August 25, 2011

1911

City death trapOn Wednesday morning the body of a woman was found in the Dam at Wood Quay, Galway, opposite Corrib Terrace. Subsequently the remains were taken ashore by the police, and removed to the Morgue at Forthill.

The body was identified as that of Mary O’Hara, an old apple-seller who was locally known as “Lady O’Hara”. It is assumed that she walked into the dam on the previous night, the place being unprotected, and being, in fact, one of the death traps of Galway, where several lives have been lost.

Attention has been called to it again and again, both by the residents of Corrib Terrace and by the Press. Coroner Cottingham, Oughterard, and a jury, held an inquest at Killeen’s publichouse, New Docks, on Thursday morning, on the body.

Only two witnesses were examined – one as to the finding of the body, the other as to seeing the deceased, who was then perfectly sober, at 8 o’clock on the previous evening. The Coroner fully concurred with a strong protest made by several jurors as to the scandalous condition in which the dam is kept, and as to the need for protection.

Ultimately, a verdict of accidental death was returned, and a rider was added calling the attention of the responsible authorities to the fact that the old dock in which the body was found was one of the most dangerous places in Galway, and ought to be fenced, whilst efforts should be made to prevent the deposit of nuisances in what is one of the most populous localities of the city.

1936

New schoolThe new Ballinasloe Boys’ School which is to be built on the Station Road is to cost £9,000, a third of which will be contributed by the people. The present Boys’ National School has long been condemned as inadequate to house the large number of pupils in attendance, and as being unsuitable and congested. Sites for a new Technical School and a District Hospital have also been selected on the same road, and workmen are already engaged in digging some of the foundations there.

Census figuresDo the girls of Galway know that there are now fewer men in the city than there are members of the fair sex?

That is the position revealed by the Census taken last April and now issued by the Department of Industry and Commerce.  

Galway stands out amongst the western counties – which record rather large decreases in population – as being the only area in the West holding its own. This, however, is due to the fact that there has been an increase of 4,058 in the population of the Galway urban area in the ten years, which shows the highest record in the Saorstat from the point of view of gradual expansion.

The percentage increase is 28.5, which must be considered as rather remarkable when all the circumstances are taken into account, not the least thing being that Galway so far has got but little opportunity of finding employment for its expanding population.

Considerable numbers of people from the rural areas appear to be flocking into the city. Galway city has now a population of 18,285 and is within 8,000 of Waterford. In Galway City now there are 8,889 males and 9,396 females.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.