Galway In Days Gone By

Galway Bay Regatta

For an island race, we are singularly lacking in sea-faring folks. A comparatively small percentage of our population goes down to the sea in ships.

It is said that even our fishermen’s sons have lost the cunning that their fathers had. Time was within memory when Lough Corrib and Galway Bay would be abloom with the red and weather-beaten sails of turf boats or of boats bringing agricultural produce to the city of merchandise from it.

Shipping on a large scale, Ireland never had, except alas, the shipping that takes the human freight of emigrants away from our shores. A movement is now on foot to revive the Galway Bay Regatta, which has not been held for more than a score of years.

Mr. Jasper Kelly, who loves the sea, is the moving spirit. We wish him God-speed and success; for the revival of the regatta on the bay will achieve a work for Galway greater than some may at the moment perceive.

The idea is to hold the regatta on or about the 15th of August. The course will be laid to the westward of the lighthouse island along by the front of the promenade at Salthill.

1950

Strike ended

Galway’s longest-ever strike, involving 353 workers, and which has done almost irreparable damage to the business and commercial life of the City over the past fourteen weeks, came to a welcome end on Monday following a conference between representatives of the workers and employers, presided over by the Bishop of Galway on Saturday afternoon.

First fruits of the settlement was the restoration of gas supplies to the city’s eleven hundred consumers on Sunday evening.

While there was no official statement in regard to the terms of the settlement, it is believed that they were put forward by His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Browne, and accepted by both parties to the dispute, to whom they were referred by their respective representatives.

It was learned that the settlement provided for the re-employment of all the workers on strike as quickly as they can be absorbed by the various firms involved. It is also understood that the employers have agreed to pay an immediate increase of 5s. per week with a further 5s. increase in three months’ time to the 22 yardmen and labourers, the rejection of whose claim by the Labour Court for an increase of 15s. per week was the original cause of the strike.

Pictured: The Macnas motorised whale at a filling station on the Headford Road on the way to participate part in the Macnas Parade for Galway International Arts Festival in July 1989.