Pages past; a headline from 1955 - Women drivers ‘should be gagged’

Westmeath Examiner, May 30, 1885

The new polling districts in Westmeath

In the 1880s, significant changes were under way in Westmeath’s electoral landscape. Due to the division of the county into three new constituencies – North, South, and West Westmeath – a reassessment of the polling districts was required. On a Thursday morning in the courthouse, Judge John Adye Curran, QC, Lord Longford, Captain Hume Kelly, and others convened to oversee the process.

The North Westmeath division was made up of 11 existing polling districts: Clonmellon, Delvin, Collinstown, Castlepollard, Rathowen, Ballynacargy, Multyfarnham, Knockdrin, Mullingar, Killucan, and Rochford. No new districts were proposed, nor were polling places changed, but boundary adjustments were necessary.

One such adjustment involved separating a portion of Moylisker from its previous polling district and adding it to the Mullingar district, along with areas from Lynn and Mullingar parishes. This newly formed unit had a population of 910, based on the 1881 census.

Another change saw parts of Ballynacargy – including lands in Rathaspick, Magheradernon, Moygoish, and Templeoran – reassigned to Mullingar. Those areas, now in the North Westmeath division, were previously linked to Ballynacargy polling place, which remained in the South division. With a population of 256 and being 10 miles from Mullingar, convenience and practicality guided the decision.

These adjustments reflect the complexities of aligning electoral boundaries with changing administrative divisions and population centres.

Westmeath Examiner, May 25, 1895

Serious accident

A Castlepollard-based priest whose mind was focused on other-worldly things wound up with bad injuries when his horse bolted, an account in the Westmeath Examiner of May 25, 1895 revealed.

Rev D Cuskelly, CC, Castlepollard, was returning after a visit to the priests in Mayne. According to the report, he was driving slowly back to Castlepollard paying little or no attention to his horse, being engaged reading his Office, whilst sitting in the car. Things continued in this state until he got as far as Coolure, when the horse suddenly started and ran away, careering down a steep hill, at the bottom of which was a sharp turn.

“The reverend gentleman had completely lost control of the animal, and, at this turn, the car was thrown violently against the wall, and its unfortunate occupant was pitched from it on to the road some yards in advance of the point of contact with the wall.

“He was picked up by a man named Flaherty, who, assisted by some neighbours, had him removed to his house. Messengers were at once dispatched to Castlepollard for Dr JC King, JP, who was then away attending some case; a search was instituted for the doctor, and finally District Inspector Maunsell found him attending a patient at Cummerstown, nearly five miles from the scene of the accident.

“Immediately upon hearing of the occurrence, the doctor started off across country with the utmost speed, and in 20 minutes later reached the place. He found the patient unconscious and collapsed, and suffering from a very extensive fracture of the base of the skull, and also fracture of the right arm.”

The report described how, with the assistance of other doctors, Fr Cuskelly had since received every care and attention that medical skill and nursing could command.

“Some consciousness returned, and he is able to answer questions. It is as severe a case as the six doctors in attendance ever saw, and they cannot speak with definite opinion as to the result. Up to the hour of writing this (Thursday evening) no unfavourable symptoms have appeared.”

Westmeath Examiner, May 27, 1905

UIL meeting in Multyfarnham

A significant gathering had taken place in Multyfarnham the previous Sunday when a “large and representative crowd” assembled under the banner of the United Irish League. The meeting, held after devotions at Multyfarnham Church, aimed to re-establish the local branch of the League, elect officers, and set a renewed course for local activism. The natural platform in front of the church was used for speakers, while a large crowd gathered outside the church grounds.

The proceedings were marked by enthusiasm and unity, with added interest brought by the inclusion of Sir Walter Nugent, who had recently joined the United Irish League. His name featured alongside other well-known national speakers.

Rev J Murphy PP, who played an instrumental role in the re-organisation, presided over the meeting. He was unanimously moved to the chair by T O’Gorman jun, Hon Sec pro tem, and seconded by P Farrell DC, Lacken. Rev Murphy delivered a compelling address in support of Irish-manufactured goods.

Also present on the platform were Sir Walter Nugent, Owen Wickham JP CDC, P Connellan of Mullingar, Hon Sec of the North Westmeath Executive of the UIL, T O’Gorman Jun, J Mulvany, P Farrell DC, P Kenna DC, D Sharry DC, Mark Delamere, P Casey JP, Dr Daly, P Gaynor JPC, J Leavy DC, J Quinn of Mullingar, T Moughty, T Leslie, and B Gorman.

Among the crowd were M Gilligan, J Cormack, T Coyle, P Cox of Clonave, J Blake DC, M Kenny, B McGovern, T Fagan, P Rourke, J Weir, D Leavy, R Farrell, J Partridge, J Cullen, M Heavy, T Leavy, Jas McGovern, J Kelly, T Murray, A Donnelly, H Reilly, T Creamer, T Brownan, J Farrell, J Brown, M McDonnell, M Gilligan, C Nally, M Keeffe, D Delamer, W Heavy, P Cox, J McLoughlin sen, J McLoughlin jun, J Carolan, J Mulready, and J Kelly.

The chairman, warmly received, remarked that he was proud to preside over such a respectful and united meeting, larger and more representative than any held there before. He noted the strength of purpose among the attendees – priests, tradesmen, and labourers alike, who, through their unity, showed their determination to claim and uphold their rightful demands.

Westmeath Examiner, June 5, 1915

Myles the Slasher committee

A meeting of the Myles the Slasher Memorial Committee in Finea had been held the previous Monday evening with Dr J Ryan, JP, presiding.

The report stated that the principal business for the committee was consideration of tenders for erection of iron railings with cabouchons to go around the memorial, and on the proposal of Mr Fitzgerald DC, it was unanimously agreed to give the contract to Mr Luke Plunkett, Lisnadara, whose tender, at £17, was the lowest received.

The railing was to be erected before the first Sunday in August.

The chairman said all who had promised subscriptions should be asked to send these in at once, as the committee did not have sufficient funds to pay for the work.

The report went on to state that if subscriptions were not forthcoming, another subscription dance should be held before August, but the secretary, Mr J Arkins, said it would be impossible to get people to attend dances in the summer.

Westmeath Independent, June 6, 1925

Discrimination against married men

Allegations that work under the road grants was given to young men without dependants, “while married men with large families were ‘left to starve’,” were made at the quarterly meeting of Westmeath County Council. The issue was raised by Mr PW Shaw, TD, who had received letters from some of those affected.

The county surveyor stated that the terms of the order of the government, which were to the effect that first preference was to be given to demobilised National Army men, and added that if Deputies Shaw and Lyons prevailed on the government to alter their order, in this respect he would be happy to give preference in selection to deserving cases of married men with families.

Mr Shaw told the meeting that he had received a number of letters from all over the county setting forth complaints, but whether justified or not, he was not in a position to say. He read from one of the letters which said: “I ask you, in the name of humanity, to do something that will bring a change in the way that the surveyors are abusing the good resolutions you brought forward in the county council chamber that married men should get the preference. I am a married man with five half-starving children, living in a labourer’s cottage and I ow £2 10s rent.”

The writer complained that there were many single men engaged in his locality at road work and he asked for a chance to try “and get bread for my children”.

Westmeath Independent, June 1, 1935

UK journalists on 1350-mile tour of Ireland

“Just imagine a tour of Ireland in four and a half days, involving 1,350 miles of travel, exploration of 12 counties, with two of our tropical islands thrown in,” started an item informing readers that this was the schedule laid out for a party of British journalists.

“Representatives of more than twenty British newspapers whose aggregated daily net sales exceed eight million, came as guests of the Great Southern Railways Company, in association with British railway and steamship interests.”

The item said that if the journalists could convey a fraction of their new-won enthusiasm to even a small fraction of the huge readership of the papers they represent, the enterprise of the railway company would be amply repaid in greatly increased tourist traffic.

“Over 400 photographs were taken in the course of the tour, which, incidentally, was made under absolutely ideal weather conditions from start to finish,” the item concluded.

Westmeath Examiner, June 2, 1945

Tullamore priest put to death in Philippines

NF Dunican, a teacher in Dunboyne, wrote to the Westmeath Examiner to inform its readers that the parishioners of Dunboyne had opened a fund for the erection of a memorial to Fr Patrick Kelly, a native of Tullamore, who had recently been put to death in the Philippine Islands. The chairman of the organising committee was Rev J Murphy, PP Dunboyne, while Fr Carberry, CC, and John Bruton were joint treasurers.

“Many subscriptions from persons outside the parish have already been received and further contributions from others anxious to help the memorial fund will be gratefully acknowledged,” stated the item, before going on to explain that Fr Kelly had ministered in Dunboyne during “some of the most trying and eventful years” in Irish history, 1915 to 1921.

“Today, the people of this parish feel it an honour and a pride to have had such a sterling priest in their midst. Of him and his missionary companions, in death it may be truly said: ‘They were greater than Plutarch’s men. They were Christ’s men’.”

Westmeath Examiner, June 4, 1955

Women drivers ‘should be gagged’

“They were talking: that was the cause of the accident. Some people say that women should never be allowed to drive, or else that they should be gagged,” said District Justice Beatty at a sitting of Mullingar District Court, where he imposed a fine of 10 shillings on a woman from Moate for driving without due consideration at Dysart on April 25.

The woman, who had been driving for 40 years, was alleged to have struck a Ballinea motorist’s car and failed to stop. She told the court she had seen the other vehicle, and heard a noise but did not think she struck anything. She said she was probably talking at the time as her niece was with her.

Westmeath Examiner, June 5, 1965

Welsh mayoress was from Mullingar

The Welsh town of Cardigan, at one time the second seaport of importance in Wales, had, just a week earlier, appointed its first Catholic mayoress, Mrs Mary Christina Jenkins. Mrs Jenkins was daughter of Mrs E and the late Mr H Stenson of Harbour Street, Mullingar; Mr Stenson had, for many years, been harbour master in Mullingar.

The report stated that Mrs Jenkins, who was educated at the Presentation Convent in Mullingar, was the wire of Cllr William Arthur Jenkins, joint MD of the Cardigan Mercantile Company Ltd, timber importers and builders merchants, who had that week been installed as mayor Cardigan, of which town he was a native.

“The mayor and mayoress were installed with traditional ceremony in the historic guildhall in the presence of a large gathering of friends. Their daughters Ann and Julie were also present,” stated the item.

Westmeath Examiner, June 7, 1975

Hotel fire in Mullingar

A huge fire had severely damaged the Lake County Hotel in Pearse Street, causing an estimated £100,000 of damage. The alarm was raised by hotel porter, Sean Grimes, who spotted smoke coming from the laundry at the rear of the premises.

Guests were evacuated, but the fire brigade had to use a ladder to rescue to members of the staff who were an upstairs room and unable to make it to the ground floor because of the smoke.

Pearse Street, Castle Street and Oliver Plunkett Street were cordoned off, to keep back the large crowds of onlookers who gathered to see the drama.

The two sections of Mullingar fire brigade who fought the fire received assistance from the brigades from Kilbeggan, Castlepollard and Longford.

Helpers removed furniture and fittings from the main portion of the hotel (which was not damaged by the fire), by breaking windows upstairs and dropping them on the main street below. The portions damaged were three ballrooms, three bars, some staff accommodation, part of the kitchen and a number of bedrooms; the laundry and some ESB stores.