Galway In Time Gone By - A browse through the archives of the Connacht Tribune.

Dock watch reported

At the Harbour Board meeting, the Harbour Master reported: “With great reluctance, I am compelled to bring under your notice the conduct of two of the dock watch, viz.: Pat Forde and Tom Burke, for absenting themselves from duty without leave. It would be quite impossible to exercise proper supervision and get the work done, if these men are allowed to absent themselves from duty.

Burke was absent 11 times from the 14th October to the 11th January and Forde was absent four times. I would respectfully request that these two men be required to live closer to the dock than they are at present. If the Board approve of the suggestion to make Lynch’s house habitable and compel these men to live there, it would save a lot of inconvenience.

The Harbour Master said that he had tried every means in his power to induce these men to be faithful to their work, but they failed to do so. His last resort was to report them. He appealed to the Board not to dismiss them, but to give another chance.

Mr Burke and Mr Forde were then brought befire the Chairman, who read out the report and asked them why they were absent, but they gave no excuse.

Chairman: The Board are very angry with you for behaving in this way, and they wish to inform you that they will overlook it on this occasion; but the next time you are absent the Harbour Master will dismiss you and then inform the Board. Look here, Burke and Forde, if you get this house, you will have to live in it. If not, you will be dismissed.

The Harbour Master said he would report all men for neglect of duty, but he would not dismiss them himself; he would suspend them.

1939

Severe weather

The severest weather conditions for over eighty years were experienced in Connemara during the past week. In addition to heavy snow and frost, the people of Connemara have to contend with a famine for turf, hay, oats, potatoes, milk and eggs.

Were it not for the large amount of employment provided under the various relief schemes, this winter would go down in history as one of the greatest hardships that ever befell Connemara. As things are, there has been a heavy death-toll among old people.

Free ride

Galway and Connemara Gardaí are anxious to meet a man who is reported to have obtained a free drive from a Galway hackney car owner last week. The man, who is stated to have been a native of South Connemara, approached the motor owner in Eyre Square and asked him to drive him to Carna. When the car arrived at Inver bridge, the passenger asked the driver to stop for a moment. He then left the car and has not been seen or heard of since.

Search continues

“We are now convinced that Patrick Folan has been drowned and that his body has been washed out to sea, and we have little hope of recovering the body although the search is still being continued,” Garda John McHale, Kilronan, told a “Connacht Tribune” reporter on Wednesday night.

Patrick Folan, who has been missing from his home at Kilronan since Friday, January 20, was last seen at about 7.30 o’clock that morning making his way along the top of a cliff on the south side of the island.

It is known that Folan was in the habit of descending this cliff to the foreshore to collect wreck. Part of a rope which was found by the Gardaí attached to the top of the cliff is evidence that he descended to the foreshore. A pair of pampooties found on the top of the cliff and a pair of trousers found among some rocks have been identified as being the property of the missing man.

A vigil is still being kept, day and night, along the seacoast. All the islanders who are now collecting seaweed along the shores are also keeping a sharp look-out for the body.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.