Galway In Days Gone By

Gun return plea

Impelled by the far-reaching results of the damage done to last year’s crops by crows and other vermin, Athenry farmers are now applying in large numbers to have their shot-guns returned.

Since these were taken by the old R.I.C. and by other forces, crops have been at the mercy of all sorts of vermin, and feeling about the delay in returning the guns has been decidedly strong.

The complaint is universal and certainly farmers are justified in their protest. They say, and rightly so, that there is no reason why guns should not be returned within a reasonable time, and they also believe that a certain amount of “red tapeism” which has to be gone through might easily be waived in such an important matter.

Crop growers argue that the loss in their crops, resultant from the guns being held up, is very considerable, and they are now moving early in order to avoid, if possible, similar loss next year.

Pictured: St Mary's Ladies Club, Claddagh, who were the winners of the Inter Ladies Clubs annual talent competition at St Joseph's Community Centre in Shantalla in November 1984. Seated are, from left: Teresa Shoer, Maeve Ryan, Ursula Coulihan and Angela Manogue. Standing, left to right: Mary Connolly, Mai Morris, Eileen Cloherty, Mai Colohan, President, Teresa Flaherty, Molly Browne and Kathleen Cloherty.