Galway In Days Gone By

Galway Races protest

At the meeting of the Galway Urban Council on Thursday, Mr. M.T. Donnellan, presiding. Mr. M.J. Crowley referred to the stoppage of racing in Ireland, and said there was every danger that the Galway race meeting would not take place this year. He moved:

“That we, the Galway Urban Council, desire to represent to Captain Bathurst and the Chief Secretary for Ireland, that the stoppage of the August Race Meeting in Galway will result in a loss of something like ten thousand pounds to a town already hard hit by the war, and will spell disaster for many of the small hotel and lodging-house keepers, as well as for a number of others, who derive a considerable income from the influx of visitors for the event. That in view of the serious condition of traders and others in the town, most of whom must be reduced to absolute poverty next winter if their earning capacity is further seriously restricted, copies of this resolution be sent to Messrs. Redmond and Dillon, and the County members, as well as to the Lord Lieutenant, and the Turf Club.”

Mr. Griffin seconded, and the motion was adopted. Mr. Crowley remarking that a few cranks in office were responsible for the whole thing. The English people did not understand the Irish, and “we must try to educate them” (laughter).

1942

Galway is so safe!

Galway City Vocational Education Committee reluctantly have been compelled to refuse the County Secretary a room in their school for exclusive use in connection with Air Raid Precautions. They could not spare it. Not being aware that A.R.P. existed in Galway, we endeavoured to discover for exactly what purpose the room was required. We are still without the information.

Instead we were told once more by “the A.R.P. authority” [air raid protection] for Galway City and County that “The authorities in Dublin regard Galway as one of the safest areas in the country and do not consider that a full scheme of A.R.P. is necessary”.

Since that information first was vouchsafed to us many moons ago, the citizens of Galway have had it made abundantly clear to them that “the authorities in Dublin” have considered it necessary to take a remarkable number of precautions in connection with this superlatively “safe” area.

We are still told, however, that it is held to be quite sufficient to have provided a fire-fighting service – three auxiliary fire engines in the city, one in Ballinasloe and one in Tuam. One decontamination square has been formed and there are two rescue squads – a ridiculously inadequate number.

It should be clear to the meanest intelligence that, even with our few extra fire engines, it would be impossible to deal effectively with showers of incendiary bombs scattered over the miles of roof tops that comprise Galway today.

Unless the people themselves are fully equipped and instructed to deael with incendiary bombs, a conflagration is possible against which out existing fire-fighting apparatus would be utterly impotent.

If this is considered “one of the safest areas in the country”, why has it been found necessary to give the city three extra fire pumps, to organise a decontamination square and to arrange for three first-aid posts – three over an area of several miles, not to mention the rescue and demolition squads?

A clear statement as to what has been done – but, more particularly, what has been left undone – would let the citizens know the full extent of the danger which threatens.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.