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Old Galway
Galway Abbatoir (14 02 13)
In the early days, farmers killed their own livestock, and in urban areas, the killing was done by butchers. These victuallers would hang raw carcasses of meat outside their shops to show how fresh they were and to attract customers. It was only when the City Fathers built an abattoir at the junction of Newtownsmyth and Bowling Green that slaughtering became subject to veterinary inspection and control in Galway. Our photograph was taken in 1966 and shows sheep awaiting their turn to enter the slaughterhouse through the grill gateway. They had already been in the yard for five days. The yard was connected to the abattoir buildings.
St. Joseph's Church (07-02-13)
On this day, February 7th, in the year 1886, St. Joseph’s Church was consecrated. It was to be the main church of the Parish of Rahoon, which at that time extended from Corcullen to Furbo. There were already two chapels in the parish, one in Bushypark and one in Barna and they served their own areas. For those parishioners living closer to the town, there was no designated church. Some would attend mass in the chapel of the Presentation Convent, but it was not very large and worshippers often had to kneel on the ground outside, irrespective of the weather conditions. The parish had a big population and major annual events such as Confirmation had to be moved to the Pro-Cathedral.
Calling All Claddagh School Pupils (31 01 13)
The Historian James Hardiman, in describing the Claddagh said “It is said that they considered it a kind of reproach either to speak English or to send their children to school, and that a schoolmaster among them would be considered a phenomenon; but of late there are some exceptions to this rule. How far education would make these people happier in themselves, or more useful members of society, is a matter of doubt, but it is certain that the trial has never been made, although a most respectable convent lies at the head of their village, to which they are liberal benefactors”.So in the early part of the 19th century, there was some softening in the opposition of Claddagh folk to education.
The Claddagh Quay (24 01 13)
This photograph of the quayside in the Claddagh is one of the remarkable images in a book entitled ‘Jane W. Shackleton’s Ireland’ compiled by Christiaan Corbett and published by Collins Press. Jane was given a camera and she went around Ireland with it between 1891 and 1906. She built up a remarkable collection, some which are included in this delightful book.The photograph was taken was ‘The Bankeen’ and shows the railings of the Church on the right. The lane running along the priory wall up from the quay was known as Dogfish Lane and among those who lived there were the Moores, the Concannons, the Rushe family, the O’Connors and the O’Donnells.
REMEMBERING MYLES JOYCE (17 01 13)
Last December, An Coimisinéir Teanga, Seán Ó Cuirreáin organised a commemoration on the 130th anniversary of the hanging in Galway Gaol of three men for the murder of five people in Maamtrasna. One of those hanged, Myles Joyce, was innocent. A large crowd attended the memorial service, and some were bemoaning the fact that no photograph of Myles existed. But then, eagle-eyed Pádraic Canny from the Joyce Country remembered he had seen a reference to Maamtrasna photographs. It turned out that they existed in a file in the National Library entitled “The Invincibles File”. These had been missed by scholars and researchers up until now, and had never been published.
The General Post Office (10-01-13)
Records show that post office business has been conducted in the Eglinton Street area since the 1850’s. The Ordnance Survey map of 1872 shows the ‘Postal and Telegraph Office’ in the house at the corner of Francis Street and Daly’s Place, where Emerson & Conway solicitors are today. Prior to 1885, the local postmaster Mr. Cornwall provided the premises but as business expanded, the building became too small. It could not accommodate parcels and a separate outside premises for a parcel office was rented at a cost of £15 per annum.The telephone service, like the earlier telegraph was started by private companies. The Post Office took over the telegraph in 1870 and the telephone in 1912.
When Buses Came to Galway (03-01-13)
The first public transport system in Galway was the horse drawn tramway. It ran until World War I when the British army commandeered most of the horses. By this time motorised transport was also providing competition, and this speeded up the demise of the tram system. The first buses ran in the streets of Galway in 1919, run by The Galway General Omnibus Company. They started with 3 vehicles, a 20-seater Commer single-decker, a 35-seater charabanc (probably a Lancia) and a 49-seater Karrier double-decker with an open upper deck.All these buses were chain driven and fitted with solid tyres and they relied on carbide lamps to show the driver where he was going at night. Breakdowns were frequent;
Galway Dock and Harbour Improvements, 1833 (07-06-2012)
“The town of Galway possesses many advantages of position for trade, which has hitherto been much cramped for want of adequate and secure accommodation for the shipping; great facilities present themselves for the construction of a wet dock. Several engineers of eminence agreed upon what ought to be the general nature of the work; and Mr. Kilally, adopting their principles, has recently drawn up the requisite plans and specifications, upon which a contract will be entered in to immediately; the preliminary steps having been taken of the purchase by inquisition of the premises and ground to be occupied”.