Source: Tuam Herald, 29 October, 1887

By our correspondent

A most unfortunate and serious affray took place at Athenry on Thursday night just before the train from Dublin for Galway came in. It having become known that Mr Roche who was sentenced to three weeks imprisonment at Woodford for not having allowed himself to be brutally illused by the police in their baton charge and Mr. Martin Egan who after having eluded the police for a considerable time was at length taken, would be sent to Galway by that train, a large number of the inhabitants of Athenry headed by the temperance band to the station to wish them God’s speed. Thursday being the fair day, the town was crowded with country people and it is said they are principally the “Gaelics”,be that as it may an opposition party came upon the platform and while waiting for the train a serious conflict tool place. It is said that one party was armed with sticks while the others were defenceless but that was speedily remedied by pulling up the railings surrounding the station. There was only one policeman at first but he was speedily reinforced, yet the whole force had great trouble in keeping the combatants asunder. Blood was spilled profusely and even hours afterwards the station presented the appearance of a slaughter house, seats, waiting rooms and platform being covered with blood.

Some of the injured travelled to Galway to have their wounds dressed. It is now high time that strong measures were adopted by the Executive of the National League to put an end to the brawling which has gone on so long and has now culminated in this atrocious outrage on public decency. We do not wish to apportion blame, in fact the time since occurred: has been too short to allow of any inquiries being made, but so far as our inquiries have gone, they point clearly to the Gaelic men as the aggressors and it is alleged by eye witness one of their leaders struck the first blow. The police drew a cordon between the parties and kept them separated until dispersed. Mr Broderick, PLG, is among those who received bad treatment.