Pages Past: from M4 crime fears to Telecom's present

Westmeath Examiner, Saturday December 26, 2015

Special memories in Rathwire

A new day had dawned just that week for the pupils and staff of St Joseph’s National School, Rathwire. The previous Monday, the 238 pupils and staff at the school closed the door on a premises that had served the community for 51 years.

In a memorable closing ceremony, the entire school body, as well as the parents and past pupils, received a garda escort to the new 16 classroom school, 500 metres down the road.

Principal, Sé McCarthy, reading out the final roll call, reminded the children to bring their school bags, and at the new premises, joked that he had asked Santa for a new school for Christmas.

For 10 years the St Joseph’s National School community had been working towards a new facility, and at the time of leaving, the campus included seven prefabs.

The task of locking the door on the old school for the final time fell to Naois McNulty, the eldest pupil, and the retired deputy principal Frances Flynn.

The official opening of the door of the new school was performed by the youngest pupil, Cerys Hogan.

Westmeath Examiner, December 31 2005

Motorway crime fears

Fears that the new M4 would provide an escape route for criminals formed the lead story in the final edition of December 2005. At Dáil Éireann level, Deputy Willie Penrose raised the question of garda staffing levels in the area and in an interview with the Westmeath Examiner said local people wanted more gardaí provided.

“It’s a big expanding area and a number of people have brought to my attention the need for additional patrol cars and the need for increased numbers of garda in the wider area so it is served properly,” he stated.

Deputy Penrose explained to the Westmeath Examiner that locals believed their areas could be targeted by “hit and run criminals” from Dublin who might avail of the new motorway to make high-speed unhindered escapes after committing crimes in this area.

Westmeath Examiner, December 23, 1995

Telecom’s Christmas present

In today’s world of mobile phones, free-to-use programmes such as WhatsApp when we can ring anywhere in the world for free, we have all forgotten how different – and expensive it was 30 years ago.

At that time, the cost of a five minute daytime call from Clara to Mullingar was 52p (64c) and a five minute off-peak call cost 35p (44c).

However, there was an end-of-year good news present for telephone subscribers in 1995 when Telecom Éireann announced a new pricing system which was set to benefit telephone users in parts of Westmeath.

In a letter to Deputy Paul McGrath, Michael Lowry, TD, Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications, said that Telecom Ireland intended extending 18 of its local call areas nationwide from January 3. Customers in those areas were going to be able to make calls at the local rate to a far greater number of people, the minister explained.

The areas locally that were to benefit were a swathe of territory from Clara to Mullingar.

The report revealed that from January 3, calls to and from the extended areas were to be reduced from the then current A trunk rate charge. That was going to mean a cut in the daytime rate to 24p (30c) and a similar call at the reduced rate was to fall to 12p (15c).

Westmeath Independent, December 27 1985

Remembering Christy Maye and Pat Cooney

Two men of note who both have died this year happen to crop up in the same column, ‘Independent at Large’, in the last Westmeath Independent of 1985. The writer spoke of businessman Christy Maye, who died in May of this year, and politician Pat Cooney, who died just this month.

In the item about Christy Maye, the writer said that in the Greville Arms Hotel he had recently spotted Christy the well-known businessman looking over his fine premises.

“The Bridge House, Tullamore is a credit to his initiative and now the Greville Arms in Mullingar enjoys a thriving business thanks once again to his enterprise,” stated the writer, going on to remark that “the magnificent and plush disco” there must be one of the finest in the country.

“We hear so much about the foreign industrialists who come into this country and provide employment but little is said in public of the dynamic young businessmen like Christy Maye who provide not only great employment but equally wonderful facilities.”

The next item revealed that the Minister for Defence, Pat Cooney, TD, had been thrown from an army horse while riding unaccompanied in the Phoenix Park recently.

Happily Mr Cooney was none the worse for his experience.

The writer said that Mr Cooney was well known as a horse riding enthusiast and huntsman. A spokesman at the department described the incident as a minor mishap and emphasised that the minister was unhurt.

The columnist revealed that if Mr Cooney had a few minutes to spare during otherwise tight schedules, he liked to get away from it all for a break in the park.

“Shortly after 9am on the day of the accident, special branch detectives were alerted when the horse on which the minister had ridden out returned to the barracks without him. Following a short search of the park, Mr Cooney was discovered making his way back on foot.”

The minister later attended that day’s Dáil session.

Westmeath Examiner, December 27, 1975

Bacon and cabbage in Camden

“As is usual in December, the Westmeath Association in London held a bacon and cabbage supper at the Irish Centre, 52 Camden Square, and it was the best attended supper for the last 10 years,” stated the lead story in the final edition of the Westmeath Examiner of 1975.

Continuing, the writer stated that the function was also one of the most enjoyable held by the association to date, and the chairman Seamus Troy and his energetic committee were congratulated by one and all for providing the members with a magnificent night of enjoyment and a final chance to get together for a chat before Christmas.

The supper commenced at 8pm, but before the supper, Vy Rev Fr Fitzsimons, of Tooting, a native of Clonmellon and president of the Westmeath Association in London, celebrated Mass for the deceased friends and relatives of the association; also for friends and relatives of anybody who helped in any way to make the association one of the most successful in London. The church was packed to capacity, and Fr Fitzsimons, in a short sermon, said he was proud of the members, who always remember friends and relatives who are called to their eternal reward.

Among those who spoke at the function were Mr Troy, as well as the vice-chairman Mr PJ Caffrey and Fr Ryan, chaplain to the Irish Centre, who was presented with a cheque for £100 for the centre on behalf of the association.

Fr Ryan said the money would assist Irish emigrants who, through no fault of their own, were experiencing hard times.

Westmeath Examiner, December 25, 1965

Change at the top

There had been some changes in the officerships of the GAA after the 116 delegates who attended the annual Westmeath GAA convention in the Lake County Hotel the previous Sunday had finished their deliberations, the Westmeath Examiner of December 25, 1965 reported.

The new chairman was to be Frank McEntaggart, NT, of Dalystown, who replaced Commandant Dennis O’Callaghan, the outgoing chairman, who did not seek re-election.

Mr McEntaggart defeated Paul Dunican of Kilbeggan and Colm Mulvihill in the vote for the role. The other officers selected were: vice-chairman, Reverend P Mackin, CC; secretary Mr P Flanagan, outgoing, unopposed; assistant secretary, Tony Gilligan, outgoing, unopposed; treasurer Mr Edward Higgins, MCC, outgoing, unopposed. Registrar Mr Ned Martin, outgoing, unopposed.

Delegate to Central Council Reverend L Cremin O Carm, Moate, outgoing, unopposed. Delegates to Leinster Council Mr P Flanagan, outgoing, and Mr M Slevin. Delegates to Leinster Convention and Congress Mr C Whelehan,, Mr John Bradley, Commandant D O’Callaghan, Mr D Nolan, and Mr TJ Finneran.

Westmeath Examiner, December 31, 1955.

Electrifying!

There was good news for the residents of the Hill of Down with the announcement from the ESB that electricity was about to be brought to their area under the rural electrification scheme. The report in the Westmeath Examiner stated that the residents of that area who had already applied for an electricity supply should enquire at the ESB area office in Clonard to check that their applications had been accepted.

The item went on to state that electrical contractors were advised that in the Hill of Down area, 280 houses were ready for immediate wiring.

“As the ESB operatives will remain in the area only until the networks are completed, it is essential for persons desiring to use the electricity supply to get their premises wired as soon as possible; otherwise they may have to wait for a considerable time before they can be connected to the supply lines,” the report stated.

Continuing the writer explained that the ESB staff were working to a timed plan in extending rural electricity all over the country and it was not possible to keep sending operatives back to areas already developed if premises were not wired in time.

“Cooperation in this respect by people in areas under development is of great assistance to the Rural Electrification Organisation,” the item concluded.

Westmeath Examiner, December 29 1945

Honour for Kinnegad-born cleric

There was delight at the announcement that the Kinnegad-born Archbishop of St Louis, Missouri, Dr John Glennon, had been named as one of 32 prelates who had been named as new members of the Sacred College of Cardinals by His Holiness the Pope.

Dr Glennon was born in 1862 and studied at St Mary’s Diocesan College, Mullingar, and afterwards All Hallows, and was ordained at Kansas City in 1884. He then studied for a postgraduate qualification at the University of Bonn and, returning to Kansas City, filled various ecclesiastical offices including secretary and vicar general to the bishop before his elevation to the Episcopacy in 1896 as Bishop of Pinara.

In 1903, he was transferred to St Louis as coadjutor archbishop and six months later he became archbishop at the age of 41 years, the youngest archbishop in America, and probably in the world.

He preached at the foundation and dedication ceremonies of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar and also spoke at the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932.

He was responsible for the construction of the magnificent cathedral in St Louis. He erected two new seminaries for the archdiocese, opened 23 new parishes, built many churches and schools.

Westmeath Examiner, December 28, 1935

Brosna pollution

The condition of the River Brosna had come in for serious condemnation at a meeting of the Westmeath Board of Health the previous Monday, at which Mr MJ Kennedy, TD, chairman, presided.

Mr Brett told the meeting that a man who had been head attendant in the mental hospital had two children in the county hospital suffering from diphtheria and he blamed the condition of the River Brosna for it.

The boys had been down there and he believed they got the infection from the river.

Mr Shaw said that some months earlier, he had made strong remarks regarding the disgraceful condition of the River Brosna. A heavy dog could walk across the river he claimed, stating that 250,000 gallons of sewage were discharged into the river and it was just lying there.

Mr Shaw said that the town was a laughing stock and it was a farce to go on talking of sanitation when the whole sewerage system of the town was blocked and was undoubtedly going to be responsible for an outbreak of disease.

He said the river had not been cleaned for three years and stated that if he was living near the river, he would take an action against the Board of Health. He believed that £500 would pay for the cost of cleaning the river.

Mr Hayden remarked that the health of the people was more valuable than what it would cost to clean and he suggested that they see that necessary work was done.

Dr O’Neill, the county medical officer, told the meeting that he had reported on the condition of the Brosna but that his responsibility ended there. It was for the Board of Health to take action in the matter.

On the suggestion of members, the chairman said he would call to the office of the Board of Works when in Dublin that week to try to find out what was going on.