Galway In Days Gone By

Lusitania victim

The grim realities of German “frightfulness” were brought home to the residents of Galway on Wednesday, when one of the coast patrol boats attached to the base here brought in the body of a Lusitania victim found floating off the coast of Kerry, 120 miles from the scene of disaster that occurred on Friday week.

H.M.S. patrol boat Setter (skipper Donaldson) had been on duty off the Blasquets the previous afternoon, when the body of a woman, floating face downwards, was sighted. The body was taken on board, and the intelligence communicated with the flagship, which at once instructed the Setter to proceed to Galway.

The police were notified and the Coroner. By noon, a jury had been got together. The Harbour flag and the flag over the Admiralty were floated at half mast.

The jurors who viewed the body were horrified at the appalling spectacle of a woman foully murdered in the pursuit of the German policy. The body was laid reverently in the Morgue, covered with a Union Jack. It was that of a superior class of woman, apparently of middle age, and was clad in a cardigan jacket, while a wedding ring and a plain gold broach was worn.

1940

By-election apathy

With less than a week to go before the West Galway by-election there still remains an ominous lull on the “western front”. One should not be at all surprised if on this occasion, Connemarians sent something home to the Government through the medium of the ballot box. It would certainly be an eye-opener for them and might do them good.

The farmers have dashed the hope entertained last week by Fianna Fáil that an election contest would not be forced in West Galway.

On Saturday afternoon the Galway County Executive of Clann na Talmhan (Sons of the Soil) decided to nominate Mr. Michael Donnellan, Dunmore, for the vacant seat created by the death last year of Dr. Sean Tubridy, M.O., Oranmore.

Burglary spate

On the morning of May 13, at about 2.30a.m., a man entered the residence of Mr. Michael W. Cahill, Co.C. merchant, Ballygaddy-road, Tuam, and stole a small bag which contained the sum of about £4.

It is stated the man entered Mr. Cahill’s residence by an open window on the first floor. When Mr. Cahill heard the noise in his room, he switched on the light, and the intruder disappeared through the window, talking with him Mrs. Cahill’s handbag.

The robbery was reported later that morning to the guards, who immediately began extensive inquiries, but so far have been unable to get the criminal.

Another robbery was reported to the Tuam guards on Sunday evening, may 20. It appears that on that evening, between 2 and 8 o’clock, p.m., the house of Mr. Thomas Joyce, Vicar-street, Tuam, was broken into and a sum of £2 stolen.

Entrance was effected by scaling a high wall at the back of the house and the back door was forced open. A small cash box in one of the room was also broken open. The guards are making inquiries and it is expected that charges will be made in this case shortly.

Offer to US liners

Galway Harbour Commissioners have offered to place all the facilities of their port at the disposal of the American government in connection with the departure of American citizens to their home country. The U.S. liner, President Roosevelt, is expected to call at Galway on Thursday.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.