Miscellaneous

The Galway Observer, Saturday, July 14, 1920

Galway Guardians — The Irish Language — The Wages Question

The usual weekly meeting of the Board of Guardians was held on Wednesday.

Mr. P. Thornton, in the chair.

Also present — Messrs. John Griffin, Wm. Flaherty, James Lee, S. J. Cremin, M. J. Cooke, Bryan Molloy, and Mrs. Young.

Condolence

Mr. Lee began speaking in Irish when Mr. Griffin interrupted to say it was not fair as he did not understand it.

Mr. Flaherty having spoken in Irish also.

It appeared that it was a motion of condolence with Mr. Anthony O'Donnell, the Court interpreter, on the death of his wife, which was passed.

Interpretation Demanded from the Chairman

Mr. Cremin said he thought when anything is said or moved in Irish there ought to be an explanation given of it by the Chairman to those who don't understand Irish. The fact of the matter is Mr. Cremin continued, that those who don't understand Irish are the victims of Irish affairs and of other times when the people were deprived of their rights and of learning, but it appears the forces marching into power now want to use the same weapon, because other people had not got on. Therefore, he said it was due to them who don't know the native language to get an interpretation from the chair of the remarks of the Irish speakers.

Mr. Griffin said he agreed with Mr. Cremin. It was just about 55 years ago since he Mr. Griffin was deprived of speaking Irish, and was slapped for speaking it. He could buy and sell in that language, but all the same he was deprived of it.

Mr. Cremin — You are going to be slapped now for not speaking it.

Mrs. Young — We would require to have all information about the business.

Current Wages

The Clerk read a letter from the L. G. Board asking the board to inform them of the current wages in the town for such work as that done by the boiler attendant and the van driver.

The Clerk added that he called up Murphy and showed him that letter, but he had no reply from him up to that day.

Mr. Cremin said to inform the L.G. Board that all information on that point can be obtained from the office of the Ministry of Labour, Lord Edward Street, Dublin, which was supplied by the Secretary of the Employers' Federation in Galway.

Questions of Boarding Out

The mother of a boy named Leonard, who was boarded out, wrote asking not to be given up to her.

Mr. Griffin said the step father of the boy wished to learn him a trade, as he was 15 years of age.

Mr. Cooke thought it would be better to leave the boy where he is.

Mr. Griffin — The boy ought to be put to a trade and that will be an advantage to him in the future.

Mr. Cremin thought that a boy of his age of 15 he ought to be given up to his parents.

Mr. Cooke said his objection was for the boy's own good. What trade will the boy go to.

Mr. Griffin said he would guarantee that.

The Clerk remarked that they passed a resolution last week refusing to give up the boy, the question now was whether they should give him up right off.

Mr. Cremin thought that having another letter now from the parents they were entitled to act on it.

The Chairman said that as it was before the board so late as last meeting he did not think it would be right to make any order at that meeting, and that a notice of motions should be given.

Mr. Cremin and Mr. Griffin pressed the matter for some time, but at length Mr. Griffin gave notice of motion to come up again.

Industrial Developments Association

A letter was read from the Dublin Development Association inviting the board to appoint delegates to attend a conference in Dublin on the 27th inst.

A discussion took place as to who should go. Mr. Cooke proposed the Chairman (Mr. Flanagan) asked Mrs. Young would she go.

Mrs. Young said she would be very glad if she would be of any assistance.

It was agreed that the Chairman of the board and Mrs. Young attend, and the Clerk was directed to write to Mr. Ruane, as Chairman of the District Council, to ask him to represent that body, and to get another member also from that Council.

Mr. Cremin moved his motion of which he had given notice to increase the salary of the midwife in Aran Islands, Miss Heddermen, from £40 to £52 a year.

The Clerk explained that she was confined to the middle and South Islands, as the doctor did duty on the big island.

Mr. Cooke and the other members agreed to the proposal and it was passed.

There was no other business.

Police Sergeant Shot Dead in Ballina, Thursday

A desperate shooting affray occurred here this morning as a result of which Sergeant Armstrong, R.I.C., was shot dead and Constable Regan dangerously wounded.

The two men were returning off patrol about 12.30 a.m. this morning with Constable Nangle and Barnes when they were held up in Knox street by a number of armed and masked men, who called on them to put up their hands.

Constable Barnes, it is stated, thereupon draw his revolver and fired point blank at the men.

A volley of revolver shots rang out in reply and Sergeant Armstrong fell mortally wounded, expiring a few minutes afterwards.

Revolver Taken

Constable Regan was at the same time dangerously wounded, while Constable Nangle was relieved of his revolver, but escaped unscathed. Constable Barnes, after discharging his revolver, took to flight, and eventually arrived at the workhouse and eluded his assailants, who followed him for a short distance.

Within 100 yards of Barracks

The shooting occurred outside the Moy Hotel, within 100 yards of the barrack, and the police immediately turned out to the assistance of their fallen comrades.

Aerial lights were sent up, and a number of volleys were discharged, indiscriminately up the street from rifles carried by the police. The assailants had, however, completely vanished at this time, and the streets were deserted, save for the group of police around the prostrate men.

Sergt. Armstrong's remains were then taken to the Barrack, and Constable Regan was also removed there.

Bullet Marks

The houses in the vicinity of which the shooting occurred bear several bullet marks. Sergeant Armstrong, who had a very long service, was stationed in Ballina for over 20 years. He leaves a widow and 11 children.

Constable Regan is also a married man with a large family.

Military reinforcements have arrived here today.

Viceroyalty not to be Abolished

Mr. Bonar Law, replying to Col. Ashley, said it had not been decided to abolish the office of Lord Lieutenant in Ireland. The subject of what useful purpose was served by its continuance was too large to be dealt with by question and answer. When Commander Kenworthy, amidst laughter, suggested that the query reflected on his Majesty's representative in Ireland, the Speaker said there was no reflection on the occupants of the office.

Will Sinn Fein Triumph?

By William O'Malley.

Before attempting to answer the question "Will Sinn Fein Triumph?" I may be allowed to state that there was no member of the late Irish Parliamentary Party who condemned Sinn Fein more than I did. I attacked it long before the 1916 rebellion and more bitterly since that to undermine and destroy the Constitutional movements, which had done and was doing splendid service for Ireland, and I considered that its objects impossible of attainment. To be successful Sinn Fein, from the nature of its people at its back, and that a perfect scheme for organization was essential. The history of Ireland precluded such a possibility. Rival movements invariably proved destructive and never constructive. Without going further back every Irish Leader since the "Union" was confronted with rival leaders and rival policies. That fact alone justified the hostility of the Irish Party to Sinn Fein and even their doubts as to the wisdom of the Gaelic movements, which in itself of course was an admirable movement. Personally I believed the volunteer movement would lead to trouble.

The outbreak of the great world war and the stupidity and malignity of British Ministers have destroyed the Parliamentary Party and strengthened and consolidated the Sinn Fein movement. Carsonism has contributed very largely to this result. Were it not for the Carson volunteers there would be no National volunteers; and there would be no Dublin Rebellion had there not been an "Ulster" rebellion. I am convinced that the Prime Minister, influenced by Sir Edward Carson chiefly, applied the Conscription Act to Ireland for the express purposes of destroying the power of the Irish Party in Westminster. They were well aware that its effect would be to rally the young men to Sinn Fein, but they never entertained any fears of the extremists. They could be dealt with by the R.I.C. and their army occupation. I presume Mr. Lloyd George and his Prussian colleagues realise that the task of suppressing Sinn Fein is not as easy as they thought. They have now a united Ireland to deal with and a National spirit such as Ireland never displayed before to fight against. And for the first time in Irish movements, the "spy" has not appeared.

The government prefers in their Irish policy to relieve the people of Ireland from the "Terrorism" of Sinn Fein. There may be terrorism, but I submit it is a healthy terrorism. Was there ever a Revolution — and Ireland is in the throes of a Revolution — without more or less terrorism and more or less "outrages?" There is always an extreme section who believe in blood—letting. Deliberate murder is never justified and it should be put down, but as I have said, in a revolution such deplorable incidents are inevitable. During the Land War some landlord agents were shot, but Parnell and Davitt and the other Land League leaders denounced those outrages, quoting of O'Connell. "He who commits a crime gives strength to the enemy." Yet that did not prevent the government of the day in arraigning the Irish Leaders before a Dublin and a London court of packed judges. The British Press complains that the Sinn Fein leaders do not condemn the murders that now unfortunately occur in Ireland — but Sinn Fein has learned from the past experience, and they remain silent.

For the last few years — since the armistice — the British Press has been filled with the "horrors" of Russian Bolshevists while the government has expended a couple of hundred millions of money in endeavoring to "save the atrocities" of the Soviet government! The Russian people had to fight against their would be "deliverers", just as the Irish people are now fighting bravely against their self—appointed deliverers. Defeated in their altruistic (!) policy now find it their interest to make peace with the "enemy", and while vowing in the most solemn way that they would never, no, never even speak to or communicate with those Soviet monsters, they now invite them to London for peace. What an object lesson for Ireland! Already Lloyd George has hinted his willingness to meet the responsible Sinn Fein leaders, and I am satisfied that if the Irish people stick together as they have been doing Mr. Lloyd George, notwithstanding his threat to spend a million of money or waste a million of lives rather than yield to the Republican demand of Sinn Fein, he will, before he is much older, see self—determination as to their form of government. That is the only thing to do if he wants to stay the work of disintegration now going on within the British Empire.

I attribute the change in policy towards the Soviet government to the action of the Labour Party. Labour has not only condemned the government or Churchill's policy, but it has threatened action. Labour may not be so successful with regard to Ireland, but the government is alive to the dangers of outranging Labour too much.

Sinn Fein has the sympathy, not only of Labour, but of America and of all the Colonies. Ireland has the sympathy of the whole world, and unless some unforeseen disaster occurs, I believe Sinn Fein will win through, and that in my own time I will see my country sole mistress of her own destinies.

The Thief Finders — Volunteers Recovers Cash — Nearly £2,000 Restored

Once more the Irish Volunteers have been the means of restoring to victims of robbery the major portion of their losses.

Now the Great Southern and Western Railway Company, to whose attitude on the Munitions question the Volunteers are opposed, is indebted to them for the recovery of the bulk of the money — over £2,000 — stolen from a paymaster's train outside Kilcornan Station, near Limerick, on April 2.

The "Irish Bulletin" publishes a statement handed to the General Manager of the G.S.W.R. Officers on Tuesday by a clergyman, who also handed in, and took a receipt for, £1,752, out of £2,014 stolen. Some accounts said the robbers loot totaled £2,700.

At the meeting of the Munster and Leinster Bank in Cork appreciation was expressed of the action of the Volunteers who recovered the money robbed in November.

Armed Men Surprise Military Guard in Clare

Armed men raided a military motor lorry at Ennistymon on Tuesday evening and seized 4 rifles. The guard of three soldiers was surprised and covered with revolvers while the raiders took possession of the rifles. It is stated that one soldier fired at the raiders as they departed and that shots were exchanged. No one was injured. The military sought protection in the police barracks.

The East Galway Sinn Fein Court is to sit in Ballinasloe on Thursday, our correspondent states. A force of 300 dragons was drafted in. In view of Tuam the people are nervous, All the houses in the town were searched by police; guns and ammunition were collected. One policeman resigned.

When the name of Lord Clancarty was called at the Old Bailey on Thursday morning to answer charges under the Bankruptcy Act he failed to put in an appearance, and Mr. Justice Darling, in deciding to take another case, directed that when Lord Clancarty arrived he should be taken into custody and held there until further directions was given. The defendant soon afterwards appeared, and entered the dock.

Connemara Assault Case

A Connemara assault case was called that of Walsh v. Gavin. It appeared to be a special jury case, but Counsel on both sides agreed to go on without a jury.

Mr. Carson, B.L., (instructed by Mr. R. J. Connolly, solr., Clifden, stated the case. He said it was an assault for which his client claimed £150 damages. The defendant he said, were making out that it was done in self—defense. The facts of the case were that the plaintiff Patk. Walsh who lived near Maam cross, some twelve or thirteen years ago, came into possession of a farm at a place called Guolaun, near Clifden. At the time some unpleasantness sprung up between the defendant and the plaintiff after taking this farm. In 1910 Walsh had to process Gavin and got a decree against him, and from that time onward Gavin made things unpleasant for the plaintiff. On this particular day in March last Walsh was returning from Clifden about 5.30 in the afternoon and he had to go up a boreen to his house. Along this boreen there is a high wall in which there was a branch, and before he knew anything Gavin rushes out through this breach with a shovel in his hand, and after making use of a nasty expression, raised the shovel and aimed a blow at Walsh. Walsh tried to ward it off, but in doing so a finger on his right hand got badly broken. A son of the plaintiff happened to be near hand at the time, and just as Gavin was aiming another blow, this young man rushed in to save his father. He was spreading manure at the time and had a fork in his hand, but he threw away the fork and rushed at Gavin and prevented him from striking his father again. Gavin picked up the fork and threw it inside the fence. No doubt had it not been for this boy the defendant would find himself in the dock. Walsh went to the police barrack and then to the doctor and had his finger dressed. The doctor would state how the joint of the finger was injured in warding off the blow, so that he is unable to make use of that finger, which prevents him from attending to his work since.

The plaintiff was examined and bore out counsel's statement.

The defendant Gavin had a cross case which was also fully gone into.

His Lordship gave a doers for £50, and costs in favour of Walsh and dismissed the cross case.

Galway Regatta — Splendid Day's Racing

There was a large attendance at the Galway Regatta, on Thursday, despite the unfavorable weather, and the rowing all round was a great improvement, although there was not as much interest in the races as in pre—war times, but this could account for the weather, as it was changeable every few minutes.

The feature of the day's sport was the success of the Royal Boat Club, who showed a great improvement and won a couple of races, the Galway Rowing Club, senior fours, also had a most successful day winning the Galway Challenge Cup.

The Industrial School band, discoursed a splendid selection of music during the intervals.

Boys Race.

Galway Athletic R.C. I; Commercial B.C. 2; Galway R.C.3

The Corrib Cup (Maiden Fours)

Heat. A. Galway B.C. 1; Galway Athletic 2. Won easily by three lengths.

Heat B. Commercial Royal 2. Won by two lengths.

Final. G. Rowing Club 1; Commercial 2; won easily by four lengths.

Cotton Memorial Cup (Junior Pairs).

Final. Galway R.C. 1; Corrib 2.

The Palmer Cup (Senior Sculls).

Courtenay 1; Bailey 2; Hickey 3.

The Menlo Cup (Senr. Pairs)

Galway R.C. 1.; Commercial 2.Won easily.

The Hallet Challenge Cup.

Jnr. Fours. Royal 1; Galway R.C. 2; won by half a length.

Final. Royal 1; Corrib 2; the Royal maintained their lead all the way.

Maiden Pairs — Heat A. Royal 1; Corrib 2; Athletic 3. Final Royal 1; Rowing 2; row over.

Riots in Belfast — Three People Killed — Catholic Workers Driven from Shipyard — Military Open fire on Crowd

Belfast was the scene of desperate rioting on Wednesday, following the resumption of work in the shipyards after the July holidays.

The Orange bloods held a meeting early in the day, and armed with sticks, stones, and other weapons, they invaded the workshops in the various yards "looking for Sinn Feiners."

All Catholics, in the eyes of the shipyard "true blues" came under this appellation, and they were ordered to quit. Before they could do so, however, they were assailed and beaten. Some are stated to have been thrown into the Lagan, where they were pelted by their prosecutors. Others badly injured escaped in an exhausted condition.

Rioting and looting of shops occurred in various parts of the city subsequently, and the police made repeated baton charges. Military had to be requisitioned, and they fired on a crowd in the Falls road, where one Nationalist was shot dead and others were wounded. Subsequently two other persons were shot dead.

Large numbers who were injured in the course of the disturbancs were conveyed to hospital.

The city remains in a disturbed condition.

A Day of Hold—Up

The most extensive hold—up of passenger traffic since the railway men commenced their campaign against munitions occurred at Kingsbridge terminus on Wednesday, when over 60 armed R.I.C. men presented themselves as passengers on the 9.30 a.m. train to Cork.

The guard declined to start the train, and was suspended. Persisting in their efforts, the police successively boarded five subsequent trains, with the result that up to late in the afternoon outgoing passenger traffic from Kingsbridge was at a standstill, with the exception of the Killarney express at 11 a.m. The train was not interfered with because of its first stop at Thurles.

It was only at 2.30 p.m. that the authorities came to realize the absurdity of the situation, and withdrew the police from the station.

The Suspensions

Five railway servants were suspended in connection with the affair, including two guards as well as two checkers and a shutter acting as guards, for special trains to the Curragh.

As on the previous occasion, when a similar incident occurred, the authorities ultimately realized that there was no possibility of the armed forces reaching their destination and were obliged to retreat. If their success be measured by the amount of inconvenience caused to the traveling public, the authorities have achieved a signal victory.

The police who were of the type known as the "black and tans" — that is to say, wearing part police and part military uniform — arrived at the station at 9 o'clock, and took up a position on the main platform, from which the 9.30 train to Cork was to leave. Shortly before 9.30 they boarded the train, and at the scheduled time the guard refused to give the signal to that. As there was no prospect of the train leaving, the driver uncoupled the engine and brought them back to the sheds.

Carson A Liar — Challenged by the Freeman — Carson Lies!

No greater libel could have been uttered in the House of Commons on any newspaper than that to which Sir Edward Carson gave voice last night.

Coward that he is; under the plea of privilege, he makes statements that he dare not repeat on a public platform.

We say bluntly and plainly that this Ulster propagandist is a liar — a liar, a liar.

We challenge him to come into the open, without fear or favor, and repeat his statements.

We challenge him to repeat his words outside the privileged cloisters of the House of Commons.

He is a liar, a dirty unscrupulous liar.

Arrests and Threats — Constable Intervenes as Shot is about to be Fired

The most sensational stories are told of the arrest of local Sinn Feiners, who were threatened to be shot, a threat which the victims believe would have been carried out but for the intervention of Constable Colleran, a popular policeman, who has been stationed in the district for many years, and Head constable Bowles.

Jack Neville a young electrician, staying at Mrs. Starr's High Street, which is out of the track of the wrecked building, told me that shortly after five o'clock armed police knocked up his landlady, and demanded admission with threats. Dressing hurriedly, he came to the front door, and found himself looking down the barrels of 15 rifles. "Pull the heart out of the devil" shouted one raider.

"No" said another, "we will give him more mercy than some of them showed our comrades here." As they were about to fire Constable Colleran went in front with uplifted hand and begged them to desist. Thereupon a group of policemen marched Neville to the barracks, while their comrades discharged a volley of shots over their heads. In the station the men had a dispute as to what they would do with their prisoner. Ultimately wiser counsels prevailed, and they threw him into the Bridewell. Head—constable Bowles came, and, remarking that it was a shame the way he had been treated, released him.

Volunteer Killed — Shot While Helping Woman from the Ground

A Cork correspondent states that with the exception of five or six, the casualties from the firing of the military through the streets of that city on Sunday night, though numerous, were not dangerous.

On Tuesday morning one death was reported, that of a young man named Patrick J. O'Brien, who was acting as one of the Volunteer police in King Street.

While assisting a woman who had fallen in the street, he was fired on by the military.

Two bullets passed through his body, and he fell beside the woman he was assisting.

The military had one casualty, which was stated to be slight.

Viscount French and General Sir Neville Macready left for Dublin on Wednesday, presumably for London.

During the week the police barracks at Letterfrack was evacuated and the police transferred to Clifden. The cars which conveyed the police to Clifden were held up on the return journey and a car and two carts were thrown over a precipice. The horses and drivers were not injured.

When the consideration of the Public Libraries (Ireland) Bill, as amended in the standing Committee, was taken up in the Commons at a late hour, Commander Kenworthy, in protesting against the measure being taken at that hour, said nobody in Ireland wanted it. It would not be worked in the greater part of Ireland. It was a farce. It was, however, read a third time.