The Galway national shell factory

Thu, Nov 07, 2013

During the First World War, towns and cities throughout Britain and Ireland had factories producing munitions for the battlefield. Galway was not one of these locations and indeed many Galwegians were travelling to the UK to work in these factories. There was a lot of criticism over this and so the members of the Urban Council and some local industrialists began a lobbying campaign to attract such an industry to the city. It would create employment and would be beneficial to the community.

The Duke avoids a shootout at Ó’Máille’s

Thu, Nov 07, 2013

Tom Grealy, the well known Galway accountant and music aficionado, remembers as a schoolboy the day John Wayne rode into the town. In 1951 Wayne, probably the best known cowboy actor of his day, was in Cong filming The Quiet Man. The film, somewhat surprisingly, remains a world -wide favourite. More than half a century later, it is still regarded by many film makers as the ‘perfect told story’. The involvement of local people among its star studded cast, which included Maureen O’Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Victor McLaglen, and Arthur Shields, all at the peak of their careers at the time, won their lasting affection. The occasion is still celebrated in Cong today.

Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine treatments for fertility and pregnancy

Thu, Oct 31, 2013

Vera Deale is a practitioner at Alma Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Kilcolgan. Ms Deale has found that acupuncture is an effective means of treating many underlying gynaecological conditions in preparation for pregnancy. It helps in relieving stress and tension in addition to creating hormonal balance.

Lose up to two stone in ten weeks

Thu, Oct 31, 2013

If you want dramatic results and a realistic and achievable weight loss plan, if you want to get at the stubborn fat on your stomach or hips and thighs and keep the weight off more easily, your metabolism is answer.

Persse’s Bonded Warehouse, Earl’s Island

Thu, Oct 31, 2013

Two weeks ago in this column, we showed some photographs of the Jute Spinning factory in Earl’s Island, and what I thought were large stacks of turf beside the building. An eagle eyed reader has pointed out that these were not sods of turf, they were ‘jute butts’, stems of the jute plant from which the fibres were extracted. They were stacked out in the fresh air because they are easier to work when wet. The fibres that made up the rough jute products were extracted from the top half of the plant.

Strange visions and beliefs in the west of Ireland

Thu, Oct 31, 2013

Until recent times there was widespread belief in fairies; both the malignant and the more innocent kind. Many people believed that the fairies would steal away certain children, or an adult, and replace them with a changeling. These beliefs were mostly found in rural communities; and were often an attempt to explain, or to invite compassion or ‘kindness’ for a handicapped child, or someone who was temporarily ‘not themselves.’ The phrases used to describe this transformation are various; but locally included the words ‘touched’, or ‘swept’, or ‘taken’.

Building a better relationship with your teenager

Thu, Oct 24, 2013

Slammed doors. Endless arguments. Cries of “You don’t understand me.” “I hate you.”

HSE warns one thousand people could die from flu related illnesses

Thu, Oct 24, 2013

People aged over 65, pregnant women and residents of nursing homes are some of the at risk group whom the HSE West is urging to get vaccinated against flu this season.

Others in this category include children over six months of age with a long term illness requiring regular medical follow-up such as chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease, diabetes, or those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment, and residents of long stay facilities.

Homecare Physio — physiotherapy that comes to you

Thu, Oct 24, 2013

An innovative company that brings physiotherapy to you has been launched in Galway. Established by local healthcare professional John Butler, Homecare Physio aims to provide a physiotherapy service in the home, nursing home, or workplace. The service is there for people who are unable to attend their local clinic for essential physiotherapy due to poor mobility, lack of access to transport, or time restrictions.

Look ten years younger with new anti-ageing treatment at Therapie Clinic

Thu, Oct 24, 2013

Pioneering skin clinic Therapie Clinic has introduced a revolutionary new anti-ageing treatment called iPixel, which can turn back the hands of time and help clients look an incredible 10 years younger.

The Galway Jute Spinning Company

Thu, Oct 24, 2013

There seems to have been a few different names on this business but it was known locally as the bag factory. The chairman, Lieutenant Colonel James O’Hara, reported to the Select Committee on Industries Ireland (1884-85) on the company.

‘It was the landlord’s right to do as he pleased.’

Thu, Oct 24, 2013

The succession by the infamous Marcella Netterville to a large estate near Mount Bellew, Co Galway, in the 1820s owed as much to chance as it was to her unlikely mother-in-law, with the wonderful name, Kitty Cut-a-Dash. The Nettervilles were an ancient Norman family, who came to Galway from County Meath after purchasing land from the Bellew family. A judicious marriage with the Trenchs of Garbally, Ballinasloe, increased their holdings. It appears that for a time both the Nettervilles and their tenants lived at peace and in some prosperity, at least until Frederick Netterville began to spread his wild oats somewhat wide of the field.

Back to basics

Thu, Oct 17, 2013

It is the biggest single cause of sickness, disability and loss to industry with almost half the population suffering in any given year.

Yoga for everyone in Drom

Thu, Oct 17, 2013

James O’Donnell of Bikefit.ie has teamed up with Deirdre O’Toole of Yoga Ripples to offer yoga at the gym in Drom, home of Salthill Devon Football Club in Galway.

Do you want to improve you physical performance and mental focus in your chosen sport? Have you poor flexibility, weak core, tight hamstrings and shoulders, or lower back problems? Are you waiting for your child in Drom car park, or simply looking for time out for you? If so this may be the yoga class for you.

Lose up to two stone in ten weeks

Thu, Oct 17, 2013

There are three keys to a genuine weight loss (real fat loss) plan — diet, exercise, and metabolism correction. All three keys interconnect — one will not work without the other.

Digestive health clinic comes to Galway

Thu, Oct 17, 2013

One in three Irish people experience digestive problems regularly, including heartburn, indigestion, bloating, wind, belching, low energy, and poor concentration.

Survey reveals extent of water wastage in Galway homes

Thu, Oct 17, 2013

The majority of Galway people underestimate how much water they use at home, according to the results of a survey published by Irish Water this week.

Safeguard your children online for €20

Thu, Oct 17, 2013

The Learning Institute, Galway, has announced that it has been successful in securing funding from the ICS (Irish Computer Society). As a result of this, The Learning Institute is now offering a range of computer courses for beginners for just €20.

The heartless evictions from the Gerrard estate, 1846

Thu, Oct 17, 2013

Friday March 13 1846 turned out to be a very unlucky day for the 447 tenants on the Gerrard estate in the townland of Ballinlass, near Mount Bellew Co Galway. Shortly after dawn the sheriff, accompanied by a large force of the 49th Regiment under the command of Captain Browne, and an equally large detachment of police, arrived at ‘the place marked out for destruction.’ Despite the vehement protestations of the people, and their insistence that they had their rent money ready for payment, and that their repeated efforts to pay their rent was refused, the soldiers and police began systematically to demolish their homes, 67 in number. *

The Galway jute factory

Thu, Oct 17, 2013

The Galway Vindicator and Connaught Advertiser of December 24 1851 carried an advertisement which read “TO BE LET, for such terms as may be agreed upon, and immediate possession given. EARL’S ISLAND MILL AND BLEACH GREEN. These well-known concerns occupied for so many years by the late Mr Mitchell, Linen Manufacturer, Miller, Bleacher, have always been esteemed to point of situation; preferable to every other site in Galway, but the improvement made by the Board of Works under the inspection of their skilful engineer SU Roberts ... have rendered it superior to any in the Kingdom. The land will be secured against being flooded for any part of the year. The Mill Race has been changed ... the Mill Power amended and is now equal to 40 horse power. The canal between Lough Corrib and the sea leaves the lake at the very point on which the Mill stands. The layby for boats is within 20 yards of it, and the spacious quay with landing crane and every accommodation for shipping goods will adjoin.”

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