Galway Advertiser 1974/1974_03_21/GA_21031974_E1_001.pdf 

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Gu c a ur l y
VOL.5 N O . 12
T H I S Y E A R ' S St. Patrick's D a y w a s cold and windy a n d i t w a s only b y great per suasion on the morning of the parade itself that w e finally g o t 'Onlooker' a n d his in separable companion Willie t o leave their snug kitchen a n d comment o n this unique Galway d a y .
The Feast o f our Nation nal Apostle was celebrated throughout the world last weekend. Here in G a l w a y we had religious services and of course the b i g parade. Willie and I h a d been out for our usual S t . Patrick's morning stroll along the D y k e a t T e r r y land where we picked some fine fresh shamrock in the shadow of the Oldcastle-- what a quiet and peaceful spot to be on a cold and blustery M a r c h morning. The white smoke from Fahy's chimney whirled in the wind denoting that the Baron himself was dining early before drow ning the shamrock. B e tween the showers we sheltered under the wall of the soccer pitch until i t was nearly time for the parade. T i m e indeed was run ning out and for two old soldiers in their late 70's it took us all our time to get to a vantage point to watch the parade pass by. Pacing over the Salmon Weir Bridge across by the Cathedral and around b y Palmer's Mill we took u p our Took out' perch at the Nailer's Corner where not even a fly--if he were foolish enough to be out-- could pass us without comment. The numbers marching were smaller than usual mainly because of the un certainty of the inclement weather earlier that morn ing. A l l the Galway bands were there together with some visiting bands-- what an example of dis

A v rs r d et e i
Thursday March 21st 1974
courtesy on the part of the motorists who drove down Dominick Street right in the path of the American band. No matter how efficient they try to be the marshals and stewards cannot be everywhere. The Claddagh people really took the plums giv ing a few grapes to O r a n more as a token of good will. Anyhow wasn't Mairead O'Flaherty the guiding light in the O e a n more dancing group. There's no doubt about it you must hand it to Claddagh. They really go to town but I must confess it was the first time I ever saw a Claddagh man with a Mexican hat; Ollie Murphy and Mairtin Sean Dan would have queer comment. A s I already mentioned the weather was a real spoil sport, had it been a fine day I've no doubt the parade would be twice as big. St. Mary's Road was the rendevous for all marching units. Fr. Burke Park is getting a face lift Willie joins me in hoping it doesn't get a toothache like Eyre Square and turn out to be another headache for the city Fathers. G o d knows they are leaving a

St. Patrick's Day in the Cold!
Contd. on Back Page

Heart of Galway Draws the Crowds
T h e first L e i s u r e l a n d s p e c t a c u l a r t o o k p l a c e last S a t u r day evening when t h e Heart of G a l w a y C o m p a n y o p e n e d its Springtime Festival w i t h a dance a n d beauty competi tion. Over nine hundred tickets w e r e sold f o r t h e e v e n t , b u t faulty d o o r s e c u r ity swelled t h e n u m b e r s t o a n easy 1,500 p e o p l e . I t w a s a m a g n i f i c e n t occasion. T h e evening's entertain m e n t was centered around t h e q u e s t f o r ' t h e H e a r t of Galway Girl.' Forty-four shops within t h e company each entered a contestant, n o m i n a t e d b y t h e s h o p staffs, a n d t h e i r collective b e a u t y a n d elegant a p p e a r a n c e last Saturday night w o n warm applause from t h e crowds. T h e winner, b y one point, we were told, was M a r i o n Parsons -- a most attractive s h o p assistant i n S u z a n n e ' s Boutique, Shop Street, a n d o n e of h e r m a n y prizes i n c l u d e d a n u n s c h e d u l e d kiss from ' E a m o n n M a h e r ' w h o was o n e of t h e judges. T o j u d g e sich a c o m p e t i t i o n w a s a n u n e n v i a b l e task e v e r y o n e agreed, but one which Eamon o b v i o u s l y enjoyed i m m e n s e l y . T h e Minister for Local Government, M r . James Tully, was t h e Guest of H o n o u r , a n d a s valiantly a s h e w i t h s t o o d t h e cold o n t h e r e v i e w p l a t f o r m for t h e p a r ade on Sunday, h e remained approachable a n d friendly throughout t h e hot evening. H i s p o p u l a r i t y was i n s u r e d as h e informally m o v e d from t a b l e t o t a b l e m a k i n g f r iends and being made welcome. S p e a k i n g at a formal r e c e p t i o n before t h e evenings entertainment M r . Tully stressed h i s interest in t h e revitalisation of city c e n t r e s . H e said t h a t G a l w a y w a s a m a j o r g r o w t h area b u t t h a t t h e h i s t o r i c h e a r t o f t h e city h a d suffered neglect a n d w a s i n places p o p u l a t e d with derelict b u i l d i n g s i n s t e a d ot people. " T h e s e empty build ings should b e developed," said t h e M i n i s t e r , "especially w h e r e s u c h areas c o n s t i t u t e closely-knit c o m m u n i t i e s w i t h s t r o n g loyalties a n d t r a d i t i o n s . " M r . T u l l y said h e w a s s p e a k i n g a b o u t real h o m e s f o r real p e o p l e ; n o t c o n c r e t e jungles o r a n o t h e r Ballymun. " N o r d o I want t o see a w o m a n climbing u p stairs t o t h e t o p floor i n a b l o c k o f flats p u l l i n g a p r a m b e c a u s e t h e lift h a d b r o k e n as I s a w i n this t o w n s o m e weeks a g o . I want t o see a living h e a r t i n this city a n d for i t y o u will g e t e v e r y assistance f r o m m y d e p a r t ment." M r . Tully was welcomed to Galway b y t h e Mayor, Cllr. P a d d y O ' F l a h e r t y , a n d M r . T o m O'Connor, Chair man, Heart of Galway C o m pany. M r . O'Connor said t h a t h i s c o m p a n y well u n d e r stood that Galway, although

L a d i n e e n C u r r a n , K i n g of t h e C l a d d a g h , s a l u t e s t h e M i n i s t e r f o r L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t f r o m h i s official c o a c h during t h e St. Patrick's D a y P a r a d e last Sunday.

M r J a m e s T u l l y , M i n i s t e r f o r L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t , con g r a t u l a t e s M a r i a n P a r s o n s o n b e i n g e l e c t e d H e a r t of G a l w a y G i r l 1974.

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GREAT from VALUE

Matt O'Flaherty
M.P.S.I., P h . C . THE PRESCRIPTION CHEMIST P h o n e 4134 D a y o r N i g h t GALWAY SHOPPING CENTRE

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