January 26, 2012

1912

Land grabbingA Meelick correspondent reports that much indignation is felt in the district in regard to a local case of land grabbing. An acre of garden was purchased from the planter for £30 which had been in possession of a local fisherman for 30 years, who, however, was willing to give it up to the evicted tenant, and to whom people did not object as he had no other land.

When the purchase was effected, indignation was manifested in a large meeting of the surrounding tenantry, and on the following morning a crowd of men gathered upon the land with horses and ploughs They first ploughed the plot and the harrowed wheat into it. The grabber was shouted down and a bonfire was lighted in the evening in honour of the day’s work.

Labour troubleArising out of the postponement by the Urban Council til the end of March of consideration of the demands made by the newly-formed Labourers’ Association for higher wages and shorter hours, the men engaged in direct labour on roads left off work on Saturday morning. A circular setting out the men’s demands had also been left with the various employers in the town

The Chairman of the Labourers’ Association went to work as usual, but meeting with a hostile reception had to discontinue the delivery of bread for his employer, and then left. Nearly all the men engaged in Messrs. Flanagan’s and Conroy’s continued at their work, but those employed in scavenging of the town struck.

In some cases men, receiving the wages claimed, left their work in sympathy with the other strikers. A number of the traders of the town, as well as their assistants, have set themselves to meet the situation by delivering their own goods as well as by carting supplies from the railway station.

1937

New school fundsAt a public meeting at the Town Hall, Ballinasloe, ways and means of finding funds to run the big bazaar in May were discussed. Father Hughes, Adm., St. Michael’s, Ballinasloe, presided. The bazaar is in aid of funds for the new boys’ school.

Father Hughes said the new school would cost about £9,000 – £3,000 of which would have to be raised locally. Already, nearly £2,000 was paid out. It was hoped to have circulars issued setting out the various items of the elaborate programme, which would include the bazaar, and it was hoped to have a display of fireworks and perhaps, the Army band, as well as a prize scheme and the sale of tickets, with stalls, sales etc.

Kinvara fighting“Kinvara is unique in having fighting on the streets and in the use of sticks on fair days,” said Mr. W.P. Cahill, D.J. at Kinvara Court on Friday, “but,” he added, “the people would have to make up their minds to fall into line with the rest of the county and the sooner they do this the better as heavier fines will be inflicted in future. People in this town are too ready to use sticks at almost every fair. The use of sticks is dangerous as it might mean the difference between a fine and more serious charge.

“At almost every court following a fair, we have cases here of street fighting,” said the Justice.

‘Flu epidemicThe ‘flu epidemic is tightening its grip in many districts. In the belt of country from Swinford to Kilkelly in Mayo, whole villages are in its grip and in many cases where whole families are down, the doors are left “on the latch” so that the neighbours can come in and attend to the wants of the stricken people. Castlebar area has up to the present been particularly free in this respect, but there are a few cases as well as a mild outbreak of typhoid.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.