Ballinasloe District Council Adjourns

The Connacht Tribune, Saturday, November 6, 1930.

Introduction

As a mark of respect to the memory of the late Lord Mayor of Cork, Ballinasloe rural district council adjourned its meeting on Saturday without transacting any business.

On Thursday night uniformed men visited various licensed premises and warned the proprietors to carry on business on Friday, the day of general mourning for Cork's Lord Mayor. On Friday morning on the various doors of the business house notices were appended warning all owners if their houses were not closed they and their property would have to take the consequences. Prominent Sinn Feiners were interviewed and threatened that they would be "riddled" if they closed their shops. Notwithstanding, the houses were not opened, and Friday night was one of extreme anxiety for the people of the town. Happily, however, no untoward incident occurred. On Saturday night the house of Mr. Fitzpatrick was visited, and his son Patrick looked for. He was not at home. The house of Mr. P. Dolan, Kilgarve, was also visited, but he, too, was not available.

Following the cutting of a young girl's hair at Moore, about three miles from Ballinalsoe, a young man named Kilduff was taken from his home and it is alleged, ill—treated. It is also alleged that his two sisters' hair were cut.

On Sunday night various farm houses were visited and the hay and corn in the haggards burned.

The "Opening Order!" Enforced by R.I.C. Auxiliaries in Tuam

There was an extraordinary scene in Tuam on Friday evening, 29th, when a lorry full of members of the auxiliary force arrived, and at once ordered all the shopkeepers to open their premises which were closed in mourning for Lord Mayor McSwiney. Members of the force knocked at the shop doors with their revolvers, and ordered the shuts to be taken down. The owners speedily complied with the request. A Lewis gun was mounted on the lorry, which drove through the streets for a half—hour until all the shops were open and unshuttered. The notices posted up through the town announcing that Mass would be celebrated for the hunger—strike martyrs on Friday, and requesting business men to close their premises, were torn down. A written notice was put up by the auxiliary force stating that any shopkeeper who did not keep his shop open until the usual hour would be compelled to leave the town. The auxiliary party then marched through the town, and kept pedestrians on the move.

Rev. O'Hannon, Adm., interviewed the authorities, and got permission for shopkeepers to close their premises at an early hour owing to the mission.

Requiem Mass at the Cathedral

All work was suspended in Tuam on Friday in mourning for the Lord Mayor of Cork. Requiem Mass was celebrated. The celebrant was Revd. O'Hannon, Adm.; deacon, Rev. P. Gunnigan; sub—deacon, Rev. J. Moran; master of ceremonies, Rev. P. Walsh. A large number of priests were in the choir, and the congregation for the repose of the souls of Messrs. Mac Swiney, Murphy and Fitzgerald, who gave up their lives for the freedom of Ireland. Absolution was given at the end of the Mass. Masses were celebrated at Dunmore and Milltown also.