Month: September 2016

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Galway – 1846

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Indiana State Sentinel 19th march, 1846

Galway Cathedral Photo: EO'D
Galway Cathedral
Photo: EO’D

The government has again learned the necessity to increase the military force in Galway. A troop of the 13th Light Dragoons from Gort, arrived here on Tuesday, under the command of Captain Hamilton, for the purpose of repressing any outbreak among the people which may arise owing to the exportation of corn from this port.

Two companies of the 30th are likewise expected – one from Loughrea, the other from Oughterard – to aid the force in garrison, if necessary. This increase of troops is said to have been caused by the posting of a threatening notice at the Gashouse last week, to the effect that the merchant stores would be broken up by the people, if any further exportation of corn was attempted.

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Thomas MacDonagh – 1916

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Thomas MacDonagh Wikimedia Commons
Thomas MacDonagh
Wikimedia Commons

Lament for Thomas McDonagh

He shall not hear the bittern cry
In the wild sky where he is lain
Nor voices of the sweeter birds
Above the wailing of the rain.

Nor shall he know when loud March blows
Thro’ slanting snows her fanfare shrill
Blowing to flame the golden cup
Of many an upset daffodil.

And when the dark cow leaves the moor
And pastures poor with greedy weeds
Perhaps he’ll hear her low at morn
Lifting her horn in pleasant meads.

Francis Ledwidge

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Every comfort and convenience – 1887

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Supplement to the Cork Examiner 8th October, 1887 (abridged)

The Cottage Acrylic on Canvas EO'D
The Cottage
Acrylic on Canvas
EO’D

Cornelius and William K. Vanderbilt have decided to commence a rather curious business enterprise. They propose to build a large number of small houses in the suburbs of New York city, with every comfort and convenience, and sell them to working people at cost.

The houses will be sold on an installment plan, in monthly or yearly payments.
Payments will not amount to more than fair rental.
The life of the purchaser will be insured to the extent of the unpaid amount of the purchase price.
The policy will be held as mortgage. If the purchaser dies the policy pays off what is owing on the house.
The purchaser will be insured against the loss of property, if he meets with some misfortune before the whole amount is paid up.

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Midnight Legislators – Galway – 1831

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The Sydney Monitor 12th November, 1831

A bend in the road Tawnagh Co. Galway Photo: EO'D
A bend in the road
Tawnagh
Co. Galway
Photo: EO’D

A combined movement of various detachments from different parts of the county of Clare, and the county of Galway, was executed on the 22nd instant, for the purpose of surprising and surrounding the midnight legislators of county Galway.
The detachments from Clare consisted of those of the 74th Regiment. Those of Galway consisted of strong parties of the 28th, 56th and 59th Infantry and a squadron of 8th Hussars.
All these parties met at a given point at 6 o’clock on the morning of Monday and secured 261 Terry Alts. The combined parties of the 74th Regiment succeeded, after a long chase, in securing Michael Conolly, a chief leader of the Terry Alts, charged with having directed the late attack on Sir John Burke’s house at Marble Hill. All of the above prisoners were sent under strong escort to Loughrea. Of the above prisoners, several have been identified as being concerned in recent outrages. The investigation commenced on Wednesday and is still going on. Many most respectable witnesses have been summoned.

The Terry Alts were a secret society in County Clare who agitated for land rights, fair rent and against payment of tithes to the established church. The movement began in 1828.

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A most extraordinary appearance – 1834

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Trumpeter General 26th August, 1834 p.4

Across the hills Photo: EO'D
Across the hills
Photo: EO’D

On Monday night last, the country in this neighbourhood presented a most extraordinary appearance. About 9 o’clock an immense light suddenly appeared at a great distance to the southwest of Cork. In a few seconds after, another appeared in an opposite direction. The signal was rapidly answered, and in less than four minutes after the first appeared, we could, within that short period, count no less than 154 lights in the direction of the King’s County alone.
The signal was taken up and no less rapidly answered through the Counties of Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon, Galway and even in the distant hills of the Queen’s County, all of which were distinctly visible from Anchor’s Bower, a hill which overlooks the town. Although groups were assembled at several places through the town, gazing at the spectacle and giving their opinion on the subject, no one could say what the meaning of it was.

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The insufferable James Joyce – 1924

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Advocate Melbourne 2nd October, 1924 p.20 (abridged)

James Joyce Photo: Alex Ehrenzweig 1915 Wikimedia Commons
James Joyce
Photo: Alex Ehrenzweig 1915
Wikimedia Commons

In a letter from our London correspondent, which appears in this issue, reference is made to a couple of plays which pretend to treat certain phases of Irish character. These plays bring into being a new “stage Irishman.” This mythical “gentleman” is far worse than the old “stage Irishman,” with his impossible simian countenance, his red nose, his “begobs” and “begorras” and his made-to-order jokes. The latter, being however absurd and ridiculous a mis-creation, was at any rate “clean” in his patter and in his characterisation. Not so the new “stage Irishman,” who is a repulsive and brutal type, a ruffian and a disgrace. And the worst of it is that he was created first by Irishmen.

Synge, for all his wonderful manner of making a new Kiltartan out of phrases made many of his characters outrageous. His own pessimism and irreligious characteristics are too often found in those characters.
Brinsley MacNamara and the insufferable James Joyce have, each in his own way, made Irish character repulsive and disgusting. We can hardly blame those responsible for the occasional appearance of the old stage Irishman – as the “Herald” in the case of a recent cartoon – when Irishmen themselves are found creating and exploiting that baseless monstrosity, the new and the worse, stage Irishman.

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An average harvest – 1835

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The Sydney Gazette 7th May, 1835 p.4 (abridged)

Burren walls Photo: EO'D
Burren walls
Photo: EO’D

The harvest promises to be an average one, and all the misgivings that were felt during the course of the summer, as to the prospects of the potato crop, have, we are much gratified in stating, altogether given way. That crop will, perhaps, be more abundant this year than it has for several seasons previously. Public works are progressing in many places. The Shannon navigation, under the superintendence of that active, talented, and highly intelligent gentleman, Mr. Charles Williams, is advancing rapidly to a completion, thus opening the heart of the finest corn country in the world to the markets of England, and introducing the blessings of industry and civilization to what has been considered hitherto among the wildest districts of Ireland. In the west of Ireland, particularly in the counties of Mayo and Galway, an equal activity is shown in laying down roads through the mountainous districts, in building bridges and erecting piers. There can be no just complaint against government for want of aid.

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Oranmore – 1830

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The Hobart Town Courier 18th September 1830 p.3 (abridged)

Ardfry House, Oranmore Blake residence. Photo: google.com/maps
Ardfry House, Oranmore
Blake residence.
Photo: google.com/maps

Two Hundred Pounds Reward
Thomas Smith, a child aged ten years, was sent to the school of the Rev. Humphry Price, near Lichfield in May 1811. In September 1812 he was conveyed from thence, and, it is believed sent on board an Indian vessel. Letters sent home state that he had died of water on the brain; but his sister accidentally met with a letter that has convinced her an interested person is going between her and her brother.
Thomas Smith was under the guardianship of a gentleman of rank and fortune in Ireland, whose brother in law at present possesses the property of the said Thomas Smith, and who became entitled to it by his reported death.
Description of Thomas Smith on quitting this kingdom is as follows; Fair hair, fair complexion, freckled, light eyes, a small round mark on one write, a small cut over one eye.
Letters addressed to his sister J.B. or to T.B. Esq., Oranmore, County of Galway, Ireland will be carefully attended to.