The town of Kinvara was brilliantly illuminated in honor of the first visit of the Most Rev. Dr. O’Dea to his episcopal parish since his translation to Galway. His Lordship attended for the purpose of opening the mission conducted by the Capuchin Fathers in connection with the founding of the St. Patrick’s Temperance League of the West, as well as for the purpose of administering the Sacrament of Confirmation to hundreds of children throughout the parish.
On day of Galway August Fair, a cow sold to a countryman by Mr Martin Ashe was afflicted by the great heat. It dashed towards the docks and jumped into the water below the dock gates. Sergeant O’Neill, availing of a boat in which there were two soldiers, went after the animal, which must soon have been carried away by the tide and the current from the river. Assisted by two or three civilians he got a rope around the cow and brought her successfully to the shore at Tip Head, where she was restored to her grateful owner.
A large and enthusiastic meeting of the people of Kinvara was held on Sunday last under the presidency of Rev. Thomas Burke P.P, for the purpose of forming a branch of the Town Tenants League. The following were amongst those present;
Messrs Arthur O’Dea
Thomas O’Halloran
Patrick J Flatley
Bartley Bermingham
William R Flatley
Thomas Green (hotel)
Fred. J. Johnston
Michael Corless
Augustus Johnston
Thomas Leetch
James Davenport
John McMahon
Patrick Winkle
Edward Holland
John Fahy
Patrick Whelan
ThomasMoran
Michael Howard
Thos P. Corless
Correspondence was submitted from J Coghlan Briscoe Esq. T.C. Secretary Town Tenants Exec., Dublin after which a working committee and officers were elected as follows;
President; Rev. Thomas Burke P.P.
Chairman;Thomas P Corless D.C.
Hon Treas; Thomas O’Halloran
Hon Sec; Arthur O’Dea
Committee;
Augustus Johnston
Michael Corless
Michael Connolly
Patrick Flatley
Thomas Green
William R Flatley
Fred J Johnston
Edward Holland
Bartley Bermingham
Representative on Central Executive – Thos P. Corless D.C.
Representative on County Committee Thomas Green and Thomas P. Corless
A sum of £3 was forwarded to the Town Tenants Executive as affiliation fee. The next meeting of the branch will be held on Sunday November 14th and the first Sunday in each month afterwards. Rev Father Burke P.P has written to Messrs Kirwan, Tuam, agents on the Sharpe estate demanding a reduction of 50 per cent on all rents now due. The tenants are determined to pay no rent until their just demand is conceded. The Kinvara town tenants are the most rack-rented in the west and have not been allowed any abatement in their rent since the present owners purchased the property, notwithstanding the way the trade of the town has fallen and the wretched condition of the houses.
Image: Sartorial Art Journal, December 1900 Wikimedia Commons
To the Editor, Connacht Tribune
Sir,
I would suggest to the police doing protection duty on the Tyrone estate to watch the sky; they may catch Jack Dunne’s air-ship, the “Hope of Europe,” and they might find the hope of the tenants on the Tyrone estate. The R.I.C. are very good to the people of Ballinderreen. Lately, some person found a coat, and gave it up at the barracks at Kinvara, and the Kinvara police are making a house-to-house visit to find out if any of the inmates lost it.
H.G. St. Birds.
Garland Monday must be considered a red-letter day in the sporting annals of the town of the “Ould Plaid Shawl.” The Kinvara-Dooras Races were run on Monday, July 26th over the Newtown-Lynch course, and were a complete success. The entries were large and the racing good. A large concourse of spectators were present, and all thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Dublin bookmakers patronised the enclosure, and backers seemed to have got the better of the results. Some of the “bookies” complained bitterly of the knowledge of horse-flesh displayed by the patrons of the “sport of Kings,” and they appeared to have left under the impression that Kinvara men were keen sportsmen. All races were started sharp to time, and all praise is due to Mr M. Donohue, Co. C., J.P. and his capable assistant stewards for their great efforts in having brought these races to such a successful conclusion.
The day was beautifully fine, which added to the enjoyment of the proceedings. Perhaps the best race of the day was the last, in which Mr W. Carr. D.C., figured as owner and rider of Salamanca, a horse, which he informed our sporting correspondent, “beat the train from Athenry to Ardrahan!” This achievement was speedily made known to the bookmakers, who seemed very slow to take any money on this famous racer, which was got by De Wet, out of Ladysmith. Salamanca carried 11st 4lb., a weight which seemed to have told with deadly effect on the animal.
Mr. W. Carr (Bill) made a most plucky effort to win the race, and when hazel seemed to have no effect on Salamanca, he had recourse to another expedient. Viewing the leading horses from across the course, he made a desperate effort to head them by riding right across. Happily for the leaders, the marquees formed a rather formidable barrier and, instead of shortening his course, Bill lengthened it somewhat. To his credit, be it said, he was in no way despondent, and finished game.
Dr. Connolly’s Kinvara Boy was a most popular win, and when the jockey, John Killeen, dismounted, he was met by an enthusiastic crowed of sportsmen who carried him on their shoulders over the course.
Special mention should be made of the fine performance of Railway Boy.
The course was in perfect condition and Mr M. O’Donohue seemed to be ubiquitous – acting as a Clerk of Scales, Starter, Judge, and as a dispenser of hospitality. He will long be remembered by patrons of these races.
Still from Horse in Motion Eadweard Muybridge “Sallie Gardner” owned by Leland Stanford 1878 Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Galway, scarce two months ago.
Silent lay ‘neath Sol’s bright glow,
Save where horses lean and slow
Were tugging tramcars wearily.
But Galway sees another sight,
When crowds of visitors alight.
Fondly expecting beds at night,
Amidst the race-week revelry.
Boys of the Horsey Old Brigade.
Who ‘oft a mad career have stayed
Confident matron, timid maid,
Are there in all their finery.
They shake the hills with “Won by Heaven,”
As the nimble steed’s to victory driven.
Mid language (let us hope forgiven),
From bookies breathing hurriedly.
But reddest hues of paint shall glow
On Galway’s town, so quaint and slow
When training’s laws aside shall throw
Those jocks disporting playfully.
‘Tis morn – the shocked and startled sun
Looks down on fast and furious fun,
Where early “Peelers” try to run
In members of “Our ‘Varsity.”
The combat deepens. Never cave
in to the foe, Galwegians brave!
Wave, innkeepers, your long bills wave
And charge with wild effrontery.
Few, few shall part (for bread and meat,
And mild cigars, and whiskies neat),
With sums that fail to record beat,
For bold seaside chicanery.
F O’Dea Photo: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
At a special meeting of the Kinvara Sports Committee, at which the following were present viz;
Messrs Martin Green,
James F. Kilkelly
T. O’Halloran
P.J. Flatley
Michael Leech
W.R. Flatley
Thos. Green
M. O’Grady
Thomas St George
M. Connolly
the following resolution, proposed by Mr James Kilkelly and seconded by Thomas Green, was carried with acclamation;
Resolved;
That we, the members of the Kinvara Sports Committee, representing the traders of the entire town, under the Presidency of our revered and much respected pastor, Rev T Burke PP, beg to tender to Mr Fergus O’Dea, a member of one of the oldest and most respected families in the parish, the expression of our most sincere and heartfelt thanks for his kindness in giving the use of his field gratis for the holding of our sports.
The above well-known horse and cattle fair will be held in accordance with custom on Wednesday, November 17th, 1909 (being the first Wednesday after 11th November). The fair, which has been such a very decided success since it was first started some years ago, has grown from very small dimensions to be one of the most noted held in the locality. It supplies a much-felt want to the farmers in the district, as well as to the multitude of people along by Carron and Ballyvaughan, who have no horse-fair nearer than Athenry or Loughrea.
The prices obtained at last year’s fair for colts and foals, as well as for good-class working horses was far in excess of prices obtained at any of the other local fairs. In the cattle department over 500 calves were disposed of last year at very remunerative prices. As Kinvara is the centre of a horse-breeding district, people from a distance would do well to patronise it. Already promises of support have been received from all quarters, and the supply of horses, foals and cattle at this year’s fair promises to be a record one.
At a meeting of the Gort sub-Pension Committee, Right Rev Monsignor Fahey V.G. presiding, there were 37 cases of pensioners submitted to the meeting by the local Excise for the purpose of having their pensions cancelled. Neither the Excise Officer nor his representative attended to offer any explanation or answer any questions. The meeting was therefore adjourned and several resolutions were adopted, amongst them being the following;
In the cases before us today we are asked by our local representative of Excise to cancel 37 claims, only because the ages of the claimants do not appear in the census of ’41. Even in England it has been held that the census of ’41 cannot be received as the sole standard of a claimant’s age. We strongly urge that it is a far less just standard in Ireland, and were it accepted as the sole standard of age in Ireland it would exclude over 50% of claimants fully entitled to pension by reason of age.
To set aside all collateral evidence would be to frustrate the avowed object of the Act, and rob the poor in the interests of the Treasury. As a committee we are determined to lend neither sanction nor support to this obvious departure from the spirit and purpose of the law. We protest against it as a cruel injustice to our poor and should our priest be unavailing we shall further mark our strong disapproval by at once tendering our resignation as a committee.
The Burren and Beyond 