Galway In Days Gone By

Using the bogs

In this age of scientific progress, it is not a little surprising that a serious effort has not been made to utilise the vast stretches of bog in Ireland.  The question is very naturally brought to mind by the coal trouble in England on whom we largely depend for our fuel supplies. Properly developed on scientific lines, the bogs of Ireland should supply the whole of the country with fuel for domestic and other purposes and leave us to a great extend independent of England.

We understand that the Department of Industry and Commerce is taking steps to ascertain the industrial possibilities in the Irish bogs. Interest in the project has been stimulated by statements contained in a paper read by Dr. Perkin recently before the chemistry section of the British Association.

He stated that a new industry of first-class magnitude had now become possible as the result of investigations, engineering and chemicals extending over seventeen years. A method had been evolved by which peat could be dried, compressed into briquettes, the whole process occupying about eight hours.

It was simple, did not need much labour and was inexpensive. The charcoal obtained when the briquettes were carbonised compared favourably with the hard charcoal employed in the steel industry, and in the making of charcoal a high yield of oils was provided which could be used for motors, for lighting and as fuel oils.

1950

Council elections

One of the main features of the Galway County Council election result is the fact that while Fianna Fáil secured the same number of seats as it won in the election of 1945, Fine Gael, now in its first County Council contest, won six seats – three at the expense of the Independents and three at the expense of Clann na Talmhan. Clann na Poblachta also gained at the expense of Independents whose group of seven is depleted to three.

The party position in the new Council is: Fianna Fáil, 17 (17 in 1945); Fine Gael, 6 (not in 1945 contest); Independents, 3 (7 in 1945); Clann na Poblachta, 1 (first contest); Labour, 1 (1 in 1945); Clann na Talmhan, 3 (6 in 1945).

There are many changes in personnel on the new Council. Among the former members who are not on the present Council are: Messrs. M. Donnellan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (who did not seek re-election); R. M. Burke (who also did not seek re-election); Patrick Lamebrt, B. Murphy, Stephen Burke, Peter Cooke, James Brennan, Thomas O’Connor an J. Casey.

Pictured: Future President Mary McAleese meeting with children from Scoil Naisiúnta, Cill Rónáin, on her arrival at Ionad Arann, the Aran Islands Heritage Centre, on Inis Mór, during the presidential election campaign on October 20, 1997.