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Westmeath Examiner March 19 2016

Students rescue woman from canal

Three students from Mullingar Community college were being hailed as heroes after rescuing a woman from drowning in the Royal Canal.

Beauty therapy students Tara Rattigan, Kelly McDermott and Shannon Geoghegan, were relaxing on the banks of the canal close to Saunders Bridge after class the previous Thursday, when they realised an elderly woman was in difficulty in the water.

The girls immediately tried to throw in a life buoy to rescue the woman – but the rope attached to the lifebuoy was badly tangled and knotted – meaning when they tried to throw it to the woman, the rope wasn’t long enough.

As a result, Tara and Kelly went into the canal themselves and helped the woman to safety.

Westmeath Examiner March 18 2006

Good news, and bad

There was good news after bad for a Kilbeggan bus firm, a front page story revealed. Over the course of the Sunday night of that week, three new buses – including two designed for use by special needs passengers – were stolen from their yard. Happily, however, the vehicles were recovered.

The report explained that Esker Bus and Coach Ltd had the three buses lined up and set for delivery on Monday – but thieves had broken in to their compound and made off with the three vehicles, sparking a nationwide hunt.

It was this nationwide hunt and the huge publicity that the thefts generated that ultimately led to the recovery of the buses: the gardaí, apparently, received a number of tip-offs telling them that there were buses matching the description of those stolen parked at locations in Kilkenny and Thurles.

Happily, the buses which had a combined value of €100,000, were not damaged, although the keys were missing.

Two of the three buses were Mercedes Sprinters, and the third was a Renault Traffic. Two of the buses had been converted for use by people with special needs, and were intended for use by local charitable organisations.

Westmeath Examiner March 23 1996

Land Commission families

The date had just passed of the 40th anniversary of the arrival of a number of families from Galway to new Land Commission farms in Westmeath. The families marking the anniversary were those who had moved in March 1956 to Whitepark, Dysart, and to Crowenstown, Delvin.

In all, six families moved to farms of 35-45 acres on what had been Charlie Casey’s farm at Whitepark.

“The journey was made by CIÉ bus. Land Commission officials, headed by the late Paddy Colleran, Mullingar, had the fires blazing and kettles boiling as the Galway people arrived.

“Their stock had come from Galway ahead of them and they were enjoying Westmeath fodder in their new surroundings. The Land Commission had ploughed four acres on each holding and the ground was ready for the spring sowing.

“All their travelling expenses were paid and the initial supply of turf and fodder was also free,” stated the item.

It went on to reveal that the youngest among the group of newcomers had been eight-year-old Martin Lowry, and the most senior was William Corcoran, aged 62.

The families who arrived were native Irish speakers.

Westmeath Examiner March 22 1986

Mullingar Town defeat Newmarket Celtic

There was delight at the achievement of Mullingar Town who had defeated Newmarket Celtic on a scoreline of 2-1 in Mullingar the previous Sunday, to qualify for the quarter finals of the FAI Junior Cup.

“In doing so they have bridged an unbelievable 40-year gap for it is that length of time since Mullingar were represented at this stage of the competition,” stated the writer, going on to remark that it was “truly amazing” to see Mullingar in the last eight of a cup campaign which had kicked off with 650 teams the previous October.

To reach the quarter-final stage, Mullingar Town had played nine games, including two replays, beating seven teams.

“And apart from winning out the midland area, they have beaten Kinvara Boys of the Premier Division of the Amateur League and now Newmarket, winners of the South Western region. All this from a division two team,” stated the writer.

On the Mullingar Town team were: Peter Purcell, Bobby Horan, Jim Moore, Paul Connolly, Michael O’Hehir, Donald Nea, Ned Moore, Bobby Reilly, Padraig Devine, Johnny Corroon and Michael O’Reilly. Reserves: Noel Dempsey and Kevin Geoghegan.

Westmeath Examiner March 20 1976

Leinster Senior Colleges final

In what was to prove a glory year for the Carmelite College’s football team, the focus in the issue of March 20 1976, was the fact that the team were due that Sunday to play St Joseph’s CBS of Fairview, Dublin, in the Leinster Senior Colleges championship final.

The Carmelite team were going in as holders of the 1975 Leinster title, and the article remarked that Moate would be looking to many of that year’s stalwarts to bring home the laurels on the Sunday.

The lineout was to be Mark Guinan from Kilcormack, John carton, Kilbeggan, John Cochrane from Moate, Colm Brazil from Ballinabrackey, Martin Coyne, Moate, Michael Ledwith, Moate, Sean Tone, Rosemount, Vincent Henry, Clara (captain), Aidan O’Halloran, Moate, Eamon Coughlan, Moate, Francis Sheeran, Moate, John Joe Carberry, Rosemount, Danny Owens, Laois, John Kenny Caulry and Martin Horan, Moate. The team trainer was Rev Fr Cremin.

Westmeath Examiner March 19 1966

Annoyed at Late Late Show

The members of the Vocational Education Committee in Westmeath were highly annoyed at the Late Late Show of the previous Saturday night, and passed a resolution protesting against “the use of certain expressions” by a guest on the show, who was not named in the report.

“It was decided to write to Teilifís Éireann asking them to ensure that this individual would not be allowed to appear on Teilifís Éireann any more,” stated the item, going on to recount how the matter had been raised for discussion by Cllr Frank Waters.

Cllr Waters told the meeting that he did not regard himself as an angel or a holy Joe, but he did want to protest to Teilifís Éireann over the “horrible remarks” made by one person on the Late Late Show.

“He said that the person in question had referred to a number of matters including the conduct of children. In his time reading newspapers, he had never yet seen such expressions as he had heard on the show and he wanted to protest.”

Deputy Gerry L’Estrange seconded Cllr Waters’ motion and said there was “too much vulgarity altogether on television”.

“He thought that Gay Byrne could have invited someone else on the programme and leave this man at home in England,” the report stated.

Deputy PJ Lenihan said that “all literature and art was going through a sexy period and people were getting really tired of it”. It was, he predicted, “a phase” and it would pass.

Westmeath Independent March 24, 1956

Dept of Education salaries

A scale of salary increases suggested by the Department of Education for officers and teachers was rejected by the Westmeath Vocational Education Committee at their meeting on the Monday of the week of March 24, 1956. Instead, the committee voted for an all-round increase of £30 a year.

The scale suggested by the department was, for officers other than teachers, 10% on the first £200, 22.5% on the next £50 and 7.5% on salaries from £250 to £965. For teachers, they proposed a 7.5% increase up to £1,135 and 6.5% over that amount. Payment was to be retrospective from November of 1955.

The CEO, Mr M O Boyle, said the cost of the increases from November to March 31 would amount to £488 and the full cost in a year would be £1,468. The department would recoup part of the cost.

It was Mr F J Waters who proposed that the committee give a flat increase of £30 a year to officials and teachers, a proposal seconded by Mr Michael J Kennedy, TD.

Mr Tim McAuliffe, NT, also supported the proposal but was doubtful that the £30 increase would be sanctioned. When it came to a vote, those who voted in favour of the department’s scale were Reverend W Quinn, Reverend Brother Gerald, Messrs Bennett and McAuliffe. Against were Messrs Farrell, Kennedy, Finerty, Keegan, Kilmurray, Lestrange, O’Callaghan and Waters.

The committee also decided to give an increase of £20 a year to caretakers and assistant caretakers as against the proposal of getting an extra 15 shillings a week.

Westmeath Examiner March 23, 1946

Mullingar Little Theatre festival

Mullingar was preparing for a two-week drama festival organised by Mullingar Little Theatre and an item in the Westmeath Examiner of March 23 1946 commented that the organisers had brought before the people of Mullingar “the cream of drama talent” from throughout Westmeath and even from parts of Longford.

Fourteen companies were taking part in the festival, which was being adjudicated by Miss Maureen Delaney from the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.

“Although some distinguished themselves more than others, each company gave a creditable performance. During the festival many examples of really good rural comedy were brought before the audiences,” stated the writer, going on to add that it was hoped that the festival of 1946 would not be the last such event held in Mullingar. The writer said that a feature of the festival was the competition for a play in Irish, and in that category there were two entries.

Westmeath Independent March 21, 1936

Factory location decision

The minister for industry and commerce had turned down a request for a deputation from Mullingar Chamber of Commerce.

At a meeting of the chamber, a letter was read from the Minister, Sean Lemass, to Michael Kennedy, TD. Mr Kennedy had written to Mr Lemass enclosing a letter from Mullingar Chamber of Commerce, seeking a meeting with the minister.

However, the minister replied that, as Deputy Kennedy would be aware, the government were not empowered to require that new industrial enterprises should be located in towns selected by the government.

“The decision on the selection of a new factory is primarily a matter for those who propose to finance and operate it,” the minister wrote, adding that he could, however, say that the government would be glad to be in a position to assist any practical proposal for industrial development in the Mullingar area.

“In view of the position, however, no purpose will be served by my meeting with the deputation from the Mullingar Chamber of Commerce unless they are in a position to put forward definite proposals, in which event I would wish to have the particulars of such proposals in advance,” he said. The report concluded by stating that no comment had been made on the letter.

Westmeath Examiner March 20, 1926

Shooting Mullingar Mental Hospital

The big topic for discussion at a meeting of the committee of management of Mullingar Mental Hospital was a shooting that had recently occurred at the facility. Dr Gavin, RMS, in his monthly report, stated that on the evening of a day in February, as attendants Lyster and Creamer were leaving the grounds of the institution, a shot was fired and attendant Creamer received a bullet in the left leg.

The civic guards were communicated with and Dr Kearney called into consultation. The attendant was sent to a Dublin hospital and the bullet removed. The attendant was, he stated, now convalescent.

Mr J Leonard of County Meath asked at the meeting if any reports had been received on the matter from the civic guards. Dr Gavin stated that the bullet had been extracted from the wounded man and the guards said they were on the track of the perpetrator. Mr Leonard asked if an investigation amongst the staff and in the institution had been made, to which Dr Gavin responded that the last time a bullet was fired was in 1921.

Reverend Father O’Farrell, PP Ballivor, said he would move that the committee condemn in the most emphatic manner the murderous outrage committed in that institution on one of the hospital attendants and that the members hoped the criminal would be brought to justice.

Dr Gavin said he had since personally received an anonymous letter of a threatening nature which was to the effect that unless he settled this matter satisfactorily, he too might look out. A similar notice had been sent to the head attendant and Dr Gavin added that it was the third threat he had received since he came to the institution.