Published: Wednesday, 12th May, 2010 5:00pm

Pages from the Past

1860: Large attendance at May Fair

The Athlone May Fair was held on Wednesday, May 16, 1860.

According to the Westmeath Independent: "The attendance of buyers was large but purchases were largely confined to store cattle, which owing to the long drought and scarcity of grass were in poor condition, and consequently reduced in price; for this class there was a fall off of 20s to 30s from the Moate fair.

"Best beef were scarce, sold from 65s to 70s per cwt. Middling and infirm 55s to 60s. Three year old heifers 10 to 14 each, some in condition £15. Two-year-olds, £7 10s to £10. yearlings £4 to £6. Sheep were freely bought at an advance wedders 56s to 60s, some prime at 65s. Best lots, reached from 8d to 96 per lb. Hoggets from 38s to 45s. Lambs 25s to 28s scarce. Pigs and abundant supply. Fat from $4 to £6.10s; stores 45s to 55s,., slips 20s to 30s. Horses limited in number, of an inferior kind, few changed hands."

1910: Meeting to improve eduction system in Athlone

The Westmeath Independent in mid May, 1910, announced the hosting of an important meeting on primary education in Athlone.

"On today (Saturday) at one o'clock, a meeting of more than ordinary importance will be held in the Father Mathew Hall. The object of this meeting is to call attention to the grave defects existing in the present system of Irish primary education, and to call for their removal. Hitherto, the matter of education in this country has been regarded by parents generally, as no concern of theirs. There was a vague idea that the matter was one for the clergy, and that the only duty devolving on parents was to send the children to the school. Even this elementary duty was, to a large extent neglected, and with consequences which are more injurious to the welfare of the nation than any other element in our Government or conditions of life.

True the clergy took a keen interest in the matter of education. They begged for the necessary means, they laboured to remove the stumbling blocks, but all their efforts, aided, as they have been by the teachers' organisations, have failed to provide for us a system of primary education in any way suited to our needs.

In these circumstances, the people are called up on to intervene and lend their aid to force the responsible authorities to do justice in this matter.

An educated mind in a healthy body is what is needed for the child and it generally conceded that the exiting conditions of primary eduction do not tend to produce either the one or the other. The causes are well known. Many of the school houses are unfit for education. They are crowded, ill ventilated, badly heated, and no provision is made for their proper cleansing or the comfort generally of the children.

The object of today's meeting is to direct attention to the existing defects, to suggest the proper remedies, and to so concentrate public opinion on the existing evils as to compel their removal. We trust therefore every parent who possibly can do so, will be in the Fr Mathew Hall today. The Right Rev Monsigor Kelly, D.D., P.P, Dean of Elphin, will preside and amongst the speakers will be the Rev Dean of Clonmacnois, Sir Walter Nugent MP, Mr John P Hayden, MP, Mr M Reddy MP, Mr R Downes, JP, Chairman Westmeath County Council and Mr JJ Coen, JP, Chairman Athlone Urban Council."

1960: Disgusted Gael laments condition of his home town

An Athlone native who had emigrated to London voiced his disgust at the condition of his home town, in a letter to the Westmeath Independent.

The letter writer, who used the pseudonym 'Disgusted Gael', said he had arrived on Holy Thursday and had arranged to meet friends, English tourists, on their way to Galway at the Royal Hotel on Easter Saturday.

"Arriving in Athlone before noon, I was horrified at the spectacle - dirt, filth and traffic congestion, big cattle trucks,, lorries, vans and motor cars, with calves in them or tied on to them. What cruelty! Cows roaming everywhere, even on the footpath. I actually saw one entering a shop door.

"Who is responsible for all that unnecessary congestion and filth in such a progressive town as Athlone, The Gateway To The West, with such a fine fair green that cost so much money.

Human remains found in Crosswood Bog

Human remains were unearthed from Crosswood Bog by turf cutters during May, 1960.

The remains were described as being in "a mummified state" and were well preserved by the bog.

Dr JJ Keane, who examined the remains, said they were of an adult person, but the sex could not be identified.

Inquiries going back over a period before the formation of the Garda force failed to find anyone missing from the area.

At an inquest, Dr Keane speculated the remains could have been in the bog for 30, 40 or 5 years.

The inquest at Athlone courthouse returned an open verdict and an order for burial was given.

Return to: Homepage | News Index | This article