What the Papers Said As part of the Decade of Commemorations (1913-23) Galway County Libraries has created this blog dedicated to recounting the social, cultural and political life of the ordinary men and women of Galway city and county during the course of the year 1916.
Through extensive research of the local Galway newspapers from the early 1900s, this blog will gather and publish articles and letters throughout 2016 as they would have appeared in the papers, 100 years ago.
We hope to give an insight into the lives of the people of Galway at the time, their day-to-day experiences, challenges and aspirations, as well as reflect on the people’s feelings towards the various contemporary national political and social questions, and their reactions to the Easter Rising, in its immediate aftermath.
Galway Rising – What the Papers Said will remain as a permanent resource that can be accessed by future generations and as a comprehensive insight into life in Galway in 1916.
01/11/2018
The Influenza Epidemic Numerous cases affected by the new Influenza epidemic have occurred in Tuam during the week. One of the shops in the town had to close down as the hands were all confined to bed, whilst in nearly all shops there are two are three laid up. Seven or eight cases seriously suffering from ...
Read more 18/10/2018
It was a terrible scene. Patrick Higgins was convicted in December 1882, of the murder of Joseph and John Huddy, and he was executed in Galway gaol on the 15th of January, 1883. The executioner was Marwood. On the 17th Thomas Higgins and Michael Flynn were also executed for same crime. Higgins was a man of ...
Read more 22/08/2018
To mark the centennial of the end of the First World War and the heroic and tragic events that led up to it Library and Archives Canada has launched an online First World War Database with more than 620,000 military personnel records from the Great War….many were Irish descendants.
Read more 07/07/2018
CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH pon agreeing to go to the Magdalen Asylum, at Galway, she was let out on her own recognisance Sarah … (for whom Mr. Davitt, instructed by Mr. Connolly, solr. appeared) pleaded “Guilty” to an indictment charging her with concealment of birth, and upon agreeing to go to the Magdalen Asylum, at Galway, she was ...
Read more 20/08/2017
Said they would require 100 candle power in the principal thoroughfares “DIABOLICAL” Tuam Town Commissioner and the County Council Not Brow-Beaten By Threats Ireland and the Franchise Bill- Did Not Want Democracy The monthly meeting of the Tuam Town Commissioners was held on Tuesday, Mr. F.B, McDonogh, Solicitor, Chairman, presiding. Arising out of the consideration of tenders for the lighting of ...
Read more 14/08/2017
In Lisdoonvarna Since the week of Galway Races, there has been a huge influx The ever-popular Spa is crowded just now. The season opened very quietly, and up to a few weeks ago the crowds were decidedly thin. But since the week of Galway Races, there has been a huge influx. Now even beds are made up ...
Read more 11/08/2017
The pilgrimage is a very ancient one Pilgrimage to Knock Hundreds Keep All Night Vigil At Well Known Shrine Large numbers participated in the annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady at Knock on Wednesday. The absence of train facilities had a deterrent effect on the attendance. Hundreds kept the all night vigil from Tuesday evening, among ...
Read more 04/08/2017
Hundreds were late for the first races The weather was beautifully fine for the Galway Races on Wednesday and Thursday, and the crowd, although not so large as in former years, was large. The going was in capital order- in fact, it seldom has been better at the venue- but the fields on the first day, ...
Read more 28/07/2017
Coursing Club One of the most popular forms of sport is coursing, and many of the larger towns of Ireland can boast of a flourishing Coursing Club. An energetic effort is being made in the City to start a Coursing Club, and much work has already been performed with the object of having a coursing meet ...
Read more 19/07/2017
Co. Galway Beekeepers’ Association A meeting of the Secretaries and representatives of the Beekeeping Associations in Co. Galway, was held in Athenry on the 10th inst. Rev. Father Daly, Athenry, in the chair. Also present : Messers. T. B. O’ Bryen (the Department’s expert in beekeeping) P.J. Mc Nicholas (Co. Instructor in Beekeeping), J. Lombard (Assistant ...
Read more 15/07/2017
Public Meeting’s demand for Irish Primary Education. Striking Speeches and Figures At Influentially-Attended Meeting in Galway. Mr. Martin McDonogh, J.P., Chairman Galway Urban Council, presided at an influentially-attended meeting held at Galway Town Hall on Saturday, and attended by all sections of the public, to consider the position of primary education in Ireland, when the following resolution, proposed ...
Read more 09/06/2017
Prohibited from selling bread till it was baked for 12 hours Defence of the Realm- Selling Fresh Bread John Griffin, U.C. baker, Cross Street, was summoned for selling fresh bread. Mr. Hildebrand, D.I. stated the case for the prosecution. He said it was brought under the Defence of the Realm Act, under which an order was made on ...
Read more 01/06/2017
This order to stop racing looks like another one of those stupid blunders of the Government for which they have become notorious since the first day the war began What will Galway people do if their races have stopped! That’s the question of the hour just now. And with the Races, will our Annual Bazaar go ...
Read more 28/05/2017
Those who resisted were hanged During their flight from Jaffa, the Jews, with the concurrence of the Turkish authorities, were robbed, their homes were destroyed, and those who resisted were hanged, and thousands wandered helpless and starving along the roads. * Liberty Hall was entered by the police on Saturday evening and a scroll commemorating the death of ...
Read more 25/05/2017
‘To the Editor of the Galway Observer. Harvesting Materials and Machinery. Steps should also be taken, without delay, by farmers to secure the supply of binder twine, and harvesting implements or machinery that they will require in the coming harvest season. In addition to the hugely increased home demand, there will probably also be large continental demands on ...
Read more 19/05/2017
Lord Clonbrock Dead Notable Figure in Land War He was of the extreme Conservative type Baron Clonbrock died in Dublin on Saturday aged 83. Luke Gerald Dillon, to give him his family name, was second son of the third Baron and of a daughter of the first Baron Churchill. He had a distinguished career in Eton and Balliol, ...
Read more 05/05/2017
In his efforts to effect a cure, the late Sergeant expended all his money in procuring medical attendance Appeal On 21st of April, 1917, Sgt Daniel Costigan, R.I.C, died at Thomastown leaving a wife and four helpless children, ranging in age from nine to two years. The late Sergeant was stationed in Galway City for very ...
Read more 01/05/2017
The Archbishop, however professes to have other information, when he says the Irish Party is about to be sold again This week an important manifesto was issued signed by a number of the Irish Bishops, three of them being Protestant Bishops, making an emphatic protest against partition. It seems to be considered that the Government is ...
Read more 21/04/2017
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 ...
Read more 04/04/2017
He has been all his life in the National Museum theorising on the government of Ireland, now that he has lost his situation, and is a free man, he wishes to undertake the work of practical politics. It would be a pity to stop him. We are rather inclined to take it as a harmless diversion ...
Read more 25/03/2017
It is stated the revolution was started and settled down in a couple of hours Extraordinary and startling news has come to hand this morning from Russia. In the course of the week it appears that a revolution has broken out and almost subsided again, and the revolutionaries successful. The Czar has abdicated and the members ...
Read more 17/03/2017
St. Patrick’s Day Parade No sanction from the military authorities Prohibited The Gaelic League demonstration Committee have been asking arrangements all week for the usual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, but today (Friday) they are informed by the police authorities that it cannot be allowed unless they obtained the sanction of military authorities. It is now found that it cannot ...
Read more 10/03/2017
Galway Rural District Council The usual monthly meeting of the Galway Rural District was held on Saturday last. Mr. Michl McNeill, J.P. Chairman, in the chair. Also- Messrs Jas Cunniffe, Dominick Fagan, Martin King, Patk Conneely, John Folan, Jas Donohue, Joseph Clancy, Patk Caulfield. The Clerk read a letter from the Secretary of the Urban Council stating that the ...
Read more 03/03/2017
Connemara, Reorganising Rev. Father Donnellan C.C. presided at a meeting in Cashel (Connemara), and said the United Irish League was necessary in the future. By having a branch of the League they had the Irish Party at their back, and having the Irish Party at their back, they had the best means of having their grievances ...
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