Galway In Days Gone By

‘God Save the King’

Much comment and resentment has been caused in the city by an incident that occurred at a subscription dance given under the auspices of the bankers’ association in the National Hall, Galway, last week.

The gentleman at the piano, and Englishman earning his livelihood here, brought the dance to a close by playing “God Save the King” – this, we understand, without any authority from the promoters.

We believe this Englishman acted without thought, or intention, but things done by those who have not a due appreciation of the position often induce very regrettable results.

Within the memory of the youngest child amongst us, the British National Anthem in Ireland meant no more or less than “Croppies Lie Down”.

Only yesteryear, our own countrymen, our own kith and kin, were compelled by ludicrous terrorists to sing “God Save the King”, or have revolvers shoved down their throats, or their bodies maimed for life.

Those of them who would not do so were, in fact, maimed within sight of the walls of the city, and one citizen within our walls was taken to a horrible death to the whistled tune. Blood is thicker, very much thicker, than water, and these memories are far too recent. It is because of this that we deem right to issue a sharp note of warning against gratuitous recklessness.

Photographed at the Halloween Fancy Dress Party of the Guild of the Irish Countrywomens Association in Furbo on October 29, 1971 were, from left: Bridie O'Connor, Donal Falvey and his wife Bernadette, and Mary Silke, all from Barna.