Pages from the Past

1860 My kingdom for a horse! The local town commissioners opted to hire a worker and horse to help water and clean the streets in the town, rather than bear the cost of purchasing a horse. The decision came following a discussion at the May monthly meeting of the body in 1860. According to the Westmeath Independent report the decision followed a number of motions calling for footpaths to be laid on various streets in the town, including Queen Street, Church Street and Excise Street. Edward Sproule's motion for a new footpath on Excise Street was agreed to, while John McDonnell was successful in obtaining a footpath on one side of Queen Street although Michael Lyster was denied a request for a footpath on the opposite side. An application by Laurence Kelly for a footpath on the lower end of Church Street was also assented to, but a committee was appointed to obtain estimates and report back to the board with the most economical plan. The discussion prompted Patrick Maxwell to ask that a watering cart be re-employed as it had done such a good job on its last outing. The chairman Mr Patrick Rourke said the only difficulty was the arrangement for a horse. Patrick Murphy proposed that a horse be purchased and its service applied during the cleansing as well as the watering of the street. However, it was agreed it would be "more economical to hire a horse and man". 1910 The telephone comes to Athlone! Hailing the introduction of a local telephone service to Athlone and a connection with Dublin, the Westmeath Independent, in April 1910, remarked: "These facilities should prove of very considerable public utility as experience has shown elsewhere that the direct personal communication of the telephone is in many instances much more satisfactory than the telegraph message. " The paper reported that the provision by the Post Office Engineering staff of the local service and the trunk connection with Dublin through Clara and Tullamore meant an outlay on the part of the Post Office of £3,000 or more. The local exchange or call station would be situated in the Post office and be in the charge of special staff. There was the capacity for some 223 connections on the town circuit and this service would probably be considerably expanded, the paper, said when the public became more used and better acquainted with the advantages of this method of communication. Military camps pop up close to canal The benefits of the military presence in Athlone in the early part of the century was obvious from an article in the Westmeath Independent in early May 1910. The paper reported that the special reserve of the Wicklow and Limerick City Artillery would assemble for training in Athlone that week for 15 days, The number of men would be about 500 and they would be accommodated in an encampment erected in the field of Mr. R Baile's adjoining the Canal Bank opposite the Ranelagh school. The town mains water supply had been tapped and a necessary connection had been made with the camp. About 100 bell tents had been erected and a large number of marquees as well as the necessary sanitary and cooking arrangements were in place, the paper said. Each of the tents was floored with timber and would afford sleeping accommodation for six men, the paper said. The camp would be occupied by successive brigades during the summer including Mid Ulster, Donegal, Londonderry, Tipperary, Dublin City, Sligo, Clare and Waterford Reserves. 1960 Successful season for Athlone Rugby Club The annual meeting of Athlone Rugby Club in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel in late April 1960 unanimously re-elected Dr J.J. Keane as president for the tenth successive year. It was that announced that the famous Wolfhounds international fifteen, a touring side composed of Irish, English, Welsh, Scottish and French internationals would play in Athlone on September 25. Their opponents will be an Athlone selected side which will also be mainly composed of Irish international players, including Tony O'Reilly and Athlone-born Locky Butler. Honorary Secretary E. Rourke said 1959 had been the best season since the club was formed in 1951. The capturing of the Connacht Junior Cup had been the main triumph, he said. The senior team reached the Connacht Senior Final but were defeated. And 1959 also saw the first Athlone schoolboy fifteen, started by Dr. Keane. The Westmeath Independent report of the AGM noted: "This project has progressed and branched out to a remarkable degree and what started as a purely local idea has now done much to further the cause of schoolboy rugby in Connacht. The following were elected for the 1960/61 season: President: Dr. J.J. Keane, Vice Presidents: Dr. P O'Beirne and Mr P. Shiel; Hon. Secretary: Mr. E. Rourke; Joint Hon. Treasurers: Mr. J.C. Caley and Mr. C.T. Doughan. Captain first fifteen: Don Harrington; Vice Captain: Eamonn Doyle; Captain schoolboy: Michael Nee; Vice Captain Michael Tormey; Committee: Comdt. M. McMahon; Messrs. P. Cooney; P. Grogan; J. McNeill; H. Flinn and J. O'Meara.