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

Clifden fire

Between 7 and 8 o’clock on Friday evening, 6th February, an alarming fire, which threatened to have serious consequences, broke out in the premises of Mr. Thomas O’Neill, Victualler, Market-st., Clifden.

Were it not for the timely intervention and gallant action of Mr. John J. McDonnell, Mr. E. Fallon and Constables Ryan and Moran, who worked strenuously, and succeeded in combating the flames, it is certain that the conflagration would have quickly spread all through the house, and to the adjoining premises.

Fortunately the water supply was convenient, and Messrs. McDonnell and Fallon quickly secured buckets and conveyed the water upstairs to the two policemen who were fighting the fire.

The work was very difficult, as they were forced to leave the room several times and seek the fresh air.

However, the four men worked energetically, and without any assistance from any other person, they succeeded in putting out the fire before much serious damage had been done. The cause of the fire cannot be ascertained.

The draper shop of Mr. O’Connor adjoins Mr. O’Toole and if the fire got a hold, this and other houses would be in immediate danger. Mrs. O’Neill – rescued from a burning room – was not removed a moment too soon.

1939

Poverty in Galway

“Give me a few shillings home assistance, for God’s sake, to allow me get some bread, I am starving.” A young man in his late twenties or early thirties made this appeal to the Galway County Board of Health at the month meeting held in the Central Hospital.

When the young man entered the boardroom, he asked for the “head boss”. When directed to the head of the table, he made the appeal.

Mr. John Gallagher explained to him that the board had nothing to do with home assistance, and he advised the man to see Mr. Powell, home assistance superintendent.

When leaving the boardroom, the man said: I wish Hitler or somebody came over here.”

Secretary: There is more poverty in Galway at the present moment that ever I remember. Every Saturday evening about a dozen of those people come to my private house seeking home assistance, and what am I to tell them?”

Ashford duck-shoot

There was a sequel to the sale of the Ashford estate last week when the Hon. A.E. Guinness’ game-keepers carried out a wholesale shoot of the wild ducks for which the place was noted.

The “casualties”, said to have numbered hundreds, were packed into boxes and sent to Dublin.

Mr. Guinness reared an average of seven hundred wild ducks on the estate each year. They were almost tame and for that reason it was necessary to drive them wild before a shoot in order to make the latter anyway enjoyable.

It was once quite a common sight to see these “wild” duck wandering about the streets of Cong and rumour has it that they could often be persuaded, with the help of a little oats, to toddle in and see the neighbours.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.