Source: Galway Express

March 9 1889

On Monday night considerable bustle was in town expecting the arrival of Mr. P.C. Kelly, of this town, and chairman of the late Temperance Society, who was to come by the 8.30 p.m. train from Dublin. Some disturbance was apprehended owing to crowds collecting in various places to greet Mr. Kelly on his arrival, but luckily nothing of a serious nature took place. Torches were displayed in various places on the route up from the railway to the town. On stepping from the train Mr. Kelly was greeted with a hearty cheer.

The election of Poor Law Guardians is close at hand, and it is to be hoped that the electors of the Athenry Division will return a suitable person, who will keep the rates from assuming enormous proportions. The electors of Athenry have been taught a lesson by previous elections, and this on the “sewerage plan”. To whatever extent they may be goaded by the cry of politics and popularity”, it is now high time for them to consult their pockets. Some short time ago the poor-rates for the Athenry division was only 10d. in the £, and now it is 1s.11d.

I was astonished the other day when I was informed that the Land League blacksmith was getting out-door relief. The Land League funds are not at such low-water mark surely as not to be able to pay their blacksmith.

April 13 1889

A special train conveying Mr. Wm. O’Brien, M.P., arrived here at 12.30, from whence he was conveyed to Galway jail as soon as it was possible to transfer him to the special train to Galway. A large police force, under County-Inspector O’Brien and District-Inspector Hamilton, proceeded to the railway station. Shortly before the train arrived, and when the platform was reached, orders were at once given to clear the platform, which was done with little difficulty. A party of over seven or eight refused to leave the platform, and force had to be used. One of the party, a dry wall builder, attempted to assault the head-constable, but with little dexterity the head-constable make him “bite the dust” on the platform Several scrimmages of a similar kind took place in the short interval while the “lion-hearted” member was changing trains. Much credit is due to Constable Miskel for his efficiency on this occasion.

It was expected that resistance would to some extent be offered on this occasion, owing to the exposure of the “breeches-pocket” tactics, which has been practised in the past. I saw a good many new admirers of the Member at the station on this occasion. Every Leaguer in and around Athenry must vow against putting any coin into his “breeches pockets”, and as every person around Athenry is conversant with this, I need only mention it in order to have the matter attended to.

I never saw anything dying so easily as the “Cause” around here. Every person is free to do and act as he pleases, and except on rare occasions, such as the transfer of a stump-speaker to the county jail, there is nothing exciting. It is to be hoped that this respect for the law will continue in the future as it has been in the past