December 20, 2012

1912

Typhus outbreakAt Loughrea District Council, notification of an outbreak of typhus fever in a family at Crinnage, Craughwell, was received from Dr. Quinlan, who stated: “I ordered the patient to the fever hospital, and had the ambulance there, but the mother refused to let the child go. 

“Since then the child has died. Two other children were ill some time ago, but no doctor was requisitioned. I have had the house cleaned up and lime-washed, and have served notice on the parents prohibiting the holding of a wake, and ordering immediate interment.”

Loughrea evictionWe understood that harsh evictions were a thing of the past in Loughrea, considering the fight made by the Town Tenants’ Association. Still, we had the very painful spectacle of witnessing a few days ago Mr. Shaw Tener and his understrappers with a protection posse carrying out in our midst the eviction of Widow Murphy from a yard and premises held by her and her late husband, Peter Murphy, for over seventeen years as an acquisition to her business premises, and not for non-payment of rent, but because, as is alleged, a neighbour made a proposal and offered a high rent behind the tenants’ back in consequence of which she was served with notice to quit.

1937

Tuam factoryA public meeting was held in the Town Hall, Tuam, on Friday evening to give further consideration to the proposal that a new factory which would give all year round employment should be got for the town.

Mr. John Burke, chairman, Town Board, presided, and there was a large attendance of shopkeepers and the general public. It was decided to make inquiries of English and Continental fancy hosiery and lace curtain factories for particulars as to that particular industry, which has been recommended as possibly suitable for this locality.A proposition was also put forward at the meeting that representations be made to the Government to have the now disused flour mills at Shop-street, Tuam, reopened, and a sub-committee was appointed to prepare a case to put before the Minister for Industry and Commerce.

Some months ago ‘The Connacht Tribune’ drew attention to the loss that these flour mills were to Tuam, and on expert advice received it was pointed out that Tuam had a great opening for the restarting of these mills, as there was an urgent demand in the district for them, the local farmers having to go to other far distant places for getting corn milled.

Poor ChristmasWith only a week to go before Christmas, Connemara has not yet captured the Yuletide atmosphere. The country people have not come into the towns and shopping centres to “buy the Christmas” and the shops themselves show little sign of the festive season so near at hand.

Nor does one hear any talk of the ‘American letter’ which used to be the sine qua non of happy Christmases in Connemara.

The postman’s bag is growing lighter each Christmas since the stoppage of emigration to the U.S.A. Times are hard over there too, and most of the letters coming back now have, as one old lady put it “an dha cainnt buailte ar a cheile”, for there is no cheque to separate them.

There has been very little employment in Connemara this winter. The amount of money allotted for relief schemes was much less than last year; so the few shillings ‘dole’ together with whatever little contribution the son or daughter in England can afford, is all that many Connemara families can count upon to provide this year’s Christmas dinner.

Farmers out the country have their beet and wheat cheques, but the Connemara ‘farmer’ knows nothing of such luxuries.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.