Cathedral to Replace Prison

Galway Observer, 20th April, 1940

Galway Jail for £10.

Galway County Council, at their meeting on Saturday decided to dispose of disused jail to Most Rev. Dr. Browne, Bishop of Galway, "for a nominal sum of £10.". Mr. Eamon Corbett, Chairman, presided the meeting. The Co. Secretary (C. I. Ua Flainn, L.A.A.) read the renewing letter received from his lordship :— I desire hereby to make formal application to you, the Chairman and members of Galway County Council for the sale to me of the site and buildings of Galway Jail. It has long been the desire of Bishops, clergy and people to build in this city a worthy Cathedral for the Dioceses of Galway, Kilmacuragh and Kilfenora, which the Holy See has placed under one Bishop. I am advised that the jail site would make a most suitable emplacement for a Cathedral ; it is spacious, with dignified and beautiful surroundings not hemmed in with unsightly buildings but with magnificent approaches and views on each side. Forty years ago my predecessor could not dream that the site would become available for a Cathedral. To—day, under a native Government a jail is not required in Co. Galway. What finer tribute to our people or better justification for the long struggle for self—government?

"Noble and Fitting"

Now that the site has become available, I submit to you there could be no more noble or more fitting use than to erect on it a Cathedral in thanksgiving to God, Who sustained our people in their days of trial. A Cathedral replacing a jail is the most perfect symbol of the triumph of a people who were proscribed for being Irish and Catholic. A noble Cathedral on this site would be also a fine addition to the beauty and dignity of this City of Galway, and an object of pride to all in the country. In recent years, public authorities have disposed of jails, workhouses and barracks for Churches, factories or building sites. The building of a Cathedral would provide considerable employment to stonemasons and workers for many years. For, if I can manage it, it will be built of Galway granite, limestone and marble. When built and when the grounds are laid out, it will be an object of beauty and inspiration. As to its utility, I need say nothing to men who believe in god and in the necessity of religion for the individual and for society. I therefore ask you to sell me the site and premises at as reasonable a figure as you think just.

The Houses

Ald. Miss Margaret Ashe – Does that mean that the houses at the back of the prison are to go too? Secretary – Yes. Under the 1933 Act the jail premises were under the absolute control of the Minister for Defence : he could sell the premises or retain them. At first, the Minister intended transferring the jail only to the Council. As his lordship had intended to purchase the jail and use it as a site for a Cathedral he thought, in order to make the place suitable for the erection of a Cathedral, it would be necessary to make considerable changes in the layout of the place. He has some very nice plans drawn up by an architect. His lordship saw the Minister in connection with the matter, and as a result, the Minister decided to transfer the houses at the back of the buildings with the jail to the Council. Replying to Mr. Michael Quinn, the Secretary said that there were four cottages in all ; two of them were occupied. A Civic Guard was in one and the caretaker of the Co. Buildings was in the other. His Lordship, he understood, would not raise any objection to these tenants continuing in occupation until the houses were about to be demolished.

The Stones

Mr. Ml. Quinn – When the buildings are demolished will the stones be of any use? Secretary – The stones which are in the wall surrounding the jail are useful, but I suppose they will be used in the building of the Cathedral. A good deal of the stones in the building inside are not of much use. Most of the interior buildings are of mortar and rubble which would not be of much use in the building of the Cathedral, unless it might be used for packing. It must be borne in mind that his lordship will be put to very considerable expense in having these buildings demolished. Mr. Harry O'Toole raised a question in connection with a site at O'Brien's Bridge which was purchased some time ago with the intention of erecting a Cathedral on it. Als. Miss Ashe said she believed the Council would be doing a good day's work by handing over the jail to his lordship, and she was sure that he would have a consultation with the Corporation before disposing of the site at O'Brien's Bridge. The Secretary said he understood that his lordship had intimated to him that he would be prepared to sell the site at O'Brien's Bridge to the Corporation for the purpose of erecting a new Town Hall on it. The site at O'Brien's Bridge was not spacious enough for a Cathedral.

Proud

Mr. Lambert proposed that the jail be sold to the Bishop. The Chairman thought the Council should be proud to be in a position to dispose of the jail for the use to which it was intended to be put and suggested that it be handed over for a nominal figure. They would be giving over the site for a very deserving cause, and even if they got £200 it would not affect the rates in the least. Tomas O'Flannagain said some people thought that the site was too much to that side of the town. There were already five churches in the area and only one serving the other side. Ald. Miss Ashe asked when would work start. There was a lot of unemployment in the City and county. It would not be much good to the present generation if work was held up for 20 years. Seamus Layng seconded the Chairman's proposal that the building be handed over for a nominal sum. Mr. Martin O'Regan said they all felt that a Cathedral was badly needed in Galway, and there should be no discussion about handing over the jail as a site for that purpose. He was very glad to learn that his lordship intended to have the Cathedral built in stone. Mr. P. Lambert suggested that the Council appoint a Committee to meet his lordship and arrange the amount which his lordship would pay for the jail.

Will Cost £250,000

Secretary – I think the members should take into consideration that the Cathedral will cost a quarter of a million pounds and it is desirable that the most suitable site in the City should be got. Apart from that, the members should take into account that the cost of the Cathedral will largely have to be borne by the people of the county. Therefore, if a free site were given it would reduce the ultimate cost of the Cathedral. His lordship is anxious to start work as soon as he can : within 12 months if he finds it possible.

Mr. John McKeigue – Give it over and have done with it.
Mr. P. D. Conroy – I propose you ask his lordship for £100.
Mr. P. Lambert – I think we would make a present of it.
Deputy Mark Killilea agreed with appointing a committee to discuss the matter with his lordship.
Mr. T. King – The Secretary has explained the position, and I think the Council should hand over the site as a subscription towards the cost of the Cathedral.
Ald. Miss Ashe suggested that the Council ask £20 for the site.
The Chairman favoured £10.
Mr. Ml. Quinn said he thought a grander monument could not be erected over the bodies of the Irishmen who were executed in the prison than a Cathedral.
On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. T. C. Lydon, it was agreed to hand over the jail for a nominal sum of £10.
Rev. P. Glynn, Adm., returned thanks to the Council on behalf of his lordship.