Pages from the Past

1860 Parliamentary elections and the 237 voters A full list of the registered voters for the Westminster parliamentary borough of Athlone was published in the Westmeath Independent during October 1860. The list comprised 237 names and is a fine resource for local historians as it provides a comprehensive guide to the main business and town leaders in the town 150 years ago. Check our website www.westmeathindependent.ie/pagesfromthepast for the full list. The list was published with the following story: “A court for the revision of the list of parliamentary voters for this borough was held on Saturday by Charles J. Coffey, Esq. Chairman Co. Westmeath; John Ennis Esq, MP, also occupied a seat on the bench. The usual interest which attended the proceedings on this annual revision was not wanting, and the desire to obtain the franchise was apparently as strong as on any previous occasion. Mr. J. W. Fair supported the Conservative interest and Mr. Daniel Lyons and Mr. J. Wilson were equally zealous on the other side. Both sides - as is always the case - claim a majority on the lists; but there is no doubt that the Conservative position is considerably improved. 1910 Athlone footballer makes waves in Leeds The following appeared in the Westmeath Independent of October 8, 1910. “In the Leeds City AFC official programme and journal for 1910/1911, the following note appears under a photo of J.T. Enright: To look at the photo of Joey Enright which appears above, one is struck by his youthful appearance, yet - although from the top of his head to this socks, there are only exactly 66 inches, and an avoidpois of only ten stone - when watching him on the field of play it seems remarkable what a seething mass of energy bone and muscle is displayed. His shooting at goal is terrific and his command over both ball and man seems quite remarkable for a lad with such apparently frail physique. He quickly gained the affections of our crowd by his fearless and cleverly executed manoeuvring. He can ply a pass with such accuracy that one would need to work it out in decimals. He has been dubbed a veritable box of tricks. Born in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, in Ireland, on June 23rd 1890, this youth showed such undoubted ability when playing for Dublin Shelbourne that he was chosen to play for the Irish League against the English League at centre forward and again last season against the Scottish League at inside left when only 19.” 1960 The last sheep fair on Athlone streets The Athlone October Sheep Fair was moved from the streets of the town to the Fair Green for the first time in its history in 1960. The Westmeath Independent reported in October 1960 that the traditional practice of holding the big October sheep fair on the streets of the town had ended. “This welcome change came into operation on Monday, as sheep farmers co-operating with the Guards, moved to the Fair Green, with their stock. Generally farmers welcomed the move as they found it more convenient to sell their sheep in the Fair Green where they were not hampered by traffic. As one farmer put it: “We only wanted a lead.” “In the past, the October sheep fair in Athlone created a nightmare for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Roads and footpaths on the main thoroughfares were cluttered up with sheep, thereby creating chaos. When the fair was over, shopkeepers had to move out with hoses to wash away the dirty mess from the front of their premises.” PAYE - an unpopular tax! In an editorial in the issue of October 15, 1960, the Westmeath Independent commented on the introduction of the PAYE tax system. Headed “An Unpopular Tax”, it read: “The Pay As You Earn system of collecting income tax is now in operation in the Republic and reports so far show that it is working smoothy. Of all the impositions made on the individual, income tax is the most unpopular and the reasons for this unpopularity are not far to seek. First, the income tax payer does not appear to get any tangible return for the money he unwillingly subscribes, and secondly, he is the victim of a system from which people with far greater resources that he can escape. It is not really suited to a country like Ireland where salary and wage earners form a small proportion of the community. Income tax was first introduced into this country by the British Government at a time when the two islands were administered from London and they system was continued by our own Government despite strong and prolonged protests. Those opposed to income tax pointed out that it suited industrial countries only and that therefore it was unjust and unfair to inflict it on the people here. But their appeals fell on deaf ears.”