Galway In Days Gone By

‘God Bless Germany’

Thomas Finnerty, Claddagh; two months with hard labour. Martin Walsh, Claddagh; a fortnight with hard labour. These were the sentences passed by the Galway City magistrates on Monday upon two men who were charged in custody under Section 27 of the Defence of the Realm Act, with making statements likely to prejudice recruiting for His majesty’s Forces.

Sergeant Leonard deposed that he was Recruiting Sergeant in the Connaught Rangers. On the evening of the 4th June, he was with Private Laing and Private Cavanagh at Mr. Michael Walsh’s bar, Eyre Square. There were two sailors there.

One of them said he would be a soldier tomorrow or the next day. Witness said it was his duty to take him, to Renmore at any time he wanted to go. Witness was interrupted by the prisoner Walsh, who said: “You, a Galway man, ought to be ashamed to be wearing the King’s uniform.” Witness said he was not afraid to fight for his King and country.

Walsh then came towards him in a violent manner, and Thomas Finnerty, the other prisoner, then endeavoured to come towards him, but was stopped by the Military Police. The sailor, to whom witness was speaking, had not joined the army since.

Private Laing, of the Military Police, said that Finnerty came out after having endeavoured to strike the Recruiting Sergeant, and said he was a Sinn Féiner, and witness told him to be careful – he said he did not give a d… and “God bless Germany!”.

1940

Nation in danger

“Our nation is in danger – immediate, imminent danger,” said Mr. de Valera in a broadcast from Radio Éireann on Saturday night. “If violation of our territory promises an advantage, our territory will be violated and out country made a cockpit,” he added.

The Germans have launched a supreme effort to capture Dunkirk, hurling masses of infantry through flood waters in successive attacks.

Travel restrictions

When the case, adjourned from a previous court, against two boys who were convicted of stealing eggs, was called at Ballinasloe Court on Monday, the excuse was made that one of them, with his father, was going to Glasgow.

Supt. Dunphy said this excuse was given on last court day, but no move was made since to send the boy away. There were now new restrictions regarding travelling between Eire and England; only those engaged on national interests were allowed national permits.

He did not know if it would be considered in the national interest to allow these people to leave Ballinasloe, but in any event, no move was made as regards permits.

Mr Rooney, solicitor for one of the boys, said he had been trying to get photographs and negatives and was held up. There was a letter from the boy’s aunt in Glasgow offering employment, but the fare was the big trouble, and he asked for a further adjournment. Mr Cahill, D.J., allowed the case stand for one month.

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Adrift for fourteen hours in open boat

Four young men on a cruise round Ireland had a narrow escape from death recently when their motor launch developed engine trouble. For fourteen hours they drifted in the open boat, cold and wet through from a dangerous squall which had sprung up.

Had it not been for the fact that they each carried flasks of hot Erinox, their adventure might have ended fatally. As it was, all they got was a good frightening, and the knowledge that the concentrated nourishment of Erinox Irish Beef Cubes probably saved their lives.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.