May 10, 2012

1912

Changing timesOn Saturday last, an imposing sight was witnessed at Fairyhill, Portumna, when a large number of people from Galway and Tipperary assembled there with ploughs and other farm implements to cultivate the new farms recently handed over by the Estates Commissioners to the Clanricarde evicted tenants in Portumna parish.

The farm, which is of excellent quality, was until recently at the hand of the late Col. Cheevers, J.P. after whose death it was sold by the next of kin to the Estates Commissioners, whose action so far as the dividing of the land is concerned, has met with approval of the general public.

Eight evicted tenants have been planted on the land in well laid-out farms. All the holders on the property were provided with substantial additions to their buildings and close on 60 acres of the estate have been reserved for the people of the town.

Twelve months ago, the man who would predict such a change on the Cheever’s estate would be considered a fit subject for Ballinasloe asylum.

In reality, the change has take place in a very short space of time, and be it said to the credit of the Commissioners, they have carried out their onerous duties in connection with the purchase and division in a very expeditious manner.

The evicted tenants who got holdings are Patrick Tuohy, Wm Flannery, MI Scully, Thomas Madden, Pat Donohoe.

1937

Hospital overcrowdingAt the monthly meeting of the County Galway Board of Health, Deputy Eamonn Corbett referred to the practice of sending in large numbers of inpatients to the Central Hospital for treatment for tonsilitis.

This, he said, was being more or less overdone and patients of this kind should not be sent into the hospital unless they were really hospital cases. He had heard of a number of occasions on which patients had been sent in when they were not serious cases and could easily have been treated outside the hospital.

It was particularly desirable that this practice should cease, in view of the present overcrowded condition of the institution.

Dr. B. O Beirne, county medical officer of health, said that there was a great deal in what Deputy Corbett has said. In 1936, when there was a great deal of diseases and outbreaks of one kind or another throughout the county, he went round to every single school and reduced the numbers of these very cases.

Opening of bazaarNext Sunday, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Dignan, Bishop of Clonfert, will open Ballinasloe’s grand bazaar, which will continue for a week.The bazaar will be held in the agricultural showgrounds and in the sportsground, Duggan Memorial Park. There is a big programme of events, including interesting contests in clay pigeon shooting.

Toft’s amusement stalls are already on the ground, and at Ballinasloe District Court, a licence was granted to hold short dances.Given the good weather, a large attendance is expected anf the varied programme provides for several hours’ entertainment each day.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.