Pages past: the mission in Mullingar
Westmeath Examiner, May 12, 1894
The mission in Mullingar
The mission, which for the previous fortnight had been running in Mullingar, was conducted with “unabated vigour” during the week, Westmeath Examiner readers were informed.
Giving the mission were the Redemptorist Fathers, who had always been “held in the highest esteem” in Mullingar.
The newspaper stated that by their tireless exertions, Fathers Paliola, Hayes, Jackman and Creagh had added to the reputation which the Redemptorist Order enjoyed.
“The good Fathers have been exerting themselves to the very utmost. The confessionals are thronged each day from six o’clock in the morning up to four o’clock in the evening. The early Mass followed by instruction and the two succeeding Masses are largely attended.
"The evening devotions are attended by such vast numbers of people that the church is frequently crowded to inconvenience. The sermons in the evening have been most eloquent and evidently made a deep impression upon the congregations.”
Westmeath Examiner, May 14 1904
Ratepayers’ Dissatisfaction
A letter signed “C Hope” sent to the editor of the Westmeath Examiner stated that moves were afoot to form a ratepayers association in Delvin.
The letter stated: “In conversation with a number of ratepayers who live in the neighbourhood of Delvin and Castlepollard, they agree that the time has quite arrived when the extravagant, injudicious and sometimes illegal expenditure of their money should be better supervised by them.”
The writer went on to say that the general consensus of opinion was that in their own interest a ratepayers association should be formed through which they could meet and discuss the actions of those responsible for the expenditure of their money and criticise their proceedings.
“While I am sure those who pay local rates have no objection to reasonable spending of their money, there is such a thing as overloading them and I am quite sure when they hear the rateable value of Delvin Union and their indebtedness they will be quite surprised,” the writer stated before setting out the time and the date of the preliminary meeting, which was to be held at Delvin Courthouse.
Westmeath Examiner, May 9 1914
Changed hands
“A business transfer” was the heading over an advert and revealing that the well-known and successful business, the Dew Drop Inn of Earl Street in Mullingar, had changed hands.
The new proprietor, Mr William Greany, was a gentleman who was well-known and respected in Mullingar.
The report stated that for several years Mr Greany had been doing business in Dublin, but was now starting forth on his own account and it was his intention to continue to merit the esteem and support of his numerous friends in Mullingar.
The account in the paper stated that the shop had been stocked in first-class style, regardless of expense, with an entirely new supply of high-grade wines, spirits and brandies, and all the other articles that were required in a business of this kind.
Stated the article: “As the business will be carried on under the strict personal supervision of Mr Greany, the public can depend upon having their requirements attended to with civility, promptness and thorough satisfaction.”
It went on to conclude by stating that Messrs Thomas Dixon and Co, the well-known firm of commercial agents, based at 34 Westmoreland Street in Dublin, acted for Mr Greany in the transfer arrangements.
Westmeath Independent, May 10 1924
Manchester Advice
An item that had originally appeared in the Manchester Evening News was carried in the Westmeath Independent of May 10, 1924 under the heading “Mary Anne”.
“Why should a man be regarded as a ‘Mary Anne’ for doing work in his own home any more than the soldier when doing duties of domestic character in the trenches?” the piece asked.
It continued: “If more of our men would try their hands at doing housework, we should very soon have improvements in house building.
“The men would see how handicapped the home-runner is and urge our scientists to devise more labour-saving appliances and urge the builder to equip the rooms so that work could be reduced to a minimum. They would also grasp the fact that the housewife does earn more than her keep and would willingly offer her remuneration for her work.”
Westmeath Examiner, May 12 1934
Warning against Fascism
“Big Labour Rally” was the heading of an item which described how the previous Sunday, “in keeping with the rest of the towns in the Free State”, the workers of Mullingar and district paid their tribute to the memory of James Connolly, the hero of 1916.
That morning, and indeed up to one o’clock, was so wet that hundreds had to give up any idea of travelling to Mullingar. Nonetheless, the crowd was of good dimensions and all the Mullingar and district labour units were represented.
The report stated that the workers lined up to parade the town, headed by the Trades Council delegates and the Multyfarnham Band, followed by the Transport Workers’ Union and the various trade organisations, each body having their flag with suitable scroll on the same.
Then came the Ballinagore Boys Band, behind whom marched the units of the Irish Labour Party in North and South Westmeath, whose banner had as its scroll, “Westmeath Labour Units Commemorate Connolly”.
Mullingar Fianna Fáil Cumann and the Old IRA also took part in the parade.
At a public meeting held the same day, Thomas Thompson, president of Mullingar Trades Council, said Connolly, Ireland’s greatest leader, had given his life for the working classes.
Continuing, the chairman said fascism had proved itself a failure in the world – in Germany, Italy and other countries where it had been adopted.
Mr Thompson said the Labour Party members were called communists and Bolsheviks because they advocated the right of the working man to a living in decent conditions and frugal comfort.
Mr EP Hart, national organiser of the Amalgamated Transport Union, referred to James Connolly’s association with the Labour movement in America, Mexico, England and Scotland and said in all cases he was looked up to as a great leader.
He next dealt with the continental system of fascism, which he said had proven a failure in every European country where it had been introduced.
In Italy, Mussolini got into power by promises and the first thing he did was to suppress Labour organisations, seize their money and property, with the result that after seven years of fascism, conditions were the worst that could be found.
In Germany, the first thing Hitler did was to close down the trade unions and send the leaders to internment camps.
Westmeath Examiner, May 13, 1944
Application for reduction in rent
The tenants of McKeown Terrace in Patrick Street wrote to the Mullingar Town Commissioners stating that they were not satisfied with the reply received in connection with their application for a reduction in their rent.
The tenants asked that the matter be again brought before the county manager.
In their application, the tenants pointed out that the loan for construction of the houses had been cleared and that at the time of the erection of the houses, the then chairman of the commissioners had promised that when the loan was paid off, the rent would be reduced.
They asked for a copy of the agreement between the tenants and the commissioners. If the rent was not reduced, they asked to be given an opportunity of buying out their houses.
The meeting chairman, Mr H F Gilbert, said that it had been decided at the last meeting to look up the minutes to see if this promise did in fact exist.
Mrs R Carroll, the town clerk, said she had looked up the minutes but could find no reference to a promise of that kind.
Asked if a reduction could be made, Mr J MacLysaght, the county manager, said that before such a step could be taken, a considerable amount of data would have to be looked up to see how long the tenants had been in occupation, etc.
Westmeath Examiner, May 8, 1954
New sales yard in Mullingar
Construction had just started in the previous week on the new sales yard, which was about to be established in Mullingar, the newspaper reported.
The undertaking was, the paper continued, a private one, the promoters being four local gentlemen, namely Messrs P Dunne-Cullinan of Knockdrin Castle, Charlie Fagan of Gartlandstown, J Gibson Brabazon of Mount Dalto, and Arthur O’Neill of Rathganny. The site was described as being between Patrick Street and the Royal Canal, [where Market Point is now located].
“When complete and the sales are in actual operation, Mullingar will become an important cattle centre, with consequential and much-needed addition to the number of people employed in the town”, stated the report.
Westmeath Independent, May 9, 1964
'Novel excuse for emigration'
“Novel excuse for emigration” was the heading over an item by the Westmeath Independent columnist who wrote under the nom de plume “A Midlander”.
The column opened by stating that the writer believed one of the greatest mistakes ever made in this country was the freeing of TDs’ salaries of income tax.
“One seldom hears a TD protesting in the Dáil – or outside it – against the high rate of income tax on the working man, the only man who actually pays the tax according to the rules. Others have loopholes for getting away with it,” he wrote stating that at a recent meeting in Birr, an employer mentioned that he had lost to emigration two of his best workers.
They said they were leaving because of the large amount of income tax they had to pay, both being single men.
“‘But,’ the employer said, ‘won’t you have to pay income tax in England?’ They replied that they knew they would but that they would get better allowances and even if they had to pay more, they would willingly do so because they knew that everyone liable for tax there had to pay it, not like here where the bulk of it falls on one section of the community.”
He continued: “Farmers form the greatest section of the population.
“It would be interesting to know what amount they pay in income tax but that will never be known because it is scarcely possible that a TD could be induced to ask such a question in the Dáil. Make TDs liable for income tax and then they might do something about it.”
Westmeath Examiner, May 11, 1974
State of canal in Mullingar
The state of the canal in Mullingar was strongly criticised at the annual general meeting of the midland branch of Inland Waterways Association at The Greville Arms Hotel.
The chairman of the Mullingar branch of the association, Hubert Magee, who of course is long known for his long association with the Mullingar Town Band, in his opening address to the meeting, was very exercised in his criticism of the state of the canal: “I have never criticised the Westmeath County Council before, in fact I have always been one of its staunchest supporters, but in regard to the Tidy Towns competition or the Royal Canal, this is not so,” he said, going on to say he believed it was the least competent county council from Dublin down with the possible exception of Longford.
“It seems our county council is governed by prudence, they are careful not to do anything in case it is wrong,” he said.
“The result of this is that much of the canal is now closed, overgrown and, in places, like a cesspool,” he said. Mr Magee went on to say that there was much apathy in the county council and that the canal should be beautified for the people of Mullingar and he predicted that this would lead to a spin-off on the tourism front.