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

Salthill seating

At a meeting of the Urban Council, Messrs. Boland and Moon appeared with reference to the lack of seating accommodation at Salthill. Mr. Boland said they wished to draw the attention of the Council to what they considered would be not only a great advantage to Salthill but to the town, and that was the seating accommodation on the promenade.

In recent years the Council had to be congratulated on the work they had done in the matter of seating benches in Salthill. The present seats had been such a success that they were “hungry” for more (laughter).

The present accommodation was only for 93 people. He requested that six more seats be put there, which would practically double the accommodation.

Man glassed

At the Oughterard Sessions, before Mr. J.B.K. Hill, R.M. (in the chair), Mr. W.A. Woods, D.I., had Martin Halloran summoned for striking Pat Conneely with a glass on the head, causing a wound in which nine stitches had to be inserted.

Sergt. Molloy stated that the injured man declined to prosecute, and the police were obliged to take up the case. Conneely, examined, deposed that a dispute arose about a gun. They were in a public-house, and Halloran said that witness owed him 2s. 6d. more than he really owed.

He threw a glass at witness which struck him on the head. He was five days laid up.

Martin Halloran stated there was a crowd in the public-house at the time he sold a gun to the defendant. Previous to that he owed him a half-crown, and would not give it to him. They were both under the influence of drink, and he could not say whether he struck Conneely with the glass or not.

Other witnesses were examined, who stated that they only heard the noise of the glass as it fell to the ground. The Chairman said the charge was a serious one, and he would fine defendant £1 and costs.

1939

Connemara’s ‘Boys’ Town’

Connemara has a ‘Boys’ Town’, writes a “Connacht Tribune” special correspondent. When I was a bold, bad boy ever so many years ago, I was afraid of nothing but the devil and Letterfrack Industrial School.

I still have a wholesome fear of the former, but last week my feelings towards the latter underwent a complete change. And now when I look back on boyhood nightmares, of grim prison walls behind which demoniacal monks flogged and flogged while little half-starved urchins howled and howled.

How I thank my luck stars that I had the courage to overcome a lifelong prejudice and drive down the avenue leading to the school. It was the bunch of healthy, happy-looking boys I had met on the road that did the trick.

Led by an eager group of willing little guides, overflowing with that proprietorial pride which only boys can display, I wandered through Connemara’s ‘Boys’ Town’.

It was as I was returning from the farmyard that I met the genial Superior, Rev. Brother McGrath, and I do not know how it happened – I just had to make an open confession of my former prejudices and humbly apologised.

But he only smiled sadly. “You are not the only one who had these prejudices against us and our work. Unfortunately for many poor boys, such unfounded prejudices are far too rampant even yet.

“The result is we have room for nearly twice the number of boys we have at present, but they won’t be sent to us.”

Such is the great work for God and Ireland that goes on unobtrusively amidst a beautiful sylvan setting beneath the shadow of the Diamond mountain on the site of an Old Quaker settlement in Letterfrack, Connemara. And to think that for all these years I thought it was a sort of penitentiary.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.