Published: Tuesday, 8th June, 2010 3:59pm

Pages from the Past

1860

Died three days before his wedding

The story of a man who dropped dead on the way three days before his marriage ceremony featured in the Westmeath Independent dated June 9, 1860.

The Westmeath Independent carried this report: "An awful exemplification of the uncertainty of human life occurred on Monday within a short distance of Ballinasloe. It had been known for some time past that Captain Thompson, son of John Thompson, Esq, D.L. of Clonfin, county Longford, was about to form a matrimonial alliance with Miss Bell, the amiable and highly accomplished daughter of Captain James Bell, of Ardcarne, Ballinasloe."

The wedding was due on Thursday, June 7 and Captain Thompson had been staying in Ballinasloe where he had proposed remaining until the wedding.

"On Monday morning, he left at an early hour with the intention of proceeding by train from Ballinasloe to Mullingar; when a short distance from the house, he took suddenly ill on the car and was conveyed back to Ardarne.

It was soon found that Captain Thompson was alarmingly ill and medical aid was procured with all possible speed. Three doctors arrived and the "gentleman, it was found, was labouring under epilepsy, which had been brought on by indigestion".

"Everything was done which medical skill could suggest but the patient sank rapidly, and after several fits expired from apoplexy.

"He had left the house but a short time previous in full buoyancy of the prime of his life, looking forward with the happiest feelings to the joyous occasion which it was believed was but a few days off, and now, alas he was lifeless corpse."

1910

Beware clubs and socialism - Bishop

The Bishop of Elphin Dr Clancy made a visit to St Peter's parish in early June 1910 and administered the sacrament of confirmation to some 400 children.

Speaking at the sacrament, Dr Clancy warned about the influence of club life and of the dangers of socialism.

Warning of the danger of club life (clubs such as the Hibernians, the Irish National Foresters and so on were extremely popular in the early years of the century), Dr Clancy said: "This class of social life for young men has grown unfortunately more common in recent years. The more democratic the world becomes, the more young men realise the necessity of meeting one another in groups and discussing matters of public importance.

Although he said this was not an objectionable course of action, he warned about the abuse of these meetings.

"Any form of club life that keeps young men out of their homes til 12 or 1 or 2 o'clock at night is wrong and should be put down," he insisted.

"Not alone are they dangerous to the young men themselves, but they are subversive of all the principles of domestic life and is not the ideal of domestic life this, that the husband shall be at home at a reasonable hour in the evening and should contribute by his presence to the happiness of the family to which he belongs."

Warming to his theme, Dr Clancy also alerted his congregation of what he termed the dangers of socialism

"Now, it is a well-known fact that club life has become in many centres of population a den of socialism and if young men feel that by becoming members of clubs they are being led away, not alone from the sober track of the good virtuous man, but also into wrong opinions and dangerous views regarding the principles of justice and equity between man and man, they ought to regard such life as a good source of danger to their spiritual welfare."

1960

Showing the European Cup final ... a month later

How things have changed. The recent Champions League final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich was shown to a live television audience of over 100 million.

But 50 years ago, a local soccer club was delighted to be able to show the match almost a month later!

The Westmeath Independent reported in early June that Connaught Utd AFC had been successful in obtaining the rights of the European Cup final between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt

The match had been played before 135,000 people in Hampden Park on May 18.

The paper reported: "The display of Real Madrid, in winning by 7 to 3 was acclaimed by some of the world's leading club managers as the greatest exhibition of soccer ever seen."

"The film will be shown for two nights in the Dean Crowe Memorial Hall, Athlone, on Friday and Saturday next, June 17th and 18th."

The new Thatch is opened

The Westmeath Independent reported that the popular lakeside licensed premises at Ballyglass, known to generations of Athlonians, and thousands of visitors, has been superseded by an entirely new building, which was opened to the public on Friday of last week. The old building is being demolished. The new premises are on most up-to-date lines. There is a spacious bar accommodation and the premises generally are fitted with most modern facilities so as to cater for the comfort of customers. Congratulations and good wishes galore have been extended to the proprietor Mr P Harkins and Mrs. Harkins on the occasion of the opening of the new premises.