Month: May 2016

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An unfortunate rencontre – New Quay – 1844

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Irish Examiner 22nd July, 1844 p.1

Photo: EO'D
Photo: EO’D

A paragraph, extracted from the Clare Journal, has been making the round of Metropolitan papers, with reference to an alleged unprovoked assault of some Claddaghmen on a trawling party from New Quay. Upon the most unquestionable authority we have it that the Claddagh boats were quietly proceeding to their fishing destination when an individual belonging to the trawling party presented a loaded musket at some of the boats when passing and thus provoked the unfortunate rencontre, described in the Clare Journal.

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Sticks and stones – 1180 – 1911

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Anglo Celt 12th August, 1911 p.4 (abridged)MuireadachHighCross
Stone throwing was once usual in warfare, as, for example in the days of Giraldus Cambrensis, (c.1180); at the battle of Corcomroe in 1317 and at the breach of Limerick in 1690. Special “champion” stones are mentioned in early and mythic times – they were supposed to have some magical power of destruction.

The sling (tailm, teilm or taball) was in use in pre-Christian times. A carving of a sling is depicted on a panel from the east face of Muiredach’s  high cross, (a cast of which can be found in the National Museum, Dublin).   Good carvings of bows and arrows occur on the base of the cross of Monasterboice, and on the door of Cormac’s chapel at Cashel.

 

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Kinvara races – 1923

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Connacht Tribune 7th July, 1923 p.7

Photo: EO'D
Photo: EO’D

Accident at Kinvara races
Two rather serious accidents occurred at Kinvara race meeting on Jun 28th. In the second race J. Norris, who was riding Mr. P. Donnelly’s Paravid, had the misfortune to fall and break his leg. In the fourth race, the Stewards’ Plate, M. Holland, who was riding Mr T. Wall’s Solid Gold, had a very nasty fall on his head. He was taken to St. Bride’s Home, Galway suffering from concussion of the brain. He is receiving treatment there and is progressing favourably.

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Dangerous waters – 1942

Posted on by The Burren and Beyond

Connacht Tribune 6th June, 1942 p.5 (abridged)

Kinvara Bay Photo: EO'D
Kinvara Bay
Photo: EO’D

Numerous reports of mines having been seen in Galway Bay and along the west coast have been made during the last week by fisherman, including one proceeding from Connemara to Kinvara with a boat load of turf on Wednesday.  It is worth recalling that, during the last war, only two mines drifted into Galway Bay. Both exploded with fatal results, but the stringent precautions now being taken should avert any repetition of such tragedies.

Captain Hamilton, competent Port Authority at Galway told our representative on Friday that a drifting mine had been reported to him about half a mile south-west of the Margaretta Buoy on Thursday night. He immediately reported the matter to the authorities at Renmore Barracks. “I know,” he said, “that there is a mines expert in this area at present and he went to Furbough yesterday where he dismantled a mine that had come ashore. I understand that the expert has gone to Clifden this morning where he is dismantling two more mines that came ashore there.”

Asked if he thought there was a danger of any of those mines coming ashore at Salthill, Captain Hamilton asked “Why not? Of course,” he said. “There are look-out posts all along the west coast who are keeping a constant watch and they report immediately any sign of mines.” Asked if he could give any explanation for the presence of the mines, Captain Hamilton said that in his opinion they broke away from a minefield in the English Channel and the easterly wind which has been blowing from some time, drove them out into the Atlantic and now they are drifting back in again.

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Kinvara Water Sports – 1935

Posted on by The Burren and Beyond

Connacht Tribune 22nd June, 1935 p.27

Kinvara Bay Photo: EO'D
Kinvara Bay
Photo: EO’D

Kinvara sports were held on Sunday, in summery weather. A most enjoyable day’s sport was witnessed by a very large crowd of spectators who were assembled all around the quays, taking a keen interest in the events. Results:
Juvenile swimming race – 1. P.Pigott, Gort; 2. R. Ford, Kinvara; 3. P. Fahey, Kinvara.
100 yards swimming race – 1. N. Brady, Gort; 2. P. Brady, Gort; 3. M. Carroll, Gort.
300 yards swimming race – 1. T. Whelan, Kinvara; 2. M. Maclin, Gort; 3. D. Picker, Kinvara.
Diving Competition – 1. N. Brady, Gort; M. Maclin, Gort; D. O’Dea, Kinvara, tied for 1st.
Long Distance Diving Competition – 1. D.O’Dea, Kinvara; 2. M.Maclin, Gort; 3. H.O’Neill, Ballyvaughan.
Greasy Pole Competition – 1. M. Linnane,Dooras; 2. T. Noone, Kinvara; 3. M. Keane, Kinvara.

Messrs. W. Ryan, T. Quinn and T. St. George acted as judges for all the events.

At a meeting of the sports committee held on Sunday evening the following resolution was unanimously passed;
“That we tender our sincerest thanks to all those who contributed to the sports fund and we wish to thank in a special manner the people of Kinvara who gave us such wholehearted support, thereby enabling us to organize an ‘admission free’ sports in the town.”

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The long arm of the law – 1817

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The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser 6th December, 1817 p.3 (abridged)Watch
Last Tuesday, (April 22) Roger O’Conner, Esq., was apprehended at Palace Anne, near Badon, and is now in custody in this city on a charge of having been an accomplice in the robbery of the Galway mail coach in the year 1812, when it was attacked at Cappagh Hall, county Kildare, and robbed of a considerable sum in Bank Post Bills, and a gold repeating watch, the property of Mr. Pearse of Loughrea.

It appears that the Magistrates of the Head Police Office, Dublin, having received information of Mr. O’Connor having been concerned in the above robbery, dispatched Mr. R. Gilbert, a police officer in their employment, with warrants for the apprehension of Mr O’Connor and his son, and the warrants having been duly backed by the Mayor of Cork, Mr. Gilbert proceeded in the first instance to Fort Robert in this county (N.S.W), where he arrested the son, who was confined by severe illness to his bed. Being authorised by a search warrant, he made a search at Fort Robert and found a pawnbroker’s ticket for a gold repeating watch, which had been pawned in this city by the son, under a fictitious name. The watch is now in Mr G.’s possession. There is yet, however, no proof of its being the same as that which was taken at the robbery of the Galway mail coach.

Mr. G. then proceeded to Palace Anne, and arrested the father. On their arrival in this city, bail was tendered to the Mayor for Mr. O’Connor’s appearance to answer the charge, but was refused on the ground of its being not legally bailable. A magistrate of this county, having guaranteed the appearance of Mr. Arthur O’Connor when called on, and his state of health not permitting his removal with safety, was suffered to remain for the present at Fort Robert.
(Cork Advertiser).

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The Banshee – 1898

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The Globe-republican 3rd November, 1898 p3(abridged)

Spirit Child Acrylic on canvas EO;D
Spirit Child
Acrylic on canvas
EO;D

God between us and all harm
For I tonight have seen
A banshee in the shadow pass
Along the dark boreen.

And as she went she keened and cried
And combed her long white hair.
She stopped at Molly Reilly’s door,
And sobbed till midnight there.

And is it for himself she moans
Who is so far away?
Or is it Molly Reilly’s death she cries
Until the coming day?

Now Molly thinks her man is gone
A sailor lad to be.
She puts a candle to her door
Each night for him to see.

But he is off to Galway town.
And who dare tell her this?
Enchanted by a woman’s eyes,
Half maddened by her kiss.

So as we go by Molly’s door
We look toward the sea,
And say “May God bring home your lad
Wherever he may be.”

I pray it may be Molly’s self
The banshee keens and cries,
For who dares breathe the tale to her
Be it her man who dies?

For there is sorrow on the way,
For I tonight have seen
A banshee in the shadow pass
Along the dark boreen.