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Galway Advertiser 1982/1982_03_18/GA_18031982_E1_014.pdf
Remembering the Past
THIS NEWSPAPER has been fortunate to have been given a most interesting d o c u m e n t concerning the black days o f the Anglo Irish struggle o f 1 9 2 0 - 2 1 . T h e d o c u m e n t has been written b y a m e m b e r o f the British forces, officer class, a n d h i s t o u r o f duty i n Galway a n d Cork. T h e officer, w h o r e m a i n s a n o n y m o u s at t h e i m p l i c i t r e q u e s t o f h i s family, was a Catholic, which p u t h i m i n a n interesting position. Above all, h e was a most sympathetic m a n , capable o f seeing both sides and his testamonial must surely rank as a unique document concerning the town o f Galway. This newspaper intends to publish long extracts from the docu m e n t d u r i n g t h e n e x t five t o s i x w e e k s . N o d o u b t y o u h a v e all read accounts of t h e " T r o u b l e of 1 9 2 0 - 2 1 " . Several b o o k s have b e e n published, articles have appeared in various periodicals a n d a c c o u n t s b r o a d c a s t of e v e n t s of .that fateful p e r i o d of o u r national history k n o w n a s the T a n W a r . Most of t h e s e however have b e e n a s it were from o n e side of t h e fence a n d s o for a c h a n g e 1 should like t o give you a brief a c c o u n t of t h e e x p e r i e n c e s of o n e of the C r o w n F o r c e s of t h o s e terrible days. T h e experi e n c e s of o n e w h o though duty bound was not unsympathetic towards the national m o v e m e n t of that time. My first introduction t o the " T r o u b l e " o c c u r r e d in the W e s t of Ireland. 1 h a d b e e n stationed in Belfast during t h e fury of the Anti-Catholic p o g r o m of July 1920, w h e r e we h a d witnessed all t h e terrible e x c e s s e s of t h e O r a n g e mob. O u r hands were more or less tied by " R e d T a p e " but w e h a d b e e n given t h e j o b of p r o t e c t i n g t h e Catholic church and c o n v e n t of St. M a t t h e w , Ballymacarrett. As you "may g u e s s , t h e N e w t o w n a r d s district w a s not by a n y m e a n s a health resort o r haven of rest at that time, a n d s o w e w e r e not sorry w h e n we learned that we were t o be transferred. O u r destination w a s at first a secret, b u t eventually it leaked o u t that w e w e r e going to t h e W e s t a n d were told that Galway was a very pleasant place to be stationed t h e people were friendly a n d that t h e r e were no a r d u o u s duties t o perform. I w a s certainly not sorry t o bid adieu t o Belfast a n d t h e "Black North". TROUBLES ARRIVE O u r journey from Belfast to Galway w a s a c c o m plished o n foot a n d in full marching order. We p r o c e e d e d by d e v i o u s r o u t e s a n d avoided main r o a d s a s m u c h a s possible. T h e w e a t h e r w a s glorious a n d a s o u r m a r c h w a s quite unventful w e h a d a unique opportunity t o enjoy t h e glorious scenery. Eikers was u n k n o w n a t that time s o p e r h a p s I m a y claim t o b e o n e of t h e pioneers of the hiking m o v e m e n t . Naturally we heard plenty of s c a r e stories at every police b a r r a c k s we p a s s e d ; but we w o n d e r e d w h e r e all t h e s e rebels we were told a b o u t could b e , for o n o u r journey through the beautiful countryside from Enniskilten to THE Swanlinbar, Boyle, Carricko n - S h a n n o n , a n d through C o . Mayo t o Claremorris a n d eventually reaching Galway, w e e n c o u n t e r e d nothing but kindness a n d hospitality. W e h a d only b e e n in Galway a few d a y s w h e n the wheel of fate began t o turn, for o n August 21st a n R.I.C. C o n s t a b l e w a s shot d e a d a short distance from t h e town. Reprisals quickly followed a n d t h e little village of O r a n m o r e w h e r e the C o n s t a b l e h a d b e e n stationed, paid t h e penalty w h e n the R.I.C. r a n a m o k . A few d a y s later, a considerable quantity of hay for military u s e w a s d e s t r o y e d by fire a t Galway Railway Station; t h e "Trouble" had come to Galway. I was quartered at Renmore Barracks and had already m a d e a few civilian friends, w e were quickly b e c o m i n g popular with t h e people a n d serious trouble in t h e district w a s n o t anticipated. T h e leaders of t h e Sinn Fein m o v e m e n t were well k n o w n a n d freely pointed out t o u s , in fact ;I could have identified m o s t of t h e m without a n y difficulty. You can therefore, u n d e r s t a n d that it w a s a complete surprise w h e n o n the night of S e p t e m b e r 8th a n urgent m e s s a g e w a s received at Renmore requesting immediate military assistance. A fully a r m e d party of troops was hastily d e s p a t c h e d expecting t o find t h e police b a r r a c k s in a state of seige o r w o r s e . This party encountered no oposition o n its way a n d having m a d e c o n t a c t with t h e local District Inspector t h e t r o o p s were surprised t o learn that a shooting affray h a d t a k e n place a t t h e railway statibn a n d that an R.I.C. C o n s t a b l e n a m e d K r u m m a n d a' local b o y Mulvoy, h a d b e e n killed. T h e t r o o p s e x p r e s s e d in very forcible language their disgust at beihg dragged out of b e d o n s u c h a n errand. CURFEW IMPOSED Unfortunately, this w a s not t o b e t h e e n d of t h e affair. K r u m m ' s c o m r a d e s w e r e o n t h e warpath a n d never were Redskins s o well primed a n d blood thirsty. They became uncontrollable a n d that morning t h e s t r e e t s of t h e ancient Citie of t h e Tribes r e s o u n d e d t o t h e rattle of rifle fire a n d t h e explosions of g r e n a d e s . It w a s a night of terror. Many h o u s e s were raided and the o c c u p a n t s roughly bundled out on t o t h e s t r e e t s while petrol w a s freely sprinkled and attempts made to burn their p r o p e r t y . T h e publishing office a n d t h e entire printing plant of the "Galway E x p r e s s " w a s bombed and totally destroyed. S e a m u s Q u i r k e , a young m a n , native of C o r k a n d prominent in t h e Volunteer m o v e m e n t w a s t a k e n from his b e d in t h e early h o u r s of the morning a n d riddled with bullets. At least t h r e e o t h e r young men had remarkable e s c a p e s from a similar fate and it w a s only t h e p r e s e n c e of t h e handful of disciplined t r o o p s I have already m e n t i o n e d , that s a v e d Galway from what might h a v e b e e n a terrible holocaust. O n t h e following day, Curfew was imposed. Curfew from 9 p . m . t o 4 a.m. N o o n e w a s allowed out b e t w e e n t h o s e h o u r s without a permit a n d we had orders to arrest anyone disobeying the O r d e r a n d t o s h o o t t o kill a n y o n e refusing t o halt o r resisting a r r e s t . A b o u t 150 Black a n d T a n s were drafted into t h e t o w n at this time a n d w e m e t for t h e first time m e m b e r s of t h e Auxiliary R.I.C. F r o m t h e first d a y their m e t h o d s did n o t sit well o n o u r military c h e s t s . W e h a d h e a r d of their exploits elsewhere a n d w e c a m e into conflict with t h e m o n several o c c a s i o n s . May I a d d , w e did n o t c o m e off s e c o n d best. An inquest w a s held o n t h e bodies of K r u m m , Mulvoy a n d Quirke b u t only o n e o r t w o witnesses could b e found t o give evidence. T h e inquest w a s merely a farce a n d a public inquiry w a s d e m a n d e d . INQUIRY F O R B I D D E N Arrangements were m a d e for this inquiry t o b e held in t h e T o w n Hall, t h e Rt. Rev. M o n s i g n o r Considine, P.P., w a s t o preside. T h e d a y arrived, b u t before t h e inquiry could o p e n t h e police arrived with an o r d e r from the Competent Military Authority banning the meeting. Monsignor Considine protested strongly against this effort to s u p p r e s s t h e inquiry b u t h e . w a s informed that t h e people p r e s e n t would b e d i s p e r s e d b y f o r c e if necessary. T h e c r o w d having m a d e their protest dispersed quietly. It w a s s t a t e d publicly a n d actually published in t h e local n e w s p a p e r the "Connacht Tribune" at the time, that a certain military officer w h o witnessed t h e ZHIVAGO VIDEO CLUB Eglinton Street
PHONE 63306
KEEP S L O G A N S OFF WALLS
T h e C h a i r m a n of IrelandW e s t T o u r i s m h a s called for an i m p r o v e m e n t in t h e litter situation in M a y o / Galway. Cllr. Michael C a v a n a g h appealed to the traders and o r g a n i s a t i e n s in t h e various t o w n s a n d villages t o s p o n s o r t h e e r e c t i o n of suitable bins t o c o m b a t t h e p r o b l e m of litter in t h e West. S p e a k i n g a t t h e launch ing of t h e 1982 Ireland-. West Cleaner Community C a m p a i g n , Mr. C a v a n a g h s t a t e d that b e c a u s e of t h e infinite variety of dispos able wrappers, and p a c k a g e s it is fundamental that a d e q u a t e litter bins b e provided o n a wider scale than heretofore. He continued "In tourism t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a n d its p r o t e c t i o n is of paramount importance and we a r e f o r t u n a t e t h a t w e h a v e a s yet a region t h a t is unspoilt a n d h a s e n o r m o u s a t t r a c t i o n s t o visitors in its s c e n e r y , traffic free r o a d s a n d its w a r m p e o p l e . " H e a d d e d that h e felt that a c e r t a i n a m o u n t of responsibility r e s t s o n t h e s h o u l d e r s of e a c h a n d e v e r y o n e of u s f o r permitting t h e slogans that are constantly appearing o n o u r walls, telling visitors that they a r e n o t w e l c o m e to our s h o r e s . Mr. C a v a n a g h further urged that w e should resolve a t t h e beginning of t h e n e w tourist s e a s o n t o t a k e t h e necessary steps to remove a n d t o e n s u r e that t h e s e objectionable slogans d o not reappear. T r a c i n g t h e history of t h e Cleaner Community C a m p a i g n which is n o w in its third year, Mr. C a v a n a g h outlined that o n e of t h e m o s t favourable a s p e c t s of t h e c a m p a i g n is t h a t it h a s b e e n financed wholly a n d totally b y t h e public a n d private b o d i e s a n d o r g a n i s a t i o n s in Galway and Mayo. H e w e n t o n t o s a y that it is m o s t i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e y o u t h a r e involved in t h e c a m p a i g n . H e s t r e s s e d that m o r e t h a n ever before t h e youth represent a greater p e r c e n t a g e of t h e total population particularly in t h e W e s t of Ireland. It is essential therefore t h a t t h e a s p e c t s of t h e c a m p a i g n a i m e d a t t h e y o u n g people should be particularly highlighted h e believed. D e p u t i s i n g for t h e Mayor, Cllr. Henry O ' C o n n o r illustrated t h e necessity t o t a k e positive s t e p s t o foster a s e n s e of pride in o u r c o m m u n i t y . H e lauded t h e tireless efforts of Environmental Officer, Mrs. N o r a H y n e s , B o r o u g h Engineer,. Mr. Gerry Leyden and Galway Corporation w h o have s u c c e e d e d in instilling a p r i d e of p l a c e in o u r citizens. A n d Cllr. O'Connor praised t h e w o r k of t h e Local Authorities w h o h a v e maintained the green areas ih t h e city. H e a d v o c a t e d t h a t t h e m e s s a g e of cleanliness should b e sold to the schools, and residents associations w h o e x e r t a large influence in the community.
Seeing is Believing
KEENEST RATES
CLAREGALWAY THEATRE
Claregalway Theatre Festival opens on Sunday March 21st with John B. Keane's famous play "Many Young Men of Twenty" performed by the Demesue Players, Mountbellew. The festival which runs for eight nights also includes "The Winslow Boy" by Terence Rattigan, "The Last of the Red Hot Lovers" by Neil Simon, "Hovers" by Brian Friel and " D a " by Hugh Leonard. This is Claregalway's first Theatre Festival and certainly no effort has been spared on the part of the organisers under th keen supervision of Festival Director, the well known Mr. Tom Lenihan. shooting affray at the railway station w a s willing t o give e v i d e n c e which would prove conclusively that t h e R.I.C. m a n w a s t h e aggressor. This evidence w a s of c o u r s e firmly suppressed. T h e funeral of Quirke a n d Mulvoy duly t o o k place. T h e late Most Rev. Dr. O'Dea, Bishop of Galway, presided at t h e Requiem M a s s a n d t h e c o r t e g e w a s o n e of t h e largest a n d m o s t impres sive I h a v e e v e r s e e n . T h e local b a n d h e a d e d t h e p r o c e s s i o n , followed by t h e striking a n d venerable figue of t h e Bishop in his purple r o b e s in t h e c e n t r e of surpliced priests. Then c a m e t h e Tricolour coffins w i t h t h e i r e s c o r t s of volunteer c o m r a d e s a n d t h e main s t r e e t s of t h e town were crowded with h u n d r e d s of citizens of every class a n d c r e e d w h o followed. All t h e b u s i n e s s h o u s e s in t h e t o w n closed their d o o r s while t h e M a s s and funeral w e r e in progress. T h e coffin containing t h e remains of t h e y o u n g Corkonian bore the inscription, "Seamus Quirke, Adjutant " A " C o m p a n y , 1st Battalion 1st Galway Brigade, I.R.A." I really t h o u g h t that a n a t t e m p t might b e m a d e t o r e m o v e t h e inscription, b u t t h e funeral p a s s e d without incident, a n d I w a t c h e d t h e remains of S e a m u s Q u i r k e being transferred to a m o t o r c a r which c o n v e y e d him t o his last resting place in his native city of C o r k . I h a v e in m y p o s s e s s i o n p h o t o g r a p h s of t h e s e funerals showing t h e I.R.A. e s c o r t s , o n e in fact s h o w s the volley being fired o v e r the grave of S e a n Mulvoy. These photographs for obvious reasons were never published a n d a s y o u may g u e s s they would have b e e n w o r t h a lot t o t h e authorities a t t h e time. NEXT WEEK : THE RAIDS C O N T I N U E
THINGS TO DO
Monday March 23
Model P a g o p d m n t a i n lyru eosrto U.C.G. 8 p.m. A l a e w l o e l r ecm. "An Oige" m e i g 8 3 p m r e t n .0 . . e birthday celebrations i n Thursday March 18 ihr n, y . Camera C i m e 7 p.m. L c u e R c a d o s E r Iqe n t o a hn et e t r U.C.G.s Amnestye St r a i n l " a e & S o a e of P i t , S i e & u l c m e i g on E na v d r 8 1 Cr trg rns lds lSl o, n g t v s 8 p.m. S i e a d P i tp b. D er y Thompson ah a r . 5 eaie" l d n r n p mi ' t n . c c m e i i n Room 2 1 New U.C.G. Al a e w l o e t e t e optto, 2, Al r e c m . S i n e B i d n U.C.G: cec ulig " o i g fr u H r a e r r ei " B l r o D n i g l s o s Anno TW sk ne t o ,oLormort g a An 9 a l o m a c n esn, a c r Tete h r S n o H t l e c T u s 8--10 p i.e l c u e at oe, ah h r . . p m F a n r s H t l e c F i " o i a Galway F l S c e y . . l n e y o e a h r . Lm " l im i 8--10 p.m. S n a s B r e Mount p e eta i n O F a e t To a t u d y urn rsn to ' l h r y h t e t e r H t l 10--1 a m oe .. U.C.G. 8 1 p.m. s a p .5 hr. "Famine P s & P e e t a at rsn" n ue Pa r y 93 -- 0 .0 ehbto o p o o r p s f o x i i i n f h t g a h r m Q i t ar ee aMon.--Fri. Door. 1 h r , arsy T o a r T i d World S c e y p.m. C t d l S c i t rcie hr oit U.C.G. 17--22 March U.C.G. A t Tuesday March 23 r Gley alr. " i tt t n e 8 p m i t e D e oe a t " .. n h C s l g r I C A m n h y m e i g T r a i b h n t e German d p . atea ... o t l e t n erpn e i d h et B i r i l N.S. 8 3 p.m. Keep F t R v r i e House, D s i l r Rd. rahl .0 i iesd itley c a s s i c u e . A l members E c p r o m n e wl be p e e e lse n l d d l a h e f r a c il rcdd i v t d new members w l o e nie ecm. b a cascl g i a c n e t b y lsia u t r o c r y G r r Donovan, 2 / 4 h March. ead 32t Friday March 19 rn e e a i t n ul E h b t o o P i t n s b P t i i T c uc n8n pl .eAtaia H bec x i i i n f a n i g y a r c al a se d t . M dtano p t i, etr m l t o l B r e O e i g b G r l Dawe 7 n i e uk. pnn y ead l p m S o e A t G l e y 6 H g ee uoi . T l 091/21204. A l . . t n r alr, i h w qcr es e . S r e . Open d i y 10--6 p.m. u t l l m tet al ni C m a g f r N c e r Disarmema p i n o ula S t 27 March. a. et m e i g C r a s H t l E r n etn. urn oe, ye Saturday March 20 Sq. 8 p.m. A l w l o e l ecm. lege" etr y " a i n S r u D b i B r q e " o l n & A l r i s a lcue b M r a a i b " u l n a o u Ple arc .0 . . p a e s p e e t t o , St. M r ' t e Dr. M u i e McDonald, 8 3 p m lyr rsnain ays h Adlu Htl rian oe. C a d g , 83 p m l d a h .0 . . L b r t o D n e Workshop b ieain a c y Camera C u a n a e h b t o l b n u l xiiin K t c t (USA & D b i ) A l 7 4 p.m. I p r a H t l aih u l n , u a .5 meil o e . Maxima 1 . 0 -- 5 p.m. A l v r " r d n P p & The Age of S t r " 03 l ey D y e o e aie w l o e Wear c m o t b e l o e t a h r c n r Tuam, 8 p m ecm. o f r a l os eces ete .. ftig c o h n . E q i i s cl E i itn l t i g n u r e al o n Mike R b i t . T l 7 1 e t 2 2 Wednesday March 24 a b t e e . 6 1 x. 4 Iih W e l h i A s c a i n rs hecar soito on F i r. wrns B b e S u y 14 Lr. C n l Rd. 7 p.m."Community A a e e s Week" il t d aa Rsuc Cnr, Wtrie 8 pm eore ete aesd .. ec St ah a. alluhn Galway Women's group m e e t B l y o g a e Swimming Club A.G.M. F a n r s H t l 8 3 p.m. l n e y o e , .0 R c a d o s E r Sq. A l women ihrsn ye l E e y n welcome. vroe wloe ecm. P t i i n M e i g S c e Coeur arca etn ar Sunday March 21 H t l 8 p.m. t p c " i i e s of two oe oi C t z n S o t C u c srie S . N c o a w r d " Al a e w l o e h r h r h evc t i h l s o l s l r e c m . C u c , 4 p m World p e i e t C e s C u e c Wed. S a o t hrh .. rsdn hs lb ah epr woman's u i n wl a t n . n o il t e d House. New Docks. Woman's U i n m e i g 6 p m no etn, . . T i d World S c e y A.G.M. hr oit Adlu Htl rian oe. U.C.G. S r b S l Furbo C u c , 9 3 S l C u f r s n l s R c l n h u ae hrh . 0 o o l b o ige, o k a d a.m. -- 6 p.m. i a d o l c l s h o H t l e c Wed. 1 p m n i f oa c o l o e , a h 0 .. L g o o Mary A i s c r m n , ein f ce eeoy Please note all ilcms for inclusion in this column Mervue C u c , 3 3 p m h r h .0 . . of a are "Our Town" presented by must beat the non commercial nature, and inserted discretion of the editor Corrandulla Drama Group, should be in our office by 6 p.m. Mondays prior C r a d l a H l , 3 3 p.m. to publication day. ornul a l .0 Eeyn wloe vroe ecm.