Pages Past: ‘The police quarrel re a cat’

Westmeath Examiner, May 16, 1885

Police quarrel

The ongoing ill-feeling between two local policemen was described in an item under the heading ‘The police quarrel re a cat’.

The item started by reminding readers that not long previously, the Westmeath Examiner had carried a report of “a little dispute that occurred between two policemen in a station adjacent to Mullingar”.

“And,” the item continued, “when we say that the dispute arose in reference to a cat, the circumstance will be immediately brought to the recollection of our readers.”

The writer sad the latest was that the same two policemen, having been removed to another station, had had another little “tiff” with the result that a report has been made by one of them to the effect that his inferior (in the force) was disrespectful and insubordinate.

“Whatever may be the end of this little row, or in other words the result of the report, from what we have heard it is exceedingly ungrateful on the part of the superior officer to make the report,” the item concluded.

A separate item in the same edition revealed that the following week, a telegraph office was due to be opened in Multyfarnham.

Stated the writer: “This boon has been long sought for and is at last granted. It will prove a great convenience to the people of that little town as well as to many others.”

Westmeath Examiner,, May 18, 1895

Found drunk in Kinnegad

The Killucan Petty Sessions had taken place the previous Tuesday and it appeared there was a lot of drunkenness in the area.

Constable Beirne prosecuted a woman from Kinnegad for being drunk and disorderly in the neighbourhood of the village on April 29.

The defendant had apparently been found in the bog “shouting and cursing thereby causing annoyance to the neighbours”.

“She could easily be heard a half mile away,” the report stated. “She is a habitual drunkard and as a rule cannot be made amenable to the law as she generally has a cart at the door of whatever public house she goes into and her sons put her up on it when she is too far gone.”

As this was the first offence recorded against her, the woman was only fined one shilling and costs.

At a later stage of the proceedings in the court, another Kinnegad offender appeared, this time a man. He was charged with being drunk and making use of abusive language.

Sergeant Bailey said that the defendant’s tongue was “unbearable when he takes too much drink” and that when he is under the influence of drink, he abuses and makes use of the most violent language towards everyone he meets. Complaints had been frequently made about him and he was, the sergeant said, “altogether a bad case”.

The man was about 60 years of age and was a pump borer for the district.

His fine was two shillings and six pence.

Westmeath Examiner, May 20, 1905

The Market Square

‘Snapper Up’, in his weekly column in the Westmeath Examiner, said some people had recently canvassed his views on the question of the Market Square at the Bank of Ireland.

“Well,” he wrote, “without going into the direct question of the sanitary condition of the place (which in consideration of a recent case of illness attributed by the MOH, probably to exhalations from the ground and also the condition of the place after fairs and markets, especially in bad weather, does not seem to be ideal to say the least), there is a view of the matter which seems to have escaped attention in recent discussions over the place.

“It is its actual situation.

“‘Snapper Up’ thinks that no such place should be used for a market, ie the portion in the angle between Egan’s corner and the bank corner. It is the next thing to a cul-de-sac.

“There is no sweep of air through it and the wind will have the effect of gathering up dust, dirt, germs etc in towards the houses when it blows that way and when from the opposite direction, practically no effect as the houses intercept. A market or fair should be always held in an open place and if bounded at any part by private houses (which should be avoided if possible) in a position where the wind can sweep up and down and around it.”

Snapper up said that the situation of the marketplace at the Bank of Ireland seemed to him to be a very unhealthy one altogether, apart from questions of drainage, analysis of the soil etc, and said that while the aspect he has presented may seem at first sight not very striking, “yet reader if you look closely at it, you will find it is the most important and altogether logical”.

Westmeath Examiner, May 15, 1915

Internment of butcher

“Quite a sensation” had been caused the previous Wednesday in Mullingar by the arrest of a ‘Fred Stern’, Mullingar, who had, the newspaper reported, for a number of years conducted business as a pork butcher in the town.

Described by the Westmeath Examiner as being “either German or Austrian by birth”, Mr Stern said it was understood that he had, however, spent most of his life resident in the British Isles, including 15 years in Mullingar, but had not become a naturalised British subject.

Stated the report: “His arrest took place under instructions, it is understood, from the Military Authorities, and for the purpose of having him inscribed as alien. No special charge was made against him.”

The item went on to state that the arrest had been made by Sergeant Campbell and Constable Gorman, and that Mr Stern had at once been conveyed by motor, under military escort, to the internment camp at Oldcastle.

“He was well-liked in Mullingar, but the general public feeling is in favour, under present circumstances, of the national policy indicated by his interment.”

Westmeath Examiner, May 16, 1925

Mullingar – Go Slow

The famous ‘Mullingar Go Slow’ signs had just been erected, and in a comment item, it became clear that the accidental “joke” had been clear right from the start.

The story revealed that on all the approaches to Mullingar, warning posts had been erected, bearing the words: ‘Warning, Mullingar Go Slow’.

“At first, this might be taken as a reference [to] what is expected from anyone who enters the town,” the writer said, stating that some people thought it a description of the character of the town’s inhabitants.

The posts and notices had been erected by the order of the county council under the direction of Mr AE Joyce, county surveyor.

“The warning and the admonition are for motorists while the notice also conveys to strangers the information of the identity of the town they are about to enter,” stated the writer.

Continuing, he said the admonition to drive slowly had been badly needed: “The reckless driver is the motorist’s greatest enemy while at the same time, he is a public danger. From time to time, there have been accidents in or near Mullingar. Now the road authorities have done their duty and it remains for the Civic Guard to do theirs whenever they see the warning disregarded.”

Westmeath Examiner, May 18, 1935

Local winners at Royal Dublin Society Show

At the Royal Dublin Society’s Spring Show at Ballsbridge the previous week, Mr John Keane, Baltacken, Moyvore, won all prizes in all the Roscommon Sheep Sections: Ram Lamb, 1st and 2nd prize; Shearling Ewe, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and Ewe Lamb, 1st.

A winner in the Confined Classes (Poultry Section) was Mrs M Hickey, Mullingar, whilst in the Egg Record Section (Pair of Chickens, Pure or Cross-Breed) Mrs C Mealiffe, Tullamore, won 2nd, and Miss M Roche, Ballymahon, 3rd prize,

In Class Herefords (calved September, 1933—February, 1934), Capt S Purdon, Tullamore, won 3rd prize.

In Oxford Down Sheep Class (Two Shear Ram or Upwards), Mr R J Downes, Russellstown, Mullingar, won 3rd prize and in Class Sows (Farrowed after 1st July, 1934), Capt R H Fowler, Enfield, got 1st prize.

Among sales at the Show – in which small prices ruled – were that of an Aberdeen Angus, Rate of Coolcomer by Mr R C Williams to John Bray, Mullingar, for 14 guineas.

The Earl of Longford’s Hereford, Pakenham Rose, sold to MT Farrell, Cashel, for 17 guineas. Capt S P Purdon’s Garret, also a Hereford, sold to M T Farrell for 20 guineas, C Williams’ Aberdeen Angus bull, Hope of Cooloneen (2nd prize) sold to P Keane, Kilmeedy, Co Meath, for 50 guineas.

Westmeath Examiner, May 19, 1945

When turf fuelled Westmeath

In 1945, Westmeath County Council issued a call for turf – a vital fuel source at the time – to heat public buildings and medical facilities across the county. Suppliers were invited to tender for the delivery of turf from the 1945 harvest which was to be “well-dried”, to consist of 35 per cent brown turf at least, “not to contain turf of clayey texture”, and to satisfy the county engineer with regard to quality and dryness.

The turf was destined for a variety of council-run locations. The County Home and County Hospital topped the list, requiring 2,700 tons, and a further 500 by way of an emergency supply; 350 tons were required for the Athlone District Hospital, and 100 tons for Mullingar County Buildings.

In addition, 50 tons were required for the courthouse in Mullingar, 20 tons for Athlone courthouse, 16 for Moate courthouse, 1.5 for Kilbeggan courthouse, 1 ton for Delvin courthouse and a half a ton apiece of the courthouses in Tyrrellspass and Killucan as well as 10 tons for the Ballyglass caretaker’s lodge.

Mullingar Dispensary required 15 tons; Athlone dispensary required six tons, and three tons apiece were required for the dispensaries at Kilbeggan, Ballynacargy, Collinstown, Castlepollard, Streete, Crowenstown, Clonmellon, Archerstown, Delvin, Raharney, Drumcree, Clonlost, Kinnegad, Killucan, Multyfarnham, Crookedwood, Coole, Milltownpass, Tyrrellspass, Finea, Ballymore, Glasson and Moate.

Westmeath Examiner, May 21, 1955

Railway station statue blessed

Unveiled and blessed at the railway station in Mullingar was a Marian Year statue of the Blessed Virgin – which still stands today.

The blessing was performed by Most Rev Dr Kyne, Bishop of Meath, and the report revealed that the statue had been made in France and the halo was illuminated.

“The finished work is a credit to the CIÉ employees, who gave of their spare time to erect the statue and surround,” said the item.

Assisting the Bishop were Rev Dr McCormack, CC, Rev J Conway, CC, Rev PJ Regan, CC and Rev J Dermody, CC.

Present on the platform were Rev Fr Killian, OFM, spiritual director of the CIÉ Sodality; CIÉ officials from Dublin, and local officials, Messrs M O’Connor, stationmaster; JJ Feely, district superintendent, H Bury, signal department inspector and his assistant, J Kenny; acting foreman, J Casey; inspector P Newman and Dr AJ Stanley, CIÉ Medical Officer.

Westmeath Examiner, May 21, 1965

Schools galore!

Plans for a proposed extension to the vocational school in Mullingar were shown to members of the Westmeath Vocational Committee (VEC). The plans were for a canteen and an additional 10 classrooms, which, CEO Seán Ó Lochlainn told the VEC members was likely to cost around £105,000, but that did not include the cost of equipment.

The VEC needed to have the extension complete by 1967, as it was committed to courses for the training of Bord na Mona senior apprentices, he said.

Mr Ó Lochlainn also informed the meeting that there was correspondence from the architect, Mr Ginnell, about the progress of Tyrrellspass vocational school, and he was hopeful that they would be ready to advertise for tenders in a month – although he added that the school was likely going to cost more than the £30,000 than the VEC had requested from the county council.

VEC member Aileen Mallon asked what was the position with regard to Ballynacargy vocational school, and was told that the architect was working on the drawings.

Mr Ó Lochlainn also told the members that the cost of building and equipping Castlepollard school would be more than the £11,200 they had already raised, and he asked that they seek an additional loan of £3,500.

Westmeath Examiner, May 17, 1975

New industry for Newbrook site

A front page story in the edition of May 17, 1975 revealed that there were hopes growing that a $30 million industry was to locate in Mullingar on the site of the old racecourse at Newbrook.

The report stated that over the previous few weeks, national newspapers, through press agencies in America, had been giving prominence to the story that the GAF company, was to start a sheet vinyl flooring plant in Mullingar, giving employment to an estimated 350 people.

Ed Kevin, regional industrial officer with the IDA, told the Westmeath Examiner that the negotiations had been ongoing over a long period, but were expected to take more time.

He was, however, optimistic that construction work might start by mid or late 1976.

The Westmeath Examiner was informed that no definite amount of acreage had been agreed to for the project, but it was understood that the bulk of the 125-acre Newbrook area could be involved when it eventually went ahead.

Dr Werner, president of GAF, said at the company’s AGM that the IDA had made it attractive for the company to locate in Ireland and a substantial grant, tax and training package was on offer from the authority.