Pages from the past

150 YEARS AGO 1861 Fire at Portlick Castle Portlick Castle was burned down on Wednesday, July 17, 1861, according to a report in the Westmeath Independent. "A considerable amount of plates, furniture, books, &c, were destroyed by the flames," the paper said. "We have not been able to ascertain how this occurred but the property destroyed amounts to some thousands of pounds." The same issue reported that the dead body of a man was discovered on a train at Athlone station. "The deceased (a man named Finan) had just returned from America, and was on his way to Swinford, in the county Mayo. He took the train at Portarlington and died during the journey here." 100 YEARS AGO 1911 Another Royal visit recorded The Queen's recent visit to Ireland sparked a media frenzy. One hundred years ago, the Westmeath Independent reported, briefly, on a similar royal visit, this time of King George V. "The Royal visit to Ireland came to a close on Wednesday when the King and Queen with the Prince of Wales and Princess Mary left Kingston for Wales. Their visit to Ireland was unmarred by any incident and their stay was marked by a continuous demonstration of the people's good will and affection." In a letter to the people of Ireland, published in the Westmeath Independent of July 15, 1911, King George V said: "I cannot leave Ireland without at once giving expression to the feelings of joy and affection inspired by the wonderful reception which the people of Dublin have just given to the Queen and myself. "Wherever we have gone we and our children have been welcomed with a spontaneous and hearty loyalty that has greatly touched our hearts and made a permanent impression. Without effort and without restraint, and in obedience to what seemed a natural impulse of good will the entire populace, men, women and children came out into the streets and parks to give us a true Irish welcome. We shall never forget it. We greatly admired the decoration of your streets and feel grateful for the efforts we know were made in all parts of the city to add to the pleasure of our visit." 50 YEARS AGO 1961 Stole to feed picture-house addiction A 13-year-old boy was stealing money in order to feed an addiction, the local children's court heard during July - albeit the addiction was to "the pictures". The boy admitted entering a local shop on three different occasions and stealing a total of £21-10-0 He was given the probation act having made restitution to the shopkeeper, John Macken, Mardyke Street. The court was told the boy was addicted to going to the pictures and at the time was short of money. "Since then he had been banned by his father from going to the pictures," the report said. TD, later President, bids farewell in Athlone Erskine Childers, later to be President of Ireland, bid farewell to his constituents in Athlone during July 1961. Childers who was then Minister for Transport and Power was coming to the end of his Dáil career as he had decided not to stand in the general election which was to take place within weeks. According to the Westmeath Independent report of his farewell to members of Athlone Comhairle Ceantair Fianna Fáil, he had represented South Roscommon for ten years, the Athlone and Longford area for 23 years and the rest of Westmeath for 13 years. 25 YEARS AGO 1986 College Park is officially opened In the Westmeath Independent of July 11, 1986, it was described as "Athlone's newest and arguably most modern housing estate". College Park was officially opened the previous Monday by then Chairman of Athlone UDC, Senator Sean Fallon. The report read: "Incorporating 35 houses of which 31 are two-storeyed, 3-bedroomed and 4 single-storeyed smaller units for elderly families, College Park cost the Council £1.2m. "Described by Senator Fallon as 'the finest local authority scheme in the country', the College Park development commenced in May, 1984, and the first of the 35 families moved in last Christmas. Also included in the scheme is a public car park for 120 vehicles, which is sandwiched between the estate and Connaught Street and there is a newly-opened pedestrian lane to Connaught St," the report stated. Row over councillor's attack on students Remarks by an Athlone councillor over the behaviour of students at the then Athlone Regional College sparked controversy during July 1986. Cllr John Butler accused students at the college of "being the worst blackguards" in the area. His comments came at an Athlone council meeting which followed another row between Cllr Butler and the Students Union when he accused students of being responsible for disturbances in the area where he lived. The council meeting was addressed by representatives of St Kieran's Terrace residents who spoke of disturbances in the area as a result of what they described as late night drinking facilities in the area. Cooney leads area's No to Divorce vote In early July 1986, the Westmeath Independent reported that over 70% of Longford/Westmeath voters had rejected the Government's proposal to remove the ban on divorce and to permit the Oireachtas to introduce a limited form of divorce. In Longford/Westmeath, 10,355 people voted in favour of the proposal (30%) while 70% or 25,087 voted against. Roscommon had an electorate of 41,491 - 19,597 (676.7%) voted no while 5,747 said 'yes'. Then Minister for Education Paddy Cooney disagreed with his own Government and campaigned for a No vote. The paper reported: "Some weeks ago Mr Cooney caused a nationwide sensation when he broke ranks with his Cabinet colleagues over the Divorce issue. It was clear from the start that the majority of voters in Longford-Westmeath would trail Mr Cooney's path. But it was only as the ballot boxers were opened and their contents distributed that the landslide rejection of Divorce emerged. It was the vindication that Paddy Cooney needed for the stand he had taken."