Pages Past: land grabbing, hockey, arson and foreign games
1890
‘Grabbed farm’ surrendered at Marlinstown
The Westmeath Examiner reported in October 1890 that lands in Mullingar from which two women were evicted had been returned to them by what the paper described as a “land grabber”.
The two women, the Misses Deverell, were thrown out of their farm at Marlinstown, which was subsequently taken over by a man named Fagan from Rathconnell.
“Although not completely boycotted as a land-grabber should be, for he was attended and served by men who have been foisted into prominent positions in Nationalist circles in Mullingar, still he was made feel that public opinion was against him, and things were not quite as agreeable as he would wish,” the Examiner report read.
“We dare say he has since seen the error of his ways and discovered that a grabbed farm was like a white elephant on his hands.
“He entered into negotiations with the evicted ladies and both sides acted through Mr Wm Barry, the Hon. Sec. of the Westmeath Independent Club.
The details were of a delicate nature and required careful handling, but Mr Barry carried them through in a manner creditable to himself and to the National cause. So that now the farm is about to be given over to its original and legitimate owners.”
(Westmeath Examiner, October 25, 1890)
1900
New Westmeath hockey club formed
A meeting at the Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar in October 1900, presided over by Dr Gibbons, saw a new hockey club formed for the county of Westmeath.
Lord Greville was elected president of the new club, with Messrs Wilson and Hollingsworth elected as secretaries, and a Mr Top as treasurer.
The large crowd in attendance also elected four vice-presidents, a captain, vice-captain and a committee.
“Grounds for practice and play were secured adjacent to the town, and the membership subscription was fixed at 7s 6d for the season,” the Westmeath Examiner report on the meeting stated, adding that practice was fixed for Tuesday and Friday evenings.
“The game seems to be enthusiastically taken up, and there is sufficient material to hand to make a first-class team.”
(Westmeath Examiner, October 27, 1900)
1920
Policeman’s house burned at Kinnegad
In October 1920, as War of Independence-era violence reached new heights, the home of a Royal Irish Constabulary policeman was burned at Kinnegad.
The RIC man, named Bergin, was told in advance to clear out of the house with his family, and they were unharmed, but the building was burned to the ground.
As a result, the following Monday, the military rolled into Kinnegad armed with machine guns while Rosary devotions were in progress. The soldiers fired two or three volleys on the street, which was empty at the time, with people in the church at the time.
Among those saying Rosary was the policeman’s wife, who went out to the street alongside the parish priest, Fr Bracken. Both of them spoke with the soldiers and asked them to leave Kinnegad “without further demonstration”.
“Those present say the military were much impressed by the words of both Fr Bracken and Mrs Bergin, and there was no more firing, the soldiers soon withdrawing from Kinnegad,” the Westmeath Examiner report stated.
(Westmeath Examiner, October 23, 1920)
1930
Sligo native convicted of offence in Ballynacargy
At Athboy District Court in October 1930, a native of Co. Sligo appeared before District Justice Beatty charged with breaking open the box attached to a shrine at the Catholic church in Ballynacargy, stealing five shillings.
The parish priest of Ballynacargy, Fr Maurice O’Connell, gave evidence to the effect that he entered the church on October 10 and found coppers on the ground near the broken shrine.
When the accused was apprehended, he admitted to breaking the shrine and stealing the money, telling the guards he was “down and out” as a result of drink.
The Sligo man was overtaken on the road to Mullingar by a Guard Tobin, and was found with a chisel which he used to prise open the shrine.
The court heard that the defendant had been sentenced to seven years’ penal servitude at Finner Camp during the civil war, after he was found guilty of burglary and assault.
On this occasion, the District Justice sentenced him to six months in prison with hard labour.
(Westmeath Examiner, October 25, 1930)
1950
Debate over hospital staff and playing of ‘certain games’
“At a meeting of Mullingar Mental Hospital Board on Thursday,” read an October 1950 edition of the Westmeath Examiner, “Mr. James Fagan asked if there was any objection to any of the staff coming into the institution playing certain games.
“Mr. L’Estrange replied – It is a free country. Mr. Fagan said: ‘I would like the press to take note of this.’
“Mr. McAuley replied: ‘And I would like them not to.’
“Mr. L’Estrange said that Mr. de Valera and Mr. Oscar Traynor had played Rugby.
“The R.M.S. [Resident Medical Superintendent] said it was nothing to him what games were played.
“Mr. L’Estrange – They are better playing games than in a pub.
“Mr. McAuley stated ‘There is as good a Gaelic Football team here as there is in the country.
“R.M.S. – And next year we will have as a good a one.”
(Westmeath Examiner, October 21, 1950)