News had come to hand that legal negotiations are in progress between the trustees of the Sharpe estate and fifty tenants in Kinvara for the purchase of the fifty houses in Kinvara. Mr Comerford, Solicitor, Tuam, is acting for the trustees of the estate and Mr L. E. O’Dea, Solicitor, Galway for the fifty householders. It is understood that the basis of purchase is on similar lines to that pertaining in Loughrea but so far agreement as to the years purchase price has not been reached.
Map of walled city of Galway, Ireland of 1651. {{PD}} Original art work of 1651. This engraved and reduced copy of the original made for James Hardiman’s History of Galway by T Nolan dated 1820.
The soldiers in Galway have a journal to themselves. “The Ranger” has just been published and contains a large quantity of matter which must prove of great interest to the members of the famous Connaught Rangers. The Editor states that for a long time a consensus of opinion was felt that the magazine should be printed in Ireland, and with this in view the Editor called for quotations from houses in Dublin and Galway, with the result that the contract was entrusted to the Galway Express Co., Ltd., Eyre Square, Galway, and the present number is the first which has ever been printed in Galway.
At a meeting of the people of the parish of Kilcornan, the Rev. P. McDonagh, P.P., occupying the chair, several resolutions relative to the recent Phoenix Park murders were unanimously adopted. The first, proposed by Rev. H.Skerrett, C.C., and seconded by Mr. Anthony J. Lynch J.P., Lavally, was as follows:-
That we, the priests and people of the parish of Kilcornan, declare our horror and indignation at the twofold murder lately perpetrated in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, and that we ardently hope for the speedy detection of the atrocious wretches who have outraged every feeling of religion and humanity, and endeavoured to bring ruin and discredit upon Ireland and Ireland’s cause.
The second resolution, proposed by Mr. James Burke, and seconded by Mr. Daniel Mullin, Clarenbridge, respectfully and with heartfelt sympathy offered the condolence of the meeting to the families of the murdered men. On the motion of Mr. Thomas Corbett, Killeenan, seconded by Mr. Thomas Niland, The Weir, a resolution was passed expressing deep sympathy with Miss Burke in her great affliction. Miss. Burke, it was stated, had special claims on the sympathy of the parish, inasmuch as that it was from her mother, in conjunction with her cousin, the late Mrs. Redington, Kilcornan, that the mothers of very many families in every direction around received a careful, religious and secular education. A resolution of sympathy with the landlord of the parish, Mr. C. T. Redington, and his family, in the shock they have received, was passed, on the motion of Mr. Timothy Spelman, Killeely, seconded by Mr. Patrick Greavy, Dunkellin.
After the meeting the Kilcornan tenants presented an address of condolence to Mr. Redington. The address was read in presence of Mr. and Miss Redington, and was replied to by the former with evident signs of emotion.
Portrait of Turlough O’Carolan, from R. B. Armstrong The Irish and Highland Harps, Edinburgh, David Douglas, 1904. Wikimedia Commons
The Chair of Carolin, the last of the Irish Bards, is on loan to the Kildare Street Museum, courtesy of Capt. The MacDermot Roe (Lord of Moyburg). Interest in this ancient relic rests on the fact that it was the favourite chair of the Bard, and it was on this chair he sat, composed and played airs that delighted and pleased lovers of old Irish music. Carolin’s greatest pleasure was when he stayed at Alderford, the seat of the MacDermot Roe family, in the Co. of Roscommon, where kindness and hospitality were always lavished upon him. He died at Alderford nearly 200 years ago. Over the dismantled gateway of the ancient Church of Killrenan rests a tablet bearing an inscription to this Bard, who was interred in the vault of the MacDermot Roe family.
The “Northern Whig” London Correspondent states that he learns “the Irish Government have at last awakened to the fact that it is necessary to do something towards stopping the propaganda of treachery and sedition that has long been going on under their noses”, and he adds that “reports have reached the House of Commons from Dublin Castle that the situation is serious.” Probably it was an echo of the Campbell appointment that the correspondent heard! It is reported that Mr. Ernest Blythe, one of the organisers of the Irish Volunteers deported 11 days ago, along with Mr. Liam Melllowes, who had been in Galway, has been arrested in Oxford, charged with failing to report to the local police. A story goes the rounds that one of the Volunteer organisers who was lodging in a certain home in Galway, which was closely “shadowed” during his stay there, escaped the city under the very nose of the police. Mr. Sean MacDermott, who got three months in Jail for a speech delivered in Tuam some months ago, is once more back in Dublin, having completed his sentence.
Kinvara, April 1969 Photo: Felix Wikimedia Commons
Seamus Davenport of Kinvara, County Galway, prominent fighter in the Wars of Independence, was married on Saturday in the Church of the Holy Family, Aughrim Street, Dublin, to Miss Julia O’Meara, second daughter of Mrs. O’Meara and the late Denis O’Meara, Kilruane, Nenagh. Mrs. N. Brophy was matron of honour, and Mr. Thomas Gray, P.C. of the Reference Department, Dublin Corporation(who fought in the Longford Brigade, I.R.A.) was best man.
Mr. Davenport is advertisement and sales manager for International Agencies, Dame Street, Dublin. He was the youngest member of the I.R.A. to take part in the 1916 Rising in Galway area, and served in the Mid-Clare and South Galway Brigade in the fight against the Black-and-Tans. During the Civil War he fought on the Republican side and was later imprisoned in Limerick and Harepark. He is an officer in the Volunteer Reserve.
The censor of Frongoch internment camp informs us that Tuesdays and Thursdays are visiting days from 2 to 3 p.m. Prisoners can receive only one visit a month, and applications for permits must be made in writing to the Commandant, allowing sufficient time for reply by post. No admission is granted except on production of the permit. The following have been removed from Stafford to Frongoch;
James Fahy, Doughiska, Galway
Thomas Newell, Castlegar
John Murphy, Athenry
Michael Burke, Doughiska
William Cody, Claregalway
Thomas Silke, Castlegar
Michael Glynn, Lydican
Mr. Joseph O’Flaherty, Loughrea
William Harte, Oranmore
Richard Wilson, Loughrea
Dominic Corbett, Craughwell
Jeremiah Galvin, Slieverue
Christopher Caulfield, Athenry
Martin Walsh, Athenry
Peter McKeown, Athenry
Patrick Kennedy, Athenry
Joseph Cleary, Athenry
Pat Keane, Athenry
Ml Commons, Athenry
Ml Cunniff, Galway
Ml Costello, Galway
Martin Costello, Galway
Pat Costello, Galway
Martin McEvoy, Galway
John Cullinane, Galway
William Higgins, Galway
Michael J. Dunleavy, Galway
Richard Wilson, Galway.
It has been stated that Mr. Ernest Blythe and Mr. Liam Mellowes, organisers of the Irish Volunteers, who are in custody of the military authorities in Arbour Hill Barracks, have been notified that within six days they will be sent to a district in the English midlands.
A similar notification has been sent to Mr. Alfred Monaghan, another Volunteer organiser, who has been working in Co. Galway.
A Press Association telegram says that these organisers have been given an option to reside in specified English towns. If they comply with the order, it is understood that the prosecutions against them will be withdrawn.
The following statement has been issued by the members of the Provisional Committee of the Irish Volunteers – Eoin MacNeill, Chairman, Provisional Committee: Ua Rathghaille, Treasurer: Thomas MacDonagh, Joseph Plunkett, Piaras Bealslai, Michael J. Judge, Peter Paul Macken, Sean Mac Giubuin, P.H.Pearse, Padraic O’Riain, Bulmer Hobson, Eamon Martin, Conchubhair O’Colbaird, Eamonn Ceannt, Sean Mac Diarmada, Seamus O’Conchubhair, Liam Mellows, L.Colm O’Lochlainn, Liam Ua Gogan, Peter White:
SOLE PURPOSE OF VOLUNTEERS
Ten months ago a Provisional Committee commenced the Irish Volunteer movement with the sole purpose of securing and defending the rights and liberties of the Irish people. The movement on these lines, though thwarted and opposed for a time, obtained the support of the Irish Nation. When the Volunteer movement had become the main factor in the National question, Mr. Redmond decided to acknowledge it, and to endeavour to bring it under his control.
Three months ago he put forward the claim to send twenty-five nominees to the Provisional Committee of the Irish Volunteers. He threatened, if the claim was not conceded to proceed to the dismemberment of the Irish Volunteer organization.
NO DISMEMBERMENT OF IRELAND
It is clear that this proposal to throw the country into turmoil, and to destroy the chances of a Home Rule measure in the near future, must have been forced upon Mr. Redmond. Already, ignoring the Irish Volunteers as a factor in the National position, Mr. Redmond had consented to a dismemberment of Ireland, which could be made permanent by the same agencies that forced him to accept it as temporary. He was now prepared to risk another disruption and the wreck of the cause entrusted to him. The Provisional Committee, while recognizing that the responsibility in that case would be altogether Mr. Redmond’s, decided to risk the lesser evil and to admit his nominees to sit and act on the committee. The committee made no representations as to the persons to be nominated, and when the nominations were received the committee raised no question as to how far Mr. Redmond had fulfilled his public undertaking to nominate ‘representative men from different parts of the country.’ Mr. Redmond’s nominees were admitted purely and simply as his nominees, and without co-option.
VOLUNTEERS DEVOTED TO SERVICE OF IRELAND ALONE
Mr. Redmond, addressing a body of Irish Volunteers on Sunday, September, 20, has now announced for the Irish Volunteers a policy and program fundamentally at variance with their own published and accepted aims and pledges, but with which his nominees are, of course, identified. He has declared it to be the duty of Irish Volunteers to take foreign service under a Government which is not Irish. He has made this announcement without consulting the Provisional Committee, the Volunteers themselves, or the people of Ireland, to whose service alone they are devoted.
Having thus disregarded the Irish Volunteers and their solemn engagements, Mr. Redmond is no longer entitled through his nominees to any place in the administration and guidance of the Irish Volunteer organisation. Those who, by virtue of Mr. Redmond’s nomination, have theretofore, been admitted to act on the Provisional Committee, accordingly cease henceforth to belong to that body, and from this date under the holding of an Irish Volunteer Convention the Provisional Committee consists of those only whom it comprised before the admission of Mr. Redmond’s nominees.
CALL FOR A NATIONAL CONVENTION
At the next meeting of the Provisional Committee we shall propose:
1. To call a Convention of Irish Volunteers for November 25, the anniversary of the inaugural meeting of the Irish Volunteers in Dublin.
2. To reaffirm, without qualification, the manifesto proposed and adopted at the inaugural meeting.
3. To oppose and diminution of the measure of Irish Self-Government which now exists as a Statute on paper, and which would not now have reached that stage but for the Irish Volunteers.
4. To repudiate any undertaking, by whomsoever given, to consent to the legislative dismemberment of Ireland, and to protest against the attitude of the pretense that “Ulster cannot be coerced,” avow themselves prepared to coerce the Nationalists of Ulster.
IRELAND AND THE WAR
5. To declare that Ireland cannot, with honor or safety, take part in foreign quarrels otherwise than through the free action of a National Government of her own; and to repudiate the claim of any man to offer up the blood and lives of the sons of Irish men and Irish women to the service of the British Empire, while no National Government which could speak and act for the people of Ireland is allowed to exist.
6. To demand that the present system of governing Ireland through Dublin Castle and the British military power, a system responsible for the recent outrages in Dublin, be abolished without delay, and that a National Government be forthwith established in its place. The signatories to this statement are the great majority of the members of the Provisional Committee of the Irish Volunteers, apart from the nominees of Mr. Redmond who are no longer members of the committee.
The boats of Lough Corrib, not too well constructed in the first instance, are greatly injured by the yearly practice of dragging them through the town from the lake to the bog at the time of the herring fishery. This extraordinary and most dangerous exertion of these poor people would be rendered unnecessary by a short Canal, which would be of incalculable benefit to the town and county of Galway; but will it be believed that the proprietors of the town fear it would be of too great service to their country neighbours. They neglect this splendid improvement, whilst they have laid out an enormous sum on a bridge so low as to obstruct the water passage, but which has in face of it a most beautiful gaol, with gallows resembling the portcullis of a fortification, and somewhat reminding us of the bridge of sighs at Venice.
The Burren and Beyond 