Published: Wednesday, 28th October, 2009 4:50pm

More than half Athlone businesses were public houses

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1859 - 150 Years Ago: According to the Westmeath Independent of October 29, 1859, more than half of Athlone's business premises were public houses.

The paper reported there were 156 business houses in the town, of which 86 were licensed public houses.

Army, council and police join forces against prostitutes

Having expressed concern (reported in last week's issue) about the level of prostitution in Athlone, members of the town commission heard in late October 1859 that the commanding officer of the garrison in Victoria Barracks would co-operate in keeping the town bridge and neighbourhood of the barracks clear of prostitutes.

Major Nason told a deputation of town commissioners that he would ensure the area would be patrolled by military personnel whose "duty it would be to prevent soldiers from loitering or congregating in those places.

He also said that to effectively put a stop to the nuisance it would be necessary for the civil power to be equally vigilant.

However, the town constable, who was employed by the commissioners, told the meeting that he could not attempt the arrest of these women without the support of the police.

On one occasion he had to show a knife to protect himself, he said.

1909

100 Years Ago

Military help save the day as fire threatens

British army soldiers from the local barracks helped to put out a fire that threatened famous Athlone firm Lysters, the Westmeath Independent reported in late October 1909.

The fire broke out on Saturday morning, October 23rd and while staff of the Athlone Gas Works, who appeared to double as the local fire service, were first on the scene, they required the assistance of the military fire brigade.

The Westmeath Independent reported the fire had broken out in a workshop and offices owned by Messrs P Lyster and Sons, on land enclosed between King St, Queen St, Bastion St and O'Connell St.

Although the workshop (a substantial two storey building) and offices were gutted, matters turned out relatively benign as any spread of the fire "would have threatened the destruction of a valuable and extensive property and the whole congested area".

Over 60 soldiers manned two military fire engines to put out the fire.

1959

50 Years Ago

Rare birds shot in

Athlone

Two stories of rare birds were making the headlines of the Westmeath Independent this week back in 1959.

The first, was captured in a photo on page two of the newspaper as Mr William Ganley of Killeenmore, Glasson, is pictured with a rare Great Northern Diver duck.

Mr Ganley shot the bird while out duck shooting on Lough Ree earlier in the week, the paper relayed.

"This bird is a very rare visitor to Ireland and it is presumed that it came here during the recent storm.

It is seldom found further south than Scotland," the article revealed.

"On Saturday last the bird was on display at Foy's Church Street, Athlone, and attracted a good deal of interest," it concluded.

Then, on page six we hear of Mr Michael Tiernan, who while shooting killed a rare bird identified as a great Skua, a predatory sea bird, which is found chiefly on the Shetland Islands.

"It has only been recorded in Ireland thirteen times and then only on the coast.

The National Museum has taken the bird for preservation as up to this they only have one specimen of this rare sea bird," the article concluded.