the Court Theatre. The public are requested to attend in large numbers and show by their presence that they are in sympathy with the movement.

Aran rates

As a result of the quarrel with the Galway County Council about 240 voters in the Aran Islands stand disfranchised. At the adjourned Revision Court held in the Courthouse, Galway, on Saturday, Judge Anderson, K.C., held that inasmuch as the rates were not, in fact, lodged, he had no option but to strike voters off the register. This was accordingly done.

With a view to a settlement, the following resolution was passed by the Council: “That the Council having learned that all the voters have been officially objected to for non-payment of rates desire to express the hope that in view of the amicable arrangement, which has now been entered into the objections may be withdrawn.”

1935

Rate collection

The difficulty in collecting the rates in many parts of East Galway has sometimes been revealed in the local courts, where the collectors are compelled to make claims for decrees for the outstanding amounts. In Ballinasloe court on Monday, Mr. Joseph Jennings, a collector, was given decrees in a number of cases where, in order to close his warrant, he was compelled to pay the defaulters’ rates himself and then further compelled to seek decrees against the defaulters to recover the amounts paid. The amounts of the decrees obtained in some cases were up to £22, and varied in amounts down to a couple of pounds.

A rate collector’s job at the moment is a very unenviable one. Even the local Council have been compelled to take drastic action with their rent collector. There is a large sum outstanding as rent on them cottages, which month by month show little improvement.

A A definite order to close his warrant or resign has been given the collector, whose efforts in collecting the rates are handicapped by the fact that some of the Council’s cottages have a weekly rental of 7s 6d per week, which the tenants, who are unemployed in many instances, find a difficulty in paying.

Some months ago the Council, having reviewed the whole rents’ position, struck off about £20 as “bad debts” with the hope of improving the position of the collector and reducing the outstanding arrears. Even now following the gesture of generosity by the Council, there is still a big amount of arrears outstanding.

Narrow victory

Galway had the keenest test of the season at Ballinasloe (Duggan Park) on Sunday, where they met the pick of Munster (Tipperary) in the National League Football tie. The home side were luck to win by the narrow margin of one point against the team which met Cavan in the All-Ireland semi-final at Croke Park this year.

In a game which was contested every minute of the time from the start, the fairly good attendance present, notwithstanding a strong breeze and blinding rain, saw one of the keenest contested hours of play for many years in Ballinasloe. It finished Galway 3 goals; Tipperary, 2 goals, 2 points.

Connemara ponies

The Connemara Society has today no fewer than 300 registered Connemara mares and eighteen fully registered stallions. Mr. C.J. Kerin, who has done so much to save the famous breed, gave valuable evidence before the Irish Horse Breeding Commission on Wednesday.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.