Westmeath Examiner,

September 12, 2015

Columb Barracks future

The front page lead of the Westmeath Examiner this week ten years ago proved prescient: it stated that Columb Barracks was one of a number of properties which the Irish government was considering as a potential location to house refugees. The concern was for the welfare of the tens of thousands of refugees who were making their way into Europe from Syria and Afghanistan, some of whom were to be offered assistance in this country. The report stated that in May, Ireland had said it would accept 600 refugees, but that number was expected to rise, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice stated: “That was back when 40,000 migrants were coming in, but that will now rise to 120,000, so it’s likely that we will triple that 600 to around 1,800.”

The report went on to state that communities across Westmeath had indicated their willingness to assist if they could, and it added that there had been a positive response to Pope Francis’s suggestion that all parishes take in a refugee family.

In a separate but related item, the charity shop Brian’s Treasure Chest on Castle Street launched a fundraising drive to aid the Syrian refugees. Shop boss, Brian Fagan, stated that there were currently between two and five million Syrians in camps along the borders with Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, and they were in desperate need of help.

Westmeath Examiner,

September 10, 2005

Seeking loan for new offices

The planned new civic offices for Westmeath County Council were still at the planning and development stage – but the project took a step forward when the members of the county council approved the intention of officials to seek a loan totalling €40,000.

Final approval for the loan was still going to have to come from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The story stated that the new offices were intended to contain all the departments of Westmeath County Council, which at that time were all “scattered across Mullingar, housed in both the county buildings and rental accommodation”.

Westmeath Examiner,

September 9, 1995

Boom year for farmers

“Farmers right across Westmeath are experiencing a boom year, with greatly increased profitability,” the lead story in the edition of September 9, 1995 stated, quoting two of the county’s “most senior agricultural instructors”, Teagasc’s Malachy Byrne and John Smith.

The report stated that “the finest summer in living memory” had proven a real bonus for farmers, and that while the prolonged dry spell would affect some root crops, “the wonderful summer sunshine has heralded greatly increased yields for cereal growers”.

Further good news was that the quality was generally “excellent”.

Mr Smith told the Westmeath Examiner that winter wheat yields were satisfactory with returns of up to 3.5 tonnes per acre, or, in exceptional cases, four tonnes. In addition, the wheat was dry, with a moisture content of just 16-17 per cent.

The winter barley yield was a bit disappointing, but for spring barley – the main crop grown in Westmeath – the expectation was that there might be some “exceptional” yields of up to 3 tonnes per acre.

Westmeath Examiner,

September 13, 1985

County final preview

“A long-cherished dream by the Tubberclair GAA club will be realised at Cusack Park, Mullingar on Sunday when they take the field in their first ever Westmeath senior football championship final. Their opponents are a strong and determined St Malachy’s from Castletown,” stated a preview piece in the edition of September 13, 1985.

The item stated that on the road to the final, both Tubberclair and St Malachy’s had shown that football was alive and well in the rural parishes of the county, where there was “a real and exciting spirit of enthusiasm for the game”.

On the panel for Castletown were: Gerry Daly, Noel Geraghty, Tommy Lowry, Kieran Kirby, Liam Glennon, Gerry Whelan, Willie Corcoran, Michael Lowry, Aidan O’Brien, Stephen Hanratty, Oliver Keegan, Pat O’Brien, Finbarr Clarke, Paul Kiernan, Matt Kirby, Willie Shanley, Eamonn Clarke, and Willie Lowry, with, as substitutes, Sean Casey, Michael Garvin, Seamus Whelan, Eddie Keaveny, Frank Kiernan, David Kirby, Declan Kirby, Declan Kirby, Aidan Ahearn, Martin Keenan and Michael O’Neill.

The Tubberclair team members were: Alan Cunningham, Eamon Fagan, John Quigley, John Parker, John Hamm, Willie Quigley, Gerard Walker, Michael Fagan, Jim Byrne, Des Fagan, Danny Sammon, Philip Fagan, Kieran Slevin, Charlie Walsh, Jude Quigley and Jerry Quigley.

Westmeath Examiner,

September 20, 1975

Literary news

Three new books just published were of interest to residents of Westmeath, a brief item on the front page in the issue of the Westmeath Examiner of September 20, 1975 revealed.

The first was the latest work by Levington Park resident, JP Donleavy, author of The Gingerman, whose latest book was called ‘The unexpurgated code – a complete manual of survival and manners’.

The second book, by Peter Somerville-Large was ‘Irish Eccentrics’, and it was of interest as it featured among its ‘eccentrics’ the late Adolphus Cooke, of Cookesborough, whose tomb was near the Beehive on the Cloughan Road.

Stated the journalist writing the piece: “Westmeath writers will recall the tale of Cooke establishing a court, made up of workers on the Cookesborough estate, to try the dog for unseemly behaviour and consorting with those who would not be considered his equals. When the verdict of execution was announced, the tombstone was prepared with the warning inscription ‘executed for high crimes and misdemeanours, Gusty, once favourite setter dog of Adolphus Cooke Esq, Cookesborough, and it is earnestly hoped that his sad fate will be a warning to other dogs against offending’.”.

The third book of interest was ‘A Painted devil’, by Lady Rachel Billington, daughter of the then-Lord Longford, and sister of Thomas Pakenham of Tullynally Castle.

Westmeath Independent, September 18, 1965

Numbers on the up

There were 100 more students attending technical schools in the county that year than in the September 1964-1964 academic year, the CEO of Westmeath VEC, Mr S O’Loughlin, told VEC members, as he reported on the enrolment of students for the new session.

Mr O’Loughlin stated that total enrolment for day classes in Athlone was 273; in Moate it was 86, and the number in Mullingar was 301.

Due to the increase in the intake, five new teachers had taken up duty in the school in Athlone.

At the same meeting, Senator T McAuliffe pressed for a speed-up in the erection of the new £50,000 technical school at Tyrrellspass, but he was informed that the loan to be raised by the county council had not yet been approved.

Miss Aeline Mallon was informed that the revised plans for the new school planned for Ballynacargy were still awaiting sanction by the Department of Education.

Mr Jimmy O’Brien said there was a great deal to be said for a prefabricated school in a place like Ballynacargy. The CEO responded that such buildings had their limitations, and could not be used for certain classes.

Westmeath Examiner,

September 17, 1955

Boat building course

At a meeting of the Westmeath Vocational Education Committee in Mullingar on Monday of that week, it was decided to establish winter classes in boat building in Mullingar at an estimated cost of £84.

The development was contingent on an instructor being available, and the plan was to hold two classes held each week from October to Easter.

The report stated that the request for the classes had come from the Mullingar branch of the Inland Waterways Association, which had sent in the names of 34 people interested in joining such a class, 10 of them tradesmen.

Addressing the members of the committee, CEO MJ O’Boyle stated that there was a revival of coarse fishing in the area, and there was a demand from tourists for boats.

Westmeath Examiner,

September 22, 1945

Death of famed tenor

The death had taken place the previous Sunday, September 16, of John Count McCormack, the world-famous tenor from Athlone. Count McCormack, who was just 61, was born on June 14, 1884, one of a family of seven children. The report stated that Count McCormack’s father was a Scotsman of Irish extraction, who had come to Athlone to take up a position in the Woollen Mills.

Count McCormack had received his early education in the Marist Brothers Schools, Athlone, and subsequently, Summerhill College, Sligo.

From there, he went to Dublin to study law and while there, joined the Pro-Cathedral Choir. “From that on, his rise as a tenor was spectacular and colourful,” the report stated, explaining that in 1905, he had gone to Italy and studied there for three years making his debut in grand opera in Milan before he had reached his 21st year.

“Early on he abandoned grand opera and became a concert artist. He appeared in two films, ‘Songs Of My Heart’ and ‘Winds Of The Morning’, both of which were seen in Mullingar,” stated the item, adding that the countess and Captain Cyril McCormack were with the count when he died.

Westmeath Examiner,

September 21, 1935

State of the town

The report of the sanitary sub-officer provided a report on the state of Mullingar. He wrote: “The town of Mullingar is made up of over a thousand houses, about two thirds of which are provided with the water-carriage system of sanitary convenience.

“The Town Commissioners, as the local authority, have completed the erection of 24 houses, as an instalment of a scheme for the provision of dwellings for the tenants of these premises (46) that have been condemned… During the period under review nine new houses have been erected by private persons, making the total 33 new buildings for this year.

“The town is provided with a modern water-carriage system of sewage disposal, with purification works at Clonmore. The greater number of those dwellings that have the water closet system of convenience, are drained into this modern sewage system.”

The report went on to say that the town is provided with a constant water supply from the feeder of the Royal Canal, and afterwards treated for purification: “It has been an unfailing source of supply of water for the inhabitants since the days during the drought in June 1934.”

The officer revealed that during 1934, 30 cases of infectious disease were notified to him. Of these, 28 were Scarlatina and two were Tuberculosis.

Continuing, he said that there were six factories and five workshops situated in the town; there were 12 slaughterhouses and 14 meatshops, while milk is supplied to the inhabitants of the town by 42 dairymen and four purveyors of milk.

Westmeath Examiner,

September 19, 1925

Castlepollard Show revival

“After nearly thirteen years’ suspension, the revival of the Castlepollard Show on Tuesday was an event of great county interest, and demonstrated that the excellent committee have succeeded in bringing it well on towards the big position of importance among Irish horse, cattle and general shows, which it occupied before the war,” stated an item in the issue of September 19, 1925.

The report stated that the most striking feature of the show had been the splendid exhibition of farm and garden produce, and this had won the highest praise of the judges.

“The total entries showed an increase of from 600 to almost 1,200, or just double,” it said.

On a more negative note, the cattle classes had been deemed “disappointing”, many of the classes not filling well, while the horse, sheep and swine sections “also received but poor support”.

The poultry, home industries and butter sections had, however, provided keen competition, and the jumping was much enjoyed.

The show had been held in the demesne of the Earl of Longford, who, with the countess, had taken a keen interest in it.

Westmeath Examiner,

September 18, 1915

Awarded the Victoria Cross

An item from The Daily Mail about the Westmeath army officer, Second Lieutenant Boyd-Rochfort, revealed that the young man had arrived in London by train from the war front the previous day – completely unaware that he had been awarded the prestigious Victoria Cross.

The Daily Mail reporter stated that although the Lieutenant’s brother had met the train and told him he had been awarded the honour, “he could scarcely credit it until he read it in the newspapers later in the morning”.

Continued the report: “Second Lieutenant Boyd-Rochfort is typical of many fine men the war has brought out. Aged thirty-five, head of his family – the Boyd-Rochforts of Middleton Park, County Westmeath – married, and with all his interests centred in the work of the estate, he left all behind him, as a near relative said last night, because he ‘felt it was his duty to go, and though medically unfit when war broke out, got himself fit and went’. He had done no soldiering before.”