Pages Past: Union of Guardians sought 'strict teacher' in 1856

Westmeath Independent, February 9, 1856

Strict teacher sought

At the weekly meeting of the Mullingar Union Guardians, a discussion was held on the election of a schoolmaster. There were only two candidates for the situation, Mr Keogh, teacher in the Castletowndelvin Workhouse, and the Mr Byrne of Rathdrum. The latter was not in attendance.

The chairman read Mr Keogh’s testimonials, which were very creditable to him, and he was proposed by Mr Reynell, seconded by Mr Delamar, and unanimously elected.

Mr Keogh having been called before the board, the chairman announced his appointment, subject to the approval of the commissioners, and told him that he should endeavour to bring the boys into proper order, not by having them before the board, but by adopting a manner towards them which would render them submissive and check disorderly and insubordinate conduct on their part, “a good deal of which they had laterally exhibited”.

Westmeath Independent, February 10, 1866

Rail saboteurs

Under the heading ‘Important Railway Case’, the Westmeath Independent reported on the presentment sessions for County Westmeath, held in Mullingar on the previous Saturday morning. Considerable interest, the paper noted, had been aroused by an application from the Midland Great Western Railway Company, which sought to levy £2,000 on the county for a malicious injury alleged to have been committed on a portion of the rail line near Castletown on October 30, 1865.

On the evening of that date, as the mail train from Dublin approached Castletown, the guard’s van and one of the carriages ran off the line. Fortunately, however, the accident did not result in any serious consequences. When the train was stopped, it was discovered that the end of one of the rails had been slightly displaced and several bolts disturbed. The only passenger injured was a Mr Kelly, whose action for compensation against the railway company was, at the time of reporting, pending before the Superior Court and due for trial at the next term.

During the hearing, the engine driver, stoker, guard, and other witnesses gave evidence. The ganger in charge of that section of the line testified that he had examined it on the morning of October 30 and found it in good working order. He visited the scene immediately after the incident and described its condition: one end of a rail appeared to have been maliciously lifted out of the chairs connecting the rail ends and displaced by six or seven inches. Seven bolts and screws which fastened the rail to the sleepers were found lying on the ground between the tracks.

The court also heard that five similar attempts had been made in the neighbourhood during the previous six years to upset trains.

Derry Journal, February 7 1876

Farmer attacked at Lowertown

“An outrage of an extraordinary character is reported from county Westmeath,” began an item in the Derry Journal.

The report went on to state that at a small country village named Lowertown, a man was tending to his cattle in a byre when a number of men entered and beat him most mercilessly with sticks.

Reporting that three men had since been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the incident, the report stated that the assailants had run off on the appearance of the man’s wife, whose attention had been attracted by her husband’s cries.

“The cause of the outrage is unknown,” the writer stated.

Freeman’s Journal, February 10 1886

Sheriff’s sale for rent in Mullingar

The Freeman’s Journal reported that a sheriff’s sale had been held that day, the tenant being “a comfortable farmer” who lived at The Valley in Mullingar and the landlord being the right honourable Lord Greville.

“About 15 head of cattle were seized by Mr Thomas Murray, the sub-sheriff of the county, but the stock were allowed to remain in the possession of the farmer until today, when they were driven through town, all being decorated with laurels and preceded by a green banner bearing the inscription ‘Down with rack rents’,” stated the report.

“A goat dressed in green was led before the regular procession.”

When the cattle arrived at the courthouse yard, they were at once submitted for auction by the sub-sheriff.

A man who was present bid £63 for the lot when the tenant bid £43, being the full amount due, at which point they were knocked down to him.

Westmeath Examiner, February 15, 1896

Magic Lantern Entertainment

“On Saturday last, a limelight entertainment of an extremely instructive nature was given in Streete Institute by W E Wilson, Esquire, JP,” began an item describing what appeared to have been a popular evening’s entertainment at Streete..

“Considering the great and all-absorbing interest being taken in South African affairs at the present time, the subjects chosen were particularly appropriate, including views of Johannesburg, Pretoria, and of the mines and workers in that vicinity. Needless to state that the lantern and accessories in the efficient hands of Mr Wilson were carefully and successfully manipulated, and the descriptive commentary by TN Edgeworth, Esquire, was worthily rendered. To both of these gentlemen, the thanks of the Institute club are due, the handsome amount realized going to aid the funds of the club.

“The entertainment closed at 9.30pm, after which the floor was cleared for dancing, and lovers of the light fantastic had an opportunity of which they eagerly availed of enjoying themselves till midnight.”

Westmeath Examiner, February 17, 1906

Fostering expense discussed

At a meeting of the Mullingar Board of Guardians, members heard a report from Mrs Dickie, Lady Inspector of the Local Government Board, on the condition of boarded-out and hired-out children in the union. She said there were about 60 children currently boarded out and, on the whole, she considered the system to be working well.

“The majority of foster parents are labouring people whose resources are naturally slender, and with this class of foster parents it is always necessary to be on the watch lest they should at any time become unable to maintain their households properly,” she said. It was always inadvisable, she added, to board out children with people who had families of their own, but this was particularly so among the labouring class where the father was the sole wage earner and the weekly income was barely sufficient for the family’s own needs.

However, Mrs Dickie said that where careful attention was paid to these matters and the guardians were satisfied that the working members of the household were earning regularly, labouring people could, in many cases, prove by no means unsatisfactory foster parents. In the Mullingar union, she said, they appeared generally intelligent, anxious to promote the interests of the children and successful in placing them in situations when they reached a suitable age.

The inspector reported numerous complaints from foster parents about the hardship of providing clothing from the maintenance allowance and suggested the guardians consider a separate clothing grant. She found many children poorly provided with boots, stockings and underclothing, with flannelette often used instead of flannel. This material, she warned, was highly dangerous due to its flammability and useless against Ireland’s damp climate.

She also expressed concern that no clear arrangements existed for school books, warning that children were being kept back educationally. While some foster parents showed an “unusual appreciation” of education, others could not afford books, leaving children to go without. She was happy to report that one girl who had come through the system was now training as a nurse in England.

Westmeath Examiner, February 12 1916

Died in WWI

A very sad item carried in the issue of February 12, 1916 while World War I was raging, stated that Michael McCormack of Dublin Bridge, Mullingar had that week received the sad news that the young soldier Private Charles McGarry of the Leinster Regiment had been killed in action on December 24. Private McGarry was only about 17 years of age.

The writer revealed that a adding to the tragic nature of the story was the fact that Private McGarry’s father, Patrick McGarry, had died only the previous week. Poignantly, at the Masses in Mullingar Cathedral on Sunday, the prayers of the faithful were asked for the repose of the souls of the father and son.

Westmeath Examiner, February 13, 1926

Operatic delights

The Mullingar Amateur Choral Society had just held their week of performances of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera, Patience.

There was praise for all aspects of the production from the lighting by Mr Frank Cleary, CE, to the costumes.

“The entire opera was produced with great artistic and dramatic care, conscientiousness and success, both solo choral and orchestral work being a remarkably high standard for amateurs,” stated the writer, going on to congratulate the conductor, Mr Gilbert and the director, Mr Lionel Cranfield.

Among those who played lead roles were Eily Burns, Annie Doherty, Sheila McCormack, Molly Carroll, Hugh Price, Dr Stanley, M O C Maguire, Mr J Daly, Jack Doherty, and Mr T Delaney played the role of the solicitor.

Making up the chorus were the Misses Bridie O’Farrell, Maggie Ward, Kathleen Hughes, Molly Fagan, Lizzie Weymes, Mamie Moran, Annie Keane, Jessie Burns, Jane Braiden, Julia Cleary, Lily O’Doherty, Agnes Carroll, Agnes Rutledge, Rita Coyne, Molly Braiden, Annie Keogh, Essie Farrell, and Eileen O’Byrne, with Messrs Joseph McEvoy, Patrick Bailey, Thomas O’Shea, Malachy Mulkerns, Joseph Wheeler, Michael Cahill, William Delaney, Messrs. George Rouse, John McCormack, James Doherty, Shaun Mulderry, Thomas Doherty, William Hand, Patrick Brogan, and John McNamara.

The orchestra was Rev M Weymes, with Miss May Farrell on piano, Miss Brophill, Miss Annie McGuire, Miss Betty Shaw, and Miss Kitty Kearney on first violins, Miss Una Shaw, Miss Sadie Doyle, and Miss Lolo Doyle on second violins, Miss Aileen Shaw and Miss Irene Doyle playing cello, Miss Molly MacDonald playing the double bass, and the conductor was Mr H P Gilbert.

Westmeath Independent, February 8 1936

Schools Medical Service

At a meeting of the Westmeath Schools Medical Service Committee held in Mullingar, Dr O’Neill reported that provisional figures for the year 1935 indicated that 27 schools were visited for school medical inspection and a total of 1,439 children examined. Parents were present during the examination in the case of 817 children.

The first tour of national schools in the county was completed during the year, almost exactly five years since the inception of the scheme and a few schools were inspected for a second time.

The report went on to say that with the proposed appointment of an assistant county medical officer of health, it should be possible to speed up that important work during the coming year.

In addition to the visits for medical inspection mentioned in the attached summary, Rahugh School, Kilbeggan was visited to investigate an epidemic of sore eyes among the children.

Outlying dental clinics had been held at Kilbeggan and Glasson but due to the slippery state of the road, some parents and children were late in arriving for the Glasson clinic and it had to be prolonged for two and a half hours but all 17 children were treated.

Westmeath Examiner, February 9 1946

Gruelling day on Cresley hill

“The hill of Cresley will hold no sweet memories for me after last Sunday’s outing,” wrote an athlete who had participated in the Westmeath Junior Cross Country Championships at Castlepollard in February of 1946.

The runner said the conditions could hardly have been more trying, with mud ankle-deep, rain unrationed, and a squally west wind that penetrated to the very marrow of the bones.

“Little can be said of the actual race itself, as it developed into a procession after half a lap had gone. The start was delayed one and a half hours to enable some of the competitors who, in spite of the weather, cycled distances of 12 miles and over to do duty for their clubs,” he wrote.

Of the 18 runners who faced the starter, the ultimate winner was, he conceded, by far the outstanding performer: “Cyril Brennan from Multyfarnham made the race a cracker from the start, though closely attended throughout by Patrick Jordan from Tristernagh,” and the time returned was very good – 37 minutes 55 seconds – considering the conditions prevailing.

The finish result was: 1, Cyril Brennan (Multyfarnham); 2, Patrick Jordan (Tristernagh); 3, Dan Devine (Castlepollard); 4, Thomas Gaye, Castlepollard; 5, Michael Keane, Multyfarnham; 6, Seamus Leonard, Castlepollard; 7, Sean Murphy, Castlepollard; 8, Anthony Boyhan, Multyfarnham; 9, C Whelan, Castlepollard; 10, Michael Cawley, Castlepollard; 11, John McCormack, Tristernagh; 12, Nicholas Smith, Tristernagh; 13, Augustine Smith, Tristernagh; 14, John Crinnigan, Tristernagh; 15, Thomas Keogh, Multyfarnham; 16, Christy Keane, Multyfarnham and 17, William Ward, Tristernagh.

Michael Ledwith, Multyfarnham, did not complete the course due to injury.