Pages Past: 1906 report on football victory for Cullion over Riverstown

Westmeath Examiner, February 5, 1966

High standards for tourism

The view that Bord Fáilte was setting too high a standard in regards to guesthouse accommodation for tourists was expressed by some of the members of the Mullingar Tourist Association at a meeting they held in Mullingar.

At the meeting, details were given of the standards expected by Bord Fáilte from persons who wished to keep tourists. In a circular before the meeting from Bord Fáilte, it was stated that people who wished to keep tourists needed to have at a minimum two guest bedrooms, a dining room, lounge and bathroom and toilet facilities.

People who did not have those requirements would not be put on the Bord Fáilte list.

Mr P Dolan said people felt Bord Fáilte was looking for too much. He said a lot of people had given in their names some years ago and were prepared to host tourists but were turned down by Bord Fáilte inspectors who checked out their houses. Mrs Lambden remarked that she did not think very many people would have two bedrooms to spare, while Mr T Fallon of the Multyfarnham Tourist Association said that the coarse anglers who came from England did not want all these things laid on. They came to fish and were not worried about all these facilities if they were treated properly.

Miss Aileen Mallon on behalf of the ICA said Bord Fáilte was doing an excellent job and she felt they owed a good deal to it for all it had done.

It had to keep up a certain standard in order to do credit to our country and could not allow tourists into houses unless they had the proper facilities. If visitors went away and criticised the facilities, it would be a very bad thing, she said.

During the same meeting, Mr J Coleman raised the question of a swimming pool for Mullingar and pointed out that the county council had agreed in principle to the provision of such a facility.

He felt the Tourist Association should be active in promoting that. It was agreed to send a letter to the county council asking them to make provision in their estimates for provision of a pool.

Westmeath Independent, February 4 1956

Theatre in Moate

“Moate audiences had the all too seldom pleasure of enjoying first-class theatre when, on Sunday afternoon and evening last, the Crofton Players of Dublin presented three one-act plays in the Assembly Hall, Convent of Mercy, Moate,” stated a report in the Westmeath Independent of February 4 1956.

The writer went on to remark that although the group amateurs (they were winners of the 1955 Drama Festival of Ireland), the acting and production were up to professional standards.

“The Sisters of Mercy are to be congratulated on giving Moate audiences an opportunity of seeing such first-rate performances. Too often small town playgoers have to be content with the mediocre, and it is hoped that there will be further attractions like those on Sunday,” the report continued.

“The Players (who came entirely at their own expense) presented ‘Never the Time and the Place’, a short satire on fortune-telling by Lennox Robinson; ‘The Late Miss Cordell’, a gripping piece by Philip Johnston, in which Miss Winifred McConnell and Miss Evelyn Burke were outstanding; and concluding play, ‘Playgoers,’ by Sir Arthur Pinero, which sent the large audiences home in a happy mood. Prominent in the three plays were Sydney Jameson, Terry Byrne, Desmond Swords, Jack Maxwell, Ray Hanly, Phyllis Howard and Rosaline Flanagan. Production was by Jack Maxwell and Winifred McConnell.

“During the intervals, concert items were contributed by members of the Rathgar and Rathmines Musical Society, who included Lorna Thompson (violin), Frank Reynolds (baritone), Terry Byrne (mezzo-soprano), Frank Gormley (monologues). The show was ably compered by Chris Bruton, whose reputation as a humorist was already known from a visit to Moate last year. Proceeds were in aid of the Sisters’ new secondary school, which was completed last year.”

Westmeath Examiner, February 2, 1946

Uisneach Chess Club

A meeting had been held in the Technical School in Mullingar on January 17 with the view to forming a chess club in town.

“There was a large and representative attendance,” the Westmeath Examiner report stated, going on to inform readers that prior to the general business of the meeting, Mr M O Boyle, president, presented the prizes to the winner and runner-up of the Davis Commemoration Tournament which had run in Mullingar over the previous two months with 45 participants.

The town’s first chess champion was Captain Tom Banahan of the Artillery Corps at Columb Barracks, while the runner-up was Private Edward Breslin, Engineering Corps. Captain Banahan received a handsome reading lamp in the design of a model yacht, while Private Breslin received a valuable travelling clock in a leather case.

The new chess club was to be headed by Mr M O Boyle as president. On the committee were Lieutenant Maher, who was honorary secretary, Lieutenant McCarthy, honorary treasurer, Messrs Ambrose Walsh, D Devalley and Captain Banahan were members and meetings for games were to be held at Bennett’s Hotel. Mr O Boyle’s suggestion that the club be known as the Uisneach Chess Club was accepted.

Westmeath Independent, February 8, 1936

Farming and faith

The Westmeath Ploughing Championships had taken place at Ballinagore “under very favourable weather conditions” the previous week. There was large attendance and the work done was of a very high standard, the Westmeath Independent reported.

At the close of the contest, the following team was chosen to represent the county at the national ploughing championships in Tullamore. Messrs L Bracken, T Cannon, S Lynam and the substitute was F Deegan. Mr W G Fox Rahinstown was the judge.

The winner of class 1 was L Bracken, 2, S Lynam; 3, T Cannon; 4, M Graham; 5, P Geraghty; 6, F Deegan. Class 2: 1, P Cannon, 2, D Finn. Class 3, T Rafter.

The best opening was by L Bracken and the best finish by S Lynam.

Meanwhile, the same paper reported that steps were being taken to have the shrine at Knock in Mayo recognised as special shrine of the Blessed Virgin. Most Reverend Dr Gilmartin, Archbishop of Tuam, had forwarded to the Holy See a copy of the recently published book on the shrine by District Justice Coyne which included all the available information on the subject, stated the item, adding that the book would be translated into Italian and placed before the Congregation of Sacred Rites, to whom the bishop was also submitting the other necessary documents and data.

Westmeath Examiner, February 6 1926

Colourful account of local hunt

“Perhaps in Ireland there is not a more renowned pack than the Westmeath Fox Hounds; and at the present time they are kept up to the reputation of generations,” stated a Westmeath Examiner item of February 6, 1926, reprinted from the publication ‘Irish Travel’.

The writer, a PJ Carey, stated that with a strength up to nearly 200 dogs, the master was enabled to have four days’ hunting weekly, and as the runs are invariably through the most charming surroundings, with a surety of getting many foxes, it followed that the hunt was well attended.

Mr Carey wrote that during the previous half century, the Westmeath Hounds were mastered by, among others, the Earl of Longford, Lord Greville, “Mr Charters (recently deceased, leaving £300,000, some of which went to Mullingar servants, he being an Englishman and dying there); Mr Whitworth, Mr Barbour (of linen thread fame); Mr Harry W Smith, Mr Hope Johnstone, and now Mr Norman Field”.

Also on the list was Mr Harry Worcester Smith, an American, who had come to this country some 10 years previously, “bringing with him – and causing quite a sensation – some 12 mustangs or bronchos, about 10 coloured servants, a pack of hounds, 40 cases of household furniture, and a parrot, in addition to four-wheeled and two-wheeled buggies and piebald ponies,” he wrote.

“Mr Smith was one of the best, spent money lavishly, fed his people like fighting cocks, wrote up each meet fully, describing accurately everything that occurred each day, and praised Westmeath for its scenery and the kindness of its people, as perhaps only a stranger can. He had hunted all over USA, and in describing the beauties of the County Westmeath, he knew what he was writing about.

“The present holder of the title Master of the Foxhounds stands out on his own. At recent walks of puppies, at which many ‘locals’ got prizes (Mr P Gavin, of Robinstown, Tyrrell, coming out on top), Mr Field showed what was in him by giving all ad lib in Knockdrin Castle,one of the finest structures to be found anywhere, but this is only an idea of his general kindness.”

Westmeath Examiner, February 5 1916

Ploughing matches at Streete

The annual ploughing match between Rathowen and Streete had taken place on Thursday, January 27 in a field owned by Mr A R Anderson, JP. The weather conditions were, the report stated, ideal for the occasion, and large crowds of people came from surrounding districts, including Multyfarnham, Moyvore, Castlepollard, Lismacaffrey, Edgeworthstown, and Ardagh. Mr A Scully, agricultural instructor; Mr J Kelly, ploughing instructor and Mr O Haire, representative of Pierce, Wexford were also present. There were 15 competitors and when each got their section opened, it was an interesting sight to see the alertness of each one doing his best to be a winner. Messrs James Lyon, Pakenham Hall and John Moylan, Coolamber Manor, acted as judges, and gave general satisfaction.

They had a very difficult task to perform in Class I and II, the contests being so close. The committee deserve the highest credit for the perfect arrangements made and for the courtesy and generous hospitality with which all visitors, particularly strangers, were treated. One of the most interesting and useful portions of their programme is that they make it a condition with the owner of the field in which the match is held that that field is set for an oat crop, thus giving accommodation to small farmers in the district who eagerly purchase from a rood to one acre each and often at high prices.

This practice is the means of breaking up five or six acres of grassland each year for the accommodation of those who require it.

Class I. – Swing Plough. James McLoughlin, Corry; James McLoughlin, Lackenwood, equal merit; first and second prize divided between them; 3rd, John Derwin, Ballynacargy; 4th, Charles J Leonard, Rathowen. Five competed.

Class II. – Wheel Plough. 1st, Nicholas Barden, Stonehall; 2nd, JG Wilson, Darramona (ploughman, Michael Reynolds); 3rd, PP O’Reilly, Coolamber (ploughman James Fegan); 4th, James Tyghe, Streete. Six competed.

Class III. – Swing Plough (Amateur Class). 1st, Thomas Dunleavy, Corrydonlon; 2nd, Sam Moore, Tenode; 3rd, Pat Carroll, Rathowen; 4th Michael Seery, Joanstown.

“Nicholas Barden, who won the first prize in Class II, is over 70 years of age, and is probably the oldest ploughman in the county. He is an employee of Mr. John Gibson, Stonehall,” the item continued, concluding by stating that Mr Kelly, tillage instructor, gave useful instruction to many competitors on the adjustment and working of the ploughs.

Westmeath Examiner, February 3 1906

Victory for Cullion

“On Sunday last, Kinnegad was the venue of an interesting football match, the semi-final in the Westmeath County Championship,” stated the opening line of the account of the clash between Cullion and Riverstown (last year’s champions).

Cullion wound up winning 0-6 to 1-1, and the writer noted that before the large crowd of spectators, “much enthusiasm prevailed from start to finish and the best good friendship prevailed amongst the players”.

The names of the players who took part in the match were: Cullion – P Geon, E McCormack, P McGrath, W Casey, Tom Brennan, Edward Brennan, T Duffy, P Tuite, E Tuite, C McGrath, W E Grimes, T Malone, J Connell, M Kiernan, C Cleary, P Byrne, J McDermott, and W Hughes.

Riverstown – J Scally, P Scally, P Keegan, T Grattan, M Carroll, J Anderson, M Dunne, J Dunne, M McKeon, C McKeon, J Leavy, G Leech, J Leech, J Corcoran, H Fallon, P Nea and J Fox.

The item concluded: “At a committee meeting of the Westmeath GAA, held after the match, Mr B Kellaghan was unanimously elected Hon Sec, pro tem, in room of Mr J A Lawrence, whose promotion to the position of Manager of the Bridge House, Tullamore, created the vacancy. Several members present spoke in flattering terms of Mr Lawrence’s work in the service of our ancient Irish pastime.”