Search Results for 'small farmer'

Following a recent selection convention held in the Temperance Hall, Loughrea, attended by Chris MacManus MEP and Mairéad Farrell TD, Sinn Féin have confirmed two more candidates to contest next June’s Local Elections. Ailish O’Reilly from Woodford will stand in the Loughrea LEA while Louis O’Hara from Athenry will run in the Athenry-Oranmore LEA.

Fifteen years before the Galway-Clifden railway started, the first light-rail track laid in Galway was the tram service to Salthill. For more than 39 years a series of horse-drawn trams ran from the depot in Forster Street, along the east and south sides of Eyre Square, heading west through Shop Street and Dominick Street, over the bridge, and along the Salthill road. Then it was in the countryside with open fields and thatched cottages. The line came to an end at the Eglinton Hotel (now a hostel), where the horse was switched to the other end of the tram for the return journey. The Eglinton became Europe’s most westerly tram terminus.

News in brief from around the county

“Boats from the Long Walk as well as the Boraholla boats were plying, and the shouting of the boatmen 'Who’s for Menlo, twopence a head, children free' rent the air …. It is a slow voyage but no-one minds. Joe Banks, piper to the King plays ‘The Rakes of Mallow'. Joe Kelly is piping in another boat, which is occupied by the Mayor of Galway …… Sweet vendors were working night and day preparing sugar-sticks and kiss-pipes which were sold in colours of red and white at a half-penny each ….. the cries of different vendors of eatables and drinks rent the air: ‘Cider a penny a glass …. The real juice of the American apple; Guinness threepence per pint and minerals twopence per bottle’ is the shout …… Puritans and temperance fanatics were unknown …. The ladies in the enclosure, which was at this side of the castle, with their sunshades and costumes of mid-Victorian days, looked beautiful. The villagers and colleens with their shoulder-shawls and neat pinafores were a picture of neatness and comeliness. They were all dressed — not undressed as they are today. Lady Blake hands the prizes and cups to the successful crews. The Miss Blakes are chatting in good old Irish to Maureen, Shawneen and Paudeen.”

The lot of a country girl growing up in rural Ireland in the 1930s and 40s was a lottery. If her family had a decent farm, and were relatively well off, she could go to university or train as a nurse, and could marry a prosperous farmer.

The belief of the abduction of humans into the fairy world is a common theme in our Irish folklore tradition, as it is in most fairy beliefs throughout Europe. Pre baptised children and young brides are often common targets. Parents may be shocked when they first see that their infant child has been replaced by ‘a wizened fairy’, and quickly realise that the child is a changeling. Although these events are shrouded in mystery, there was often a satisfactory explanation, allowing us to understand the occurrence in human terms.

SEAN MCGINLEY, a stalwart of Druid’s early days, makes a welcome return to the company for the first time in eleven years, when he takes the lead role in Eugene McCabe’s powerful drama, King Of The Castle.

Patrick Kavanagh never spoke about poetry or literature to his friends. The Monaghan born poet and novelist, who grew up on a small farm, was more inclined to talk about everyday news, politics, Marilyn Monroe, horse racing, and goodlooking, rich women or medical students who caught his eye. And there were quite a few of these!

Leading Westport based clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturer Portwest Limited has acquired Melbourne company Prime Mover Workwear for a sum in excess of €7.5 million. This is a significant step in Portwest’s strategic geographical expansion across the globe and similar acquisitions in other areas are anticipated. Owned by brothers Cathal, Harry and Owen Hughes, Portwest confidently expect turnover to reach €350 million by 2020, consolidating its position as the fastest growing workwear company in the world.

While the names of Liam Mellows and Joe Howley are among the best known names in Galway's contribution to the 1916 Rising, a forgotten participant in the rebellion, Martin Reney, is to honoured at an event this weekend.