April 26, 2012

1912

Harbour worksAt the fortnightly meeting of Galway Harbour Board, Dr. Grealy asked why they would not give the option of the diver’s work to one of the dock gatemen. Mr. W.N. Binns, harbour engineer, said he had already stated that the job was one that would require an expert.

Mr. Binns asked for instructions with reference to the retaining wall at the north end of the dock, as it was in a dangerous condition. The harbour premises required repairs and painting.

Replying to Dr. Grealy, Mr. Binns said they would have to take down the retaining wall and rebuild it. He estimated roughly the cost and said he thought it would be advisable to do the work by contract. He would only do half the wall now – the portion that was absolutely necessary.

Mr. Grealy: Isn’t it better for us to do the whole of it now, and not have Mr. Marcus Lynch sending our money away to the Board of Works? (laughter). It was agreed to carry out the engineer’s recommendation.

‘Model’ citizenAt Athenry Petty Sessions, a man declared his intention to become a ‘model’ being when the Bench adjourned a charge of drunkenness for three months, on his production of the pledge.

1937

Housewives in trainingGalway County Council at their meeting held on Saturday in County Buildings, Prospect Hill, Galway, agreed to raise a loan of £16,000 to supplement a £15,000 loan previously raised for the building of vocational schools in the county.

During the course of a short discussion on the motion regarding the raising of the loan, Mr. Michael Quinn expressed the view that it would be better, instead of building new vocational schools, to erect an additional room at each of the country schools and have girls taught cooking, sewing, knitting, darning, etc. The teachers throughout the county could teach these subjects. In the case of woodwork and such technical subjects, itinerant teachers could visit the schools.

Rates arrearsThe Council discussed at length work schemes for Tuam and matters relating to the collection of rates, the carrying forward of arrears, the striking-off of arrears, and a number of other matters of importance.The County Secretary, Mr. C.I. O’Flynn said that the £15,000 raised for the building of vocational schools in Tuam, Ballinasloe and Gort had been found to be entirely inadequate. The County Vocational Education Committee intended to build an extra school at Athenry.

Gaeltacht kitchensMr. Michael Quinn said that every rural district had been provided for in the way of vocational education except Glenamaddy. He did not mean to suggest that he was in favour of the erection of these new schools and neither was he to be taken as objecting to the raising of a loan.

He believed that in ten or fifteen years’ time, these schools would be turned into dance halls or garages. It was a bad thing to be putting £31,000 on the rates for vocational schools, while £1,000 would not be put up for providing kitchens in Gaeltacht schools in which children could have their clothes dried.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.