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.
25/02/2017
The casualty list of last week gives the name of Pte. P. McNamee, 21020, Royal Irish Fusiliers, of Galway and Sergt. J. Gorham. 10056, Cameronians, Clifden, Co. Galway. * Very severe weather is experienced throughout the country for the last ten days. Country people were unable to come into town with their carts, so that farm produce ...
Read more 10/02/2017
We would like to know if the electors gave any consideration to what Count Plunkett will do for them The views of the electors of North Roscommon, judged by the result is worth considering. If they returned Count Plunkett as a sort of retaliation for his rejection by the Royal Dublin bigots they at least scored ...
Read more 01/02/2017
It was his strange fascination, his mysterious influence over women, generally to their detriment; his queer, piercing, hypnotic eyes and amazing will power that caused him soon to become notorious. Russian Mystery Man Who Ruled the Czar Murdered by a Noble His Life Story Gregory the Rake Gregory Rasputin literally means “Gregory the Rake” and as may be surmised, this was ...
Read more 18/01/2017
Battles on the Sereth While no great action is reported the enemy has made further advances on the Sereth front, storming a number of positions both here and further North in the Oituz Pass region. The Russians, while making a desperate resistance, it is anticipated by some authorities, will fall back still further- perhaps to the ...
Read more 13/01/2017
The Duchess of Connaught’s Own Irish Canadian Rangers will visit Ireland in about two weeks. The Regiment is composed of Irish Canadians, half of them Catholics, half Protestants, and it is their desire to see the land of their forefathers on the occasion of their being in this part of the world. On arrival at ...
Read more 10/01/2017
Died in Great Poverty Imprisoned with Davitt and Parnell Irish Patriot’s End Mr. J.B Killen, a barrister and a distinguished medallist of Trinity College, Dublin, has died at an advanced age in a Dublin lodging house in great poverty. He was prominent during the Land League, and was imprisoned with Davitt, Parnell, and others for intimidation. He had ...
Read more 05/01/2017
“We are Starving” Death is better than such a life German Mother’s Appeal “We are starving. Tell everybody outside Germany we are starving. If our soldiers can stand it any longer, we cannot. We women of Germany cannot go on seeing our children suffering deprivation and hunger. We cannot, and will not. Death is better than such a ...
Read more 01/01/2017
St. Patricks band gave a selection of music, it went as far as Dominick Street and turned in by the QuayThe New Year passed off quietly. All thought the weather was rather blustery, a large crowd of people were to be seen on the streets before 12’ O Clock, as is usually the case on ...
Read more 30/12/2016
‘AMNESTY Sinn Fein Prisoners Released. Large Numbers from Galway and the West. Some Experiences of Prison Camp. One hundred and forty-six Irish prisoners who had been detained Frongoch Prison Camp, Wales, were released on Friday evening. The majority of them were very cheerful, and made no complaints about the hardships they had undergone. Numbers of relatives kept an all ...
Read more 23/12/2016
“King Frost” had a mixed reception on the occasion of his fleeting visit to Galway during the week-end, and up to Wednesday, after his gambol in the metropolis. The juvenile element availed of the opportunity to disport themselves on “slides,” which were to be found in every conceivable manner of place, though their presence on ...
Read more 16/12/2016
‘NOVEL PLEA “Poteen Wash” for Making Bread At Derrynea monthly Petty Sessions before Mr J. B. K. Hill, R.M., James Gorman was summoned for cruelty to a horse. Acting-Sergeant Walsh stated he found defendant’s servant using the animal under a car while it was suffering from a large wound on its side, caused by the shaft coming ...
Read more 11/12/2016
‘Local sportsmen complain bitterly of the great difficulty in purchasing cartridges in Galway, and state that not only has a permit to be obtained from magistrates and police authorities, but the shopkeeper must have a similar document. This procedure does not exist in Loughrea or Athenry, in which places a police permit is all that ...
Read more 05/12/2016
‘GAELIC LEAGUE National School Prize Scheme Saving the National Folklore For the past six or seven weeks Philip O’Bhaldraithe, Irish Language and Gaelic League Organiser for Connacht, has been engaged in the Cois-Fhairge, or West Galway, Gaedhealtacht, or Irish-speaking districts. His efforts have been mainly directed towards establishing a lasting system of co-operation between the fearless Seancaidte ...
Read more 02/12/2016
‘On Thursday evening the officals and staff of the Ballinasloe Workhouse entertained Mr and Mrs O’Carroll, the retiring Master and Matron, to a supper, presenting them with a massive silver salver and tea service, and individually with a gentleman’s solid leather dressing case and a lady’s silver-mounted umbrella.’ From the East Galway Democrat, 2 December 1916
Read more 02/12/2016
‘On Wednesday, at the Viceregal Lodge, Dublin, a number of R.I.C. were presented with the Constabulary Medal, one of the most coveted distinctions that could be obtained by members of the force, for gallantry and devotion to duty during the “Rising” of Easter Week. Several R.I.C. men stationed in the Co. Galway were made the ...
Read more 24/11/2016
‘The death of the aged Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria, took place shortly after nine o’clock on Tuesday evening at the Castle of Schoenbrunn. He was one of the two men responsible for this calamitious war. He was 86 years of age.’ Extract from East Galway Democrat, 25 November 1916 * ‘Labourers, cottages and plots fulfilling their obligations ...
Read more 18/11/2016
Great difficulty presents itself to the stranger at night ‘Owing to the town being without gas at the present time great difficulty presents itself to the stranger at night in making his way through Ballinasloe. On Thursday night a stranger arrived from Drogheda, and had in the course of his business to pass through Main Street. ...
Read more 11/11/2016
A proposition which roused the females’ ire ‘Most Rev Dr. O’Dea, Bishop of Galway, has made the following cases “reserved sins” in his diocese, in connection with which only the Bishop has power to absolve the penitent: (1) The taking of a false oath or committing perjury. (2) Outrages to houses or property at night. (3) Bribery at elections. (4) ...
Read more 11/11/2016
The greatest joy was manifested, more especially that the happy couple looked so hale and hearty after these 50 long years ‘Golden Wedding of Lord and Lady Clonbrock. There was a gala day at Clonbrock last month. Upwards of 80 of the subscribers to a Loving Cup, presented last July on the occasion of the Golden Wedding, ...
Read more 28/10/2016
We protest most strongly against the insidious attempts made by certain Newspapers and people ‘Proposed by Mr. P. Dermody. Seconded by Mr. Joyner & passed unanimously:- “That we the Tuam Rural District Council desire to place on record our unabated confidence in the Irish Parliamentary party under the leadership of Mr. John Redmond M.P. which has ...
Read more 10/10/2016
The perplexed police eventually arrested her ‘An elderly lady visited Gort, and for a drink of water at a labourer’s cottage paid £1. In the town she paid a £1 for a cup of tea, gave the waitress 10s, with a 3d piece thrown in for good luck, and in the poor district disbursed three handbags ...
Read more 23/09/2016
Hymany Feis at Caltra Gaelic League and Politics (Specially contributed to the East Galway Democrat) The Feis will be conducted upon purely non-political lines, avoiding politics, but desiring to include all classes of politicians, to saturate all with a love for Ireland, its Language, its Music, Literature and Traditions, as the natural foundation of a future Irish Nation The ...
Read more 02/09/2016
Over twenty people were implicated … ‘A shooting outrage of a peculiar and mysterious nature occurred at Loughanbeg, Inverin, on Sunday, 20th inst., about 10 p.m., involving injuries to a man named John Folan, in whose right arm two gun-shot pellets lodged. The affair is alleged to be the outcome of a faction fight, in which ...
Read more 22/07/2016
Some outstanding insights into Athenry’s Decade of Commemoration are available at by local historian Ronan Kileen’s blog: Athenry Local History
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