November 8, 2012

1912

Christening differencesAt yesterday’s meeting of the Urban Council, Mr. Martin Cunningham in accordance with notice, moved that the new houses at Prospect Hill, built by the Council, be called St. Bridget’s Terace, and that the Wood Quay houses be called McDonogh Terrace.

The Chairman modestly demurred from the compliment, but members showed no inclination to let him have his way in this matter.

Mr. Bailey moved as an amendment to the former part of the motion that the houses at Bohermore be called “Lake View Terrace”.

Sir James O’Donohoe seconded. The name was appropriate, as the houses commanded an admirable view of the lake.

Mr. Cunningham (indignantly): Are you going to take “Lake View” in preference to “St. Brigid”, an Irish saint?

Mr. Murphy: I propose St. Columcille be the name of the place (laughter).

Sir James: It commands a magnificent view of the lake, and “Lake View” is a most applicable. “Lake View” which had now turned into the straight for home, appeared to be winning hands down, when Mr. Martin Redington rose and said that at one time there was a chapel there called St. Bridget’s chapel and it would now be appropriate to call the terrace St. Bridget’s Terrace. Mr. Redington further quoted local history in support of the claim.

Sir James said in deference to such an authority on ecclesiastical, hagiological and archaeological matters, he would withdraw his proposition (laughter and applause).

1937

Wireless stationMr. Paddy Farrell, Clifden, and other post office engineers from Dublin set out for Inishturk Island (Mayo) on Wednesday morning to install a wireless broadcasting and receiving set in the local post office. Similar means of communication have already been installed in Aran, Inishboffin and Clare Island.

Travelling shopsIt is estimated that there are about 500 ‘travelling shops’ in the Saorstat. Their existence is again exciting the attention of the ordinary established traders in towns, especially in the West, where the travelling shop is said to be the most numerous.

Letters from traders have suggested that the travelling shop is causing much loss of trade to the towns, is tending to lessen the volume of market business and to keep people away from the towns.  

Legislation to restrict its activities has been demanded. A Press representative who made inquiries into the position was informed from a reliable source that the amount of data in relation to those ‘shops’ which was in possession of the Government would not warrant action being taken.

Information, it is said, would have to be obtained concerning the character of the business carried on by every travelling shop, the possible volume of such business where it was carried on, and how many ‘travelling shops’ were offshoots of regularly established in towns.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.