Galway's Port Woes

Cathedral Delayed Again

Our local quarry in Shantalla, where about fifty men used to be employed, had to share the same fate, all on account of that “bloody” war.

We would like to know if there is another port in Ireland or another town in the country is losing more by the war than Galway, by having so many projects for its improvement withheld and every one of them on the point of starting when the war began.

There is first the extension of the docks above referred to, involving and expenditure of over £60,000, with the loss of the increased traffic which would follow from it.  There is next Mr. Worthington’s project for a cheaper and a couple of days quicker route between Britain and America, in which the position of Galway gives it unrivalled importance.

How far the war has affected this enterprise we need not inquire into just now, but Mr. Worthington, if we remember right, has laid the cause of the delay on the mismanagement or opposition from another quarter, only for whom (he has written) that work would now be in progress, and, by the way, that some work will take up two or three millions.

Other projects were started or in contemplation in Connemara, which would necessarily throw business into Galway, but were stopped when the war broke out.  Two companies were formed for the purpose of opening two different granite quarries.  The work on one, promoted by the late Colonel McCalmont, was actually started, the other one was in Mr. Binns’ hands, waiting for the erection of a pier along the coast at Rossaveal.  Both quarries are near Recess about forty miles out from Galway.

The other granite quarry, which was worked by Mr. Rafferty for many years, and which the late King Edward and the Queen were induced to climb the mountain to inspect when on their tour here some years ago-that one is also idle-all stopped when the war began.  Our local quarry in Shantalla, where about fifty men used to be employed, had to share the same fate, all on account of that “bloody” war.

And then last, but by no means least, there is the erection of our new Cathedral which would be in full swing only for the war.  That work alone would be the means of scattering two or three hundred pounds through Galway every week.  There are many other things connected with Galway which are adversely affected by the war, so that the Kaiser has a good deal to account for.

No Comments

Start the ball rolling by posting a comment on this page!

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.