Pages Past: report from 10 years ago says land prices across midlands were falling

Westmeath Examiner, January 30, 2016

Land prices falling

The prices for agricultural land across the midlands were falling – and falling fast.

“Either there’s no money, or it’s going other than into land, the latest figures from Ganly Walters indicate,” stated a first page article in the Westmeath Examiner of January 30, 2016, which said that for the third year in a row, prices had fallen.

The result was that land was at that time at its cheapest since 2010, and was fetching prices less than half of what they were in 2007.

The average price per acre paid in Westmeath during the first 11 months of 2015 was €8,859.

A year earlier, it was €9,045, while in 2012, it was €10,190.

The figure for 2007 was €20,974.

Ganly Walters describes the trend as being a “sign of stability”.

It comments that of the 154 farms that were advertised, sales were recorded for 68, and prices disclosed for 62.

Westmeath Examiner, January 28, 2006

Devastating fire

A devastating fire had at the weekend destroyed the premises of one of the largest employers in the region, that of the C&D Petfoods factory at Edgeworthstown. Fire crews spent nearly 12 hours on site combating the blaze before they were able to declare it extinguished. Around 30 staff were working when the fire began, the cause being suspected to be a piece of equipment that had overheated. Journalist Deirdre Flynn, writing about the disaster, revealed that as many as 150 of the approximately 500 people employed in the factory were from Westmeath, and with predictions abroad saying it could take as long as 16 months before the damage would be fully repaired, there were worries about what lay ahead for staff.

Westmeath Examiner, January 27, 1996

When houses were affordable

Minister for the Environment, Brendan Howlin, TD, was in Westmeath to open two new housing schemes developed by Westmeath County Council, one in Kilbeggan and one in Kinnegad.

To the reader of 2026, it is shocking to see that the cost of the scheme of 10 houses in Kinnegad came to a total of £365,000 (€463,454) – in other words, £36,500 (€46,345) per house.

The 13-house scheme in Kilbeggan came to a total of £425,000 (€539,638), which amounted to £32,692 per house (€41,510).

During the same visit, Minister Howlin also declared open the new £75,000 (€95,230) industrial estate in Kilbeggan.

The report stated that the industrial estate consisted of six sites. Three had already been sold, and two had been built on – one by Peter Wrafter’s Wrafter Woodturning and the second by Gerry Doneghy’s Midland Steel enterprise.

Westmeath Examiner, January 25, 1986

‘Monstrous bureaucracy’

Unconfirmed press reports that the then Health Minister Barry Desmond, TD, was planning to abolish some, if not all, of the country’s eight Regional Health Boards, had evoked the wrath of members of the Midland Health Board when they had convened the previous week for their January meeting. In the course of a debate which united all members of the board, Cllr Camillus Glynn proclaimed that the reported replacement of the health boards by a 25-member committee, to be appointed by Mr Desmond, was tantamount to dictatorship on the part of the minister.

The debate was initiated by Mr Glynn, who said the matter was being viewed with concern by the Association of Health Boards in Ireland. Already that body had sought a deputation to the minister and he reported that he was to be a member of that deputation.

Mr Glynn said the proposals to axe the health boards appeared in a number of newspapers and had not been refuted.

He said it could only be concluded that there was some basis to the stories.

The level of services available in hospitals in the region bore testimony to the effectiveness of regionalised health boards, Mr Glynn told his colleagues.

He said the immense value of the service had been underlined to him on his joining the board and he paid tribute to all the members both past and present, who had contributed to the achievements of the Midland Health Board.

Mr Glynn said the region could now boast a level of services and consultancies which they might not have obtained had the administration of the health service remained with the four county councils in the area.

Westmeath Independent, January 30, 1976

Petrol up by colossal figure of 10p a gallon

The government had just announced details of its budget and some tough price increases were introduced, the lead story in the Westmeath Independent of January 30, 1976 revealed.

“Petrol goes up by the colossal figure of 10p a gallon while spirits (per glass) and the pint of stout or beer jump by 5p,” the report stated.

Also hit by price increases were smokers: “A packet of 20 cigarettes will cost 3p more, with a pro rata increase for cigars and tobacco,” it added.

Variations were also announced in the rates of VAT; items rated at 6.75 per cent were to go up to 10 per cent, and those rated at 19.5 per cent were to go up to 20 per cent.

This latter measure was expected to bring in £30m in revenue for the government, and an additional £50m from the hikes would affect spirits, beer, cigarettes and petrol.

In a front page comment piece reacting to the budget, the editor of the newspaper stated: “For several months past, government ministers have been issuing dire warnings, in a kind of washing of hands attitude, that nobody is to blame but ourselves for the present financial mess. The day of reckoning has now come.”

Westmeath Examiner, January 29, 1966

Seeking better conditions

As the year 1966 opened, bar staff in Mullingar were seeking better pay and conditions. To thrash out a new deal, a meeting was held in the Greville Arms Hotel, Mullingar, between the representatives of the Irish National Union of Vintners, Grocers, and Allied Trades Assistants and the Federated Union of Employers.

The Westmeath Examiner reported that the attendance included Mr Quinn, Mr J Caulfield, Mr P Gallagher, Mr M Hughes and Mr L Caffrey, representing the employers and Mr M Cleary, Mr Cagney, Mr Burke, Mr Healy and local officials of the Barmen’s Union.

However, readers were informed, after a four-hour session, the parties had failed to reach agreement.

The union was seeking £12/10/0 per week and overtime for senior assistants as well as a 43-hour week. Two days off per week and every second Sunday free were also claimed.

“Another point in the claim seeks only one apprentice for each house,” the report continued.

The offer from the employers fell short, however: they wished to pay £11 per week for senior assistants for a 48-hour week, and payment of £1/10/0 overtime for a full day.

Westmeath Independent, January 21, 1956

Library dispute

There was a dispute between local teachers and the Longford-Westmeath Joint Library Committee and a report in the Westmeath Independent of January 21, 1956 revealed that it was considered at a meeting of the committee in Mullingar.

The situation that had arisen saw the members of the Westmeath Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), who acted as voluntary librarians in schools for the library committee, withdraw their services in protest against the action of Westmeath County Council in not electing any teachers to the library and vocational committees.

“It was stated at the meeting that there are 58 centres in the two counties, and book exchanges in most of the Westmeath centres have been held up since before Christmas because of the withdrawal of the teachers,” the report explained.

It went on to reveal that a resolution had been passed on the proposition of Senator Gerry L’Estrange, asking the INTO to reconsider its decision and promising that the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parties on Westmeath Council would co-opt teachers if any vacancies occurred on the library committee. The report went on to state that a deputation was appointed to meet the INTO if necessary.

Westmeath Examiner, January 26, 1946

Ploughing championship

The Westmeath ploughing championship was held on lands owned by Peter Kiernan at Robinstown, Mullingar, and there was a large attendance for the event, which also featured a hedge-laying and dressing competition.

“In a county of so many hedge fences, this competition was an outstanding attraction,” the report stated.

The winner in Class 1 was PJ Minnock, Kilclare, Durrow; 2, J Deegan Ballyconnell, Ballinagore; 3, James Clarke, Clontytallon.

Class 2: 1, Laurence Minnock, Kilclare, Durrow; 2, Michael Grehan, Lisnamoe, Kilbeggan; 3, Edward Glennon, Porterstown, Killucan.

Class 3: 1, N Merriman, Cloncrave, Kinnegad; 2, Oliver Claffey, Killeenlahan, Ballinagore; 3, Matthew Shaw, Killeenbeg.

Best middle: 1, Laurence Minnock. Best furrow: J Deegan. Best turned-out in field: Mrs McCabe, Gartlandstown.

Hede laying competition: 1, J Reilly, Cullionmore; P Reilly, Cullionmore; 3, J Seery, Cloonagh, Ballynagore.

Westmeath Independent, January 25, 1936

Hunt ball

“One of the most brilliant social functions in the history of the Westmeath Hunt was the annual ball held on Friday night week in Knockdrin Castle, the residence of Sir Richard Levinge, about three miles from Mullingar,” stated an item in the issue of the Westmeath Independent of January 25, 1936.

The writer stated that the ballroom had been decorated with hunting emblems, and the music was supplied by the Charlie Harvey band.

Those present included: Mr Cargil Patrick, Mullingar, Mr Mark Delamere, Messrs Egan, Tullamore, Major Bellingham, Mrs Barrington Goodbody, Mr DE Williams, Tullamore, Captain Boyd-Rochfort VC, Middleton Park; Captain JB Grant, Rathconrath; Captain Gargan, Cullion, Mullingar; Mrs Gargan; Louis Hutchinson and Mrs Hutchinson, Mullingar; T Downes, Russelstown; JR Downes; Colonel Malone; Capt Bayley; Capt Purdon-Winter MFH and Mrs Winter; Sir Levinge, Bart and party; Mrs E Hyde, Lynnbury and Mrs Hyde; Miss Betty McCall; the Hon Miss Minchin, Belmont; Mrs McCarthy, Ledeston; Mrs Moorhead and party; Capt W Purdon and Mr Purdon, Lisnabin; Mrs Malone, Shinglass; Mrs O’Neill, Fitzherbert Delemere, Mullingar; Mrs Hornidge, Mr Goodbody and Lady Dumfries.

Westmeath Independent, January 30, 1926

Goldsmith’s home and law

“As the law stands, it appears the government has not power, even though it might be anxious to do so, to take steps to preserve the ruins of the old home of Oliver Goldsmith at Lissoy,” an item in the edition of January 30, 1926 stated.

Continuing, the writer said that the attention of the president and other ministers had been called to the subject, and it appeared the ruins were not sufficiently ancient to come within the terms of the act which applied to “ancient monuments and places of historical interest”.

The writer concluded to state that it appeared there was no reason admirers of the great man could not take up the question themselves and take the necessary steps to have the ruins at least preserved.

Westmeath Examiner, January 29, 1916

Leinster Regiment

A “largely attended” meeting had taken place the previous Thursday week in the county buildings Mullingar in connection with the raising of funds locally for comforts for the Leinster Regiment on active service, an item in the Westmeath Examiner of January 29, 1916 revealed.

Solicitor Mr JJ Macken presided and a communication from the secretary to the lord lieutenant was read in acknowledgement of a resolution from a previous meeting which urged that the 5th Battalion Leinster Regiment be left in Mullingar. The reply stated that the matter was receiving attention.

Mr PJ King, clerk, Delvin Union, wrote on behalf of the Delvin Coursing Club enclosing a cheque for £2 10s for the comfort fund and adding that the committee of the club desired to say that they hoped in the course of a few weeks to send a much larger amount to show their appreciation of “the gallant Leinsters whose many deeds of valour and glory will rank in a foremost place in the history of this great war”. A vote of thanks to the club was passed.

Westmeath Examiner, January 27, 1906

Ball at Corry, Rathowen

The dancers of yore clearly had great stamina, as a report in the edition of January 27 1906 of a “splendid ball” held at Corry, Rathowen, stated that “the dancing, which opened about 8.30, closed about the same hour the following morning”.

It was also, apparently, “admirable”.

The report stated that the ball had been held under the auspices of an energetic committee – Messrs J Dardis, J Kerrigan, Peter Farrell, J McLoughlin, M Murray, and B Cox.

“The Rev Peter Ledwith, PP, the respected pastor of the parish, kindly consented to give the use of the school for the occasion.”

Going on with the detail, the writer said that Miss Duck, Winetown, and Miss Tormey, Rathowen, two talented young ladies, added to an enjoyable night’s sport by their rendering of some national and comic songs.

At 1 o’clock a cold supper was served under the able and skilful management of Mrs Peter Keane, Mrs John Dardis, and Mrs Thomas Tormey.

After an enjoyable night’s sport Mr James McLoughlin proposed, and Mr Thomas Cox seconded, a cordial vote of thanks to Rev Peter Ledwith, PP, which was received with great applause, for his kindness in placing the school at the disposal of the committee.

The following attended: P Hughes, C Hughes, Miss L Hughes, Mr J McLoughlin, J McLoughlin, B McLoughlin, Miss R McLoughlin, M Ryan, J Ryan, Miss M Ryan, Miss M A Glennon, Miss M Glennon, Miss A Tormey, Miss M Tormey, Mrs M Murray, Miss T Murray, Miss M A Ledwith, P Murray, B Murray, Mrs Moran, Miss L Ward, Miss M L Ward, O Tormey, T P Tormey, Miss M A Tormey, Mrs Tormey, B Cox, L Cox, Miss B Cox, Miss B Kerrin, B Seery, Miss A Seery, J Kilmurray, Mrs J Kilmurray, J Dardis, Mrs J Dardis, Miss L Dardis, J Kerrigan, M Kerrigan, Miss K Kerrigan, Miss R A Kerrigan, Mrs J Fox, Miss E Cox, P Keane, Mrs P Keane, Miss JM Keane, Ed Browne, Miss J Newman, J Kean, J Molloy, T Murray, M Murray, H Murray, M McCormack, D McCormack, Miss L McCormack, J Carolin, Miss M Murriarty, Miss L Murriarty, Miss K Fullam, P Dooner, Miss M Dooner, Miss B Dooner, Miss A Dooner, J McGovern, Miss B McGovern, Miss J McGovern, Miss E Duck, Miss M Duck, J Ballesty, J Keerey, J Hafford, M McCormack, Miss K McCormack, J Bennett.

The music was supplied by Messrs Keena and Sons, Lenamore “and several other artistes”.