December 23, 2011

1911

AdvertMadden and Daly, AuctioneersThe auctioneer’s season is every season, to be sure, but still at a time when our thoughts revert to men and things that have become institutions in our midst, Messrs. Madden and Daly naturally pass under review. They do a big business, and being men of the world, possessed of genial temperament, and the coaxing way, they do it well. Their terms invite rather than repel, so that it is little wonder that their volume of business is growing yearly larger.

Christmas retreatAt Galway Petty Sessions, Mr. Daly asked to have a case adjourned till the next Court day, and the magistrates having acceded to the request, he said he would have sufficient hardihood to request that a second case in which he was interested be adjourned.

The Chairman said they would agree to do so. That day week would be Christmas Day, so that both cases would not be adjourned for a fortnight.

Mr. Daly: In fact, sir, having regard to the general affairs of the country, I would ask you to adjourn the Court until 7th January.

Chairman: We couldn’t adjourn a Court of Petty Sessions, but we will let those cases of yours stand.

Mr. Heard: They will all automatically adjourn themselves this day week.

Mr. Daly: Mr. Athy (Workhouse Master) and the defendant will go on retreat for Christmas (laughter). Mr. Alfred there, too, is a very pious man and he would not like to be working at Christmas.

Jaunting car deathMr. Patrick Gannon, one of the most popular car drivers in the city, whilst driving two Land Commissioners in from the country, suddenly fell dead on Friday evening. He was 76 years of age and married, and while driving through Rahoon, he suddenly uttered an exclamation and fell back from the ‘dickie’, and upon examining him, the Commissioners found that he was dead, and one of them immediately went to Galway for assistance and returned with a clergyman.

1936

Sad ceremoniesThe bells of seven churches tolled their sad notes over Galway City on Friday afternoon as the mortal remains of His Lordship, Most. Rev. Dr. O’Doherty, Bishop of the United Dioceses of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora, were being laid to rest in the crypt of St. Patrick’s Church.

Princes and high dignitaries of the Church, leaders of the State and all sections of the life of the nation were represented in the cortege which followed the remains of the great Bishop who had been the spiritual guide and ruler of his people for thirteen years.

The interment took place in the crypt in which lay the remains of his two immediate predecessors, Most Rev. Dr. O’Dea and Most Rev. Dr. McCormack, and three Galway priests, Rev. Father Leonard, Rev. Father Dooley and Rev. Father Craven. The crypt had not been opened since 1923, when the remains of Most Rev. Dr. O’Dea were there laid to rest.

Storm off AranThe Galway coast was lashed by huge waves which in some places swept across fields during the storms  of the week. During a trip of the Galway Bay steamboat Dun Aengus,  from Galway to Aran, the sea was so rough and the waves so violent that some of the passengers knelt and prayed.

The vessel broke her moorings at Kilronan pier, and passengers rushed to board her for the return voyage. All got on board safely, but some baggage was left behind on the pier.

The Aran Islands suffered severely during the storm. Seas reached a height not seen in many years, and curraghs had to be carried far inland for safety. Waves breaking across the quay caused postponement of the carpentry class usually held in a store facing the sea. The telephone line to Kilronan was out of order for several days.  

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.