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Old Galway
WAR VICTIMS COME TO GALWAY (04 09 2014)
At 11.15am on September 3rd 1939, Neville Chamberlain went on radio to announce that Britain had declared war on Germany. Hitler was still hopeful of a diplomatic resolution and to this end, he issued strict orders for U-boats to follow the Prize Regulations under which attacks on passenger liners were prohibited. Unfortunately, the first ship that was sunk by a U-boat was the S.S. Athenia, which was carrying 1418 passengers and crew. She was about 200 miles off the west coast at the time.
THE LOUGH ATHALIA RAILWAY BRIDGE (28 08 2014)
The coming of the railway line from Dublin to Galway was one of the most significant events in the history of our city in the nineteenth century. It opened up the city and its environs in a commercial and in a tourist sense, made Galway accessible to the rest of the world. It was a major engineering achievement, regarded as "The first indication of Galway's future greatness both as a mercantile and manufacturing city".
THE GUNNA MÓRS (21 08 2014)
This area of the Claddagh was known as The Big Grass’ or ‘The Green Grass’. It was the one open space of ground in the village and faced what is known as ‘The Swamp’ today. It was very marshy, though some of it was used as a playground by local children and it was also where the Claddagh Races took place.
SWIMMING IN SALTHILL (14 08 2014)
Competitive swimming really began in Galway with the formation of two swimming Clubs, Blackrock S.C. and Galway S.C. Both were formed in 1930.
Among those involved in founding Blackrock S.C. were Richard Copeland, Justice Cahill, Stanley Lowe, Joe Costelloe, Frank McCabe and the Conroy family. They held their meetings in the Chamber of Commerce Rooms in Eglinton Street. In later years it was the dynamism of Maisie and Christy Dooley and Bobby Molloy that kept the club going.
KILOUGHTER LONG AGO (07 08 14)
This photograph of Carrabrowne National School was taken in 1936 and shows, back row, left to right; Pete Keane, Carrabrowne; Jimmy O’Brien, Kiloughter; Davey Corcoran, Carrabrowne; Willie Glynn, Kiloughter; Francis Corcoran, Carrabrowne; Stephen O’Brien,Carrabrowne; Mattie Casserley, Kiloughter; Willie Higgins, Ballindooley; Stephen O’Brien, Kiloughter; Mickey McGrath, Ballindooley; Tom Costelloe, Kiloughter; Stephen Birmingham, Kiloughter.
THE JESUIT CHURCH (31 07 2014)
On this day, July 31st, 1863, “The new Church of St Ignatius on the Sea Road in the vicinity of the city was dedicated by the Most Rev. Dr. McEvilly, Lord Bishop of Galway. Sea Road is one of the most fashionable and frequented thoroughfares in the suburbs of our city. The Church, which was commenced in 1861 is now complete with the exception of the organ, altar and some minor internal decorations; and we have no doubt the zeal of the faithful will only require such a desirable opportunity of enabling the Jesuit Fathers, whose excellent judgement in these matters is fully acknowledged, to complete the required improvements, and that nothing shall be wanted which the good taste of the architect can suggests to make everything perfect. The Church is built of hammered limestone ashlar work in courses. The south gable, or principal front, the spire and the quoins, dressings etc, being finely punched and the depths of the jambs and arches of the principal doors and windows, which are richly moulded, adds greatly to its appearance. The Church, which is Gothic in style, is in the form of a Latin Cross, 115 feet in extreme length, 36 feet wide and 70 feet across the transepts, 56 to the ridge and 110 to the top of the spire”.
THE TENNIS CLUB (24 07 2014)
The Galway Lawn tennis and Croquet Club was founded at a meeting in the Royal Hotel, Eyre Square on the 19th of May, 1900. Many of the founders were members of the British Army, the landed gentry, the professions such as doctors, solicitors, professors etc. Membership was by invitation only so there was a certain elitism attached to the club in the early days.
THE CORRIB CLUB, 150 YEARS (17 07 2014)
The Corrib Club was founded in July of 1864, 150 years ago this month. Unfortunately the minutes of the club for that year and 1865 are nowhere to be found, but the late Maurice Semple having access to minutes for most other years, produced a book entitled “A Century of Minutes, the Story of the Corrrib Club 1864-1966”, from which we publish extracts today.