From the Papers 08 January 1916: Old Harvest Customs, The NSPCC

Letter to the Editor Published in the Tuam Herald on the 8th of Janaury 1916
Excerpt from the Galway Express published on the 8th of January 1916

Extract from Tuam Herald, 8.1.16

‘Old Harvest Customs in Tuam’

To Editor Tuam Herald

Sir – A story has come down to me told often in my grandfather’s day by one of the Kerwins of either Glann or Dalgin, about an eighteen acre field of corn being cut in two hours by men working with reaping hooks.  The work was accompanied by bagpipes.  Things like this occurred in old Galway.  How changed are the times and customs.  How changed the people.   The sound of the bagpipe is getting more and more scarce, and that beautiful soul-stirring music is dying out in our midst.  Yet the bagpipes are a distinctively Celtic instrument and should never be laid aside while a drop of Celtic blood runs in our veins.  In Scotland they still survive and flourish.  But Ireland is not Scotland, nor are people as intensely patriotic and such stubborn lovers of their old customs and old music.

Yours truly,

  1. R. E.’

Extract from ‘Items of Interest’, Galway Express, 8.1.16

‘The NSPCC’

‘The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children investigated 3,781 complaints of neglect and cruelty in England, Wales and Ireland during the month of November.  Of the 3,578 completed cases 3,476 were found true, affecting the welfare of 11,070 children and involving 4,407 offenders.  Warnings were issued in 3,170 cases; 161 prosecuted (resulting in 158 convictions), and 145 were dealt with by transfer or in other ways.  In the Galway branch during the same month cases were dealt with affecting 29 children.  From its foundation in 1884 the Society has dealt with 891,118 complaints involving 2,492,044 children.’

Extract from the Galway Express 08/01/1916

‘Irish Shells’

A few weeks ago, it was mentioned that arrangements were being made at the County Council Engineering Works, Nenagh for the manufacture of 1,00 shells weekly under the supervision of Mr Christopher Whitehead, the capable and courteous superintendent.

There are various workshops in Nenagh and the neighbouring towns where similar works might be carried on, but evidently the claims of the Irish for a share of the loaves and fishes seem to be relegated to a back shelf in the offices of those in authority. What a pity Ireland is not better equipped for the output of munitions! English and Scottish manufacturers are literally coming out of the production of war materials, and the Colonies as they are entitled to, are also reaping a rich harvest.

For instance, we earn that the latest orders for munitions for the British Government, aggregating £16,000,000 have just been sent to manufacturing firms in various parts of Canada. No fewer than 151 cities and towns are now working on these munitions, and for several months £2,400,000 to £3,000,000 have been paid out in wages etc. With the new orders and the increased output however, the payments will increase at once to £4,000,000 per month. It is stated that up to the present £30,200,000 have been spent by the British War Office in Canada so that by the end of 1915 the figure will be well on towards £40,000,000.

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