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Old Galway
Cattle Fair in Eyre Square (11 06 2015 repeated 18 06 2015)
Deltiology is the name given to the practice of collecting old postcards, from the Greek Deltos, “writing tablet, letter”.
Anyone who has studied the changing face of their locality through old images will realise that one of the great sources can be old postcards. Topographical views on postcards became very popular towards the end of the 19th century and that trend continues today. The publishers of these cards often reproduced unusual views as you can see if you read Paul Duffy’s two books Galway, History on a Postcard and Galway City, Snapshots through Time, both of which are highly recommended.
An Elegant Streetscape (04 06 2015)
There is a lovely vintage quality about this photograph of the most elegant corner in Galway which was taken about 1950 at almost 6.15 in the afternoon. It shows how the three corner buildings, all of which are slightly rounded, complement each other. It was always known as Moon’s Corner or Dillon’s corner, never McNamara’s corner.
John Hosty, 1916 Veteran (28 05 2015)
For John Hosty from Shantalla, the ‘physical force’ movement originated some time before 1910 with the publication of “The United Irishman”, a newspaper which kept a lot of young people from following ‘the constitutional movement’. When the 1913 Oireachtas was held in Galway, Seán McDermott used the occasion to swear in a number of young Galwegians to the I.R.B. and from then on they did all they could against the Irish Party, including distributing anti-enlisting literature at all hours of the night.
May Sunday at Menlo (21 05 2015)
Maytime was traditionally considered a time for festivals, and Galway was no exception to this. In fact it used to be said that the citizens had an almost reverential attachment to the old custom of going out to Menlo for three Sundays in May to partake in the pleasure of the open air and the early summer sun. It was known as ‘Maying in Menlo’.
Father Patrick Peyton, The Rosary Priest (14 05 2015)
Patrick Peyton was born on January 9th, 1909 in Attymass, Co. Mayo, one of 9 children. When they were growing up, the Rosary was central to their lives. His family were subsistence farmers and unable to afford to send him to a seminary, so for a number of years he worked on the farm to help them earn a living as his father was too ill. Then he and his brother emigrated to America. They eventually entered a seminary in Notre Dame to study for the priesthood, but their hopes of being ordained together seemed to be dashed when Patrick got TB. The doctors told him his only hope was to pray, and pray he did, to the Blessed Virgin. He promised her he would dedicate his ministry to her and to the family rosary if he was saved. And so it came to be the two brothers were ordained as Holy Ghost Fathers together on June 15th, 1941.
Magic in the Lane (07 05 2015)
Forty years ago, three young graduates decided to set up a summer Repertory Company in Galway. It had been tried before by Frank Bailey but his Celtic Arts Theatre project had ended quickly and sadly, but at least he was from Galway. These young Thespians were blow-ins with little experience and no money, would they be able to hang in there? They were young, energetic and enthusiastic but they were also talented, exciting, professional, hard-working and provocative.
Walter Macken's Centenary (30 04 2015)
Walter Macken was born in St. Joseph’s Avenue one hundred years ago on May 3rd, 1915.
His father was also named Walter. He came from Knock, Spiddal and worked as a carpenter during the day. At night, he was an actor who performed a variety of roles on stage in the Racquet Court Theatre in Middle St. which was roughly where Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop is today. It was a large multi-purpose hall, one of the most important places of entertainment in Galway at the time. In 1915, he was out of work and had to support his family. They were recruiting for the British Army at the time so he joined the Royal Fusiliers who trained him and shipped him to France. Sadly, he was killed in a place called St. Eloi on March 28th, 1916. His son Wally was 9 months old.
Galway Gaol (23 04 2015)
Our illustration today is of a ‘Wanted’ poster offering a reward for any information on a prisoner, John Hynes, who had escaped from Galway Gaol on November 29th, 1892. We don’t know what Mr. Hynes was in jail for, but £100 was a lot of money in 1892, so it must have been a serious crime.