Old Galway

Galway Advertiser, November 4th , 1982.

This unsigned drawing of a "Woman making nets in the Claddagh, Galway" was first published in the illustrated London News on the fourth of June 1870.

The drawing is probably a bit patronizing, but there are interesting features about it. Notice the rough floor with the step up to the door.

There is a rock weighing down the chair. The table looks a bit primitive, and has some cracked dishes and a number of bowls. There is a tin mug on the table, and over this is an alcove containing a basket of eggs and a candle in a bottle. To the right of that is a sheet of paper, pinned to the wall and an interesting corner shelf unit. Over the bedroom door there are some crocks and what looks like a cish or basket. There is also a beam from which they probably hung bacon.

The ladiy's dress is interesting. She is wearing a shoulder shawl with a matching scarf, probably made from the same material, as both have a similar edging. She is smoking a "duidin" or clay pipe. The net she is making was probably made from, a fine but tough fishing line. Nets were the traditional fishing gear in the herring fisheries from the earliest days of the 19th century.

Hardiman mentions nets which the fishermen when ashore spent much time in "making, drying or repairing, in which latter employment they were generally assisted by the women who spin the hemp and yarn for the nets. In consequence of their strict attention to these particulars, very few accidents happen at sea, and lives are seldom lost among them."

They used two types of nets, differing in size of mesh, because of the difference of the size of herrings between the winter and autumn fisheries. "Each fisherman's share measures thirty fathoms when on the rope" — fathoms in this case measured the length of the net, — the depth was measured by meshes.

Another tasteful shop front has appeared in Eyre Square at 7, Prospect Hill to be precise. The beautiful timber frontage of Eyre Square Dry Cleaners was made by the O'Hallorans Joinery Works, Newcastle, fitted byNoel Heaney. The deep green colour on the first floor facade the overall effect, and this narrow shop front distinctive and attractive.

Tomorrow night, November 5th, the "Jes" Ignatius Past Pupils are holding a dinner in the Warwick Hotel. The main purpose of the evening is to honour Fr. Andrews S.J. "Andy" has been associated with the school for a few generations now, and it is fitting that the union should choose to honour him. Tickets are available from the school secretary. In naming the members of Galway Corporation in last week's photograph withEamonn de Valera, we left out the name ofJoe Costello, the Mayor of Galway at the time. Joe was in fact Mayor from 1937 to 1950.