July 29, 2010

Castle fireThe sincere sympathy of all goes out to Sir Valentine and Lady Blake of Menlo Castle in the dreadful disaster that has so suddenly overtaken them. Only a few days ago, the Blake family threw open their beautiful grounds at Menlo for the Galway Annual Regatta,. In a few hours, the consuming fire swept into nothingness, the sumptuous furniture, the valuable pictures, the ancient armoury, and all the cherished treasures that a building of such antiquity might be supposed to contain.

But infinitely more sad was the loss of human life and their terribly tragic circumstances under which it occurred. On the evening of Monday, Miss Blake was killed.

Drunk and incapableSergt. Connolly summoned a woman at Ballinasloe Petty Sessions for being drunk and incapable on the 16th inst. She had a child in her arms.

Chairman: Have you any question to ask the Constable?

Defendant: I came out of the Workhouse to look for work. It is twelve months since I took any drink.

Mr. O’Shaughnessy: The child might be killed.

The case was adjourned for a week to allow the defendant to take the Pledge.

Same complainant summoned the husband for being drunk and incapable. There were several previous convictions.

A fine of 5s and costs was imposed.

Tuam steamrollingThe Chairman of Tuam Town Commissioners said he had written to the Co. Surveyor, East Riding, who in his letter, stated that a steam roller, including a watering cart, exclusive of a horse, would cost between 35s and £2 per day.

They would require a man for the watering cart, four sweepers, and three or four carters, to spread the metal in advance of the roller. The Glaud Bridge people would supply all the labour, not including the spreading, and carting of material, at from 45s to 50s per day. The roller would consolidate from 50 to 60 tons of metal each day.

The new D.I.The new District Inspector who has taken charge of Athenry is recognised as being a sensible man, and many of the ladies have expressed their opinions that he is “awfully nice”.

Ladies always use strange language when pronouncing their opinions about mankind. Anyhow, it is to be hoped that he won’t follow in the footsteps of his predecessor.

1935

Dockers’ strikeA serious situation developed in Galway on Monday morning when the SS Commber arrived at Galway docks with a cargo of grain for Messrs. Palmer. When the vessel docked the ensign was removed and burned. The crew were informed that it was in their own interests not to come ashore and the dockers refused to unload the boat.

On Monday night, at a public meeting in Eyre Square, it was unanimously resolved: “That as from nine o’clock on Tuesday morning, every Catholic worker was to down tools and not resume work until all the Orangemen had been driven out of Galway.”

Lady teachersAt the County Galway Vocational Education Committee meeting, a discussion took place on the question of lady teachers who continue in employment after marriage. The matter arose when Miss Fitzgerald, part-time teacher of Irish in Ahascragh, wrote to say that she intended getting married in the near future.

The committee were at the time considering the general question of the re-appointment of teachers.

Miss Ashe said her opinion on this subject was that no matter who the girl was, when she got married, she should stay at home and look after her place. There were a lot of other girls and boys looking for work.

The reverend chairman said this lady was only a part-time teacher and there was nothing in the Department’s regulations to prevent her from carrying on her work. If she were a whole-time officer, it would be different.

Miss Ashe: How many hours does she teach?

CEO: Two hours a day.

Mr. R.N. Sheridan, Departments’ Inspector: But all her teaching is done at night.

Very Rev. Canon Moran, S.P. said if a lady kept on her work after marriage, it would undoubtedly interfere with her domestic life, that is, if she proposed to carry on a normal domestic life.

Miss Ashe: You can take me as dissenting if you intend to allow the lady employees to remain after marriage.

The CEO said one difficulty presented itself to him. This lady was undoubtedly a very good official and the attendances at her classes were excellent, but suppose one of her classes went down at any time and they wanted to change her to another district, they would find it very difficult if she were married.

Chairman: She could resign then.

Answering Miss Ashe, the CEO said the lady was not married yet.Miss Ashe: Well, give her till she is married and then she can resign. She then handed in a notice of motion that she will move at the next meeting, that all lady employees of the committee shall resign on marriage.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.