Pages from the Past

150 YEARS AGO 1861 Unburied coffins and a rat-infested graveyard The state of Athlone's two main graveyards, St Mary's and the Abbey, were laid bare in a letter to the Westmeath Independent in late July 1861. An extract from the letter read, as follows: "The churchyard of St Mary's (the current Church of Ireland) is a most objectionable and unpleasing prospect to the eye of a stranger on coming into Athlone, being in the midst of a thickly populated locality and now literally a heap of mortal remains raised some eight feet over and immediately beside one of the leading thoroughfares, a street which unfortunately does not posses the advantage of a main sewer, must engender disease and in times of sickness spread its contagion over the entire population. How am I to speak of the other so-called cemetery- the Abbey? All who have followed to his last resting place a dear relative, friend or acquaintance must have been sickened by the horrifying sight which here presents itself - bones lying about on every side, portions of skulls, and for want of a sufficient quantity of clay the coffins, in some instances, uncovered, and thereby rendering the poor body an easy prey to the hordes of rats which infest this place." 100 YEARS AGO 1911 Workhouse inmates "exhibited" to committee In mid July 1911, a committee of Athlone Guardians, the body which operated the workhouse in the town, attended there "for the purpose of inspecting the so-called able-bodied inmates with a view to expelling from the institution any who, in the opinion of the committee, were able to earn a living outside". According to the report: "There were in the house last week 104 persons classified as healthy. The figure may be taken as representing the same class in workhouses generally, and this fact has given the common impression that the workhouse is the permanent hotel of a large number of idle vagabonds. Saturday's investigation was therefore instructive. Of the 104 healthy inmates, many are children, but of the adults, the great majority are cripples or embiciles, who could not possibly earn a living for themselves and it was also made quite evident that those who can do a little work, and have as much as they are able for in the house itself." A number of the members of the six-strong committee criticised the concept of the inmates being paraded in front of the committee. The committee talked to the master and to male and female inmates, and were unanimous that nobody be turned out. 50 YEARS AGO 1961 Familiar names in general election fray The forthcoming general election was centre stage in the Westmeath Independent during late July 1961. Firstly, the paper reported that an Athlone family was seeking to make history with a father and son seeking to represent different constituencies. The paper reported: "Following the selection of Senator Lenihan to contest the next general election in Roscommon for Fianna Fail came the announcement that his father, Mr. PJ. Lenihan was to contest Longford Westmeath, also for Fianna Fail." Strangely neither man lived in the constituency they were seeking to represent, the paper reported. "It is worth nothing that while Sen. Lenihan's political fortunes rests in Roscommon, he actually resides on the Westmeath side of the Shannon in Athlone. The opposite is the case as regards his father, who resides at Hodson Bay Hotel. Co. Roscommon." Meanwhile, a week later, the paper reported : "Another Athlone candidate had entered the election fray for Longford-Westmeath constituency with the election of Mr. Patrick Mark Cooney, Solicitor, together with Senator G. L'Estrange, Co.Co, at a convention of Westmeath Fine Gael delegates in Mullingar." The duo joined Lt. Gen. Sean McEoin TD, who had been selected by Longford delegates separately, on the ballot paper. The paper said Mr Cooney was son of Dr Mark Cooney and the late Mrs Cooney, of Lnogford town, and had been resident in Athlone for the previous six years.It said his family had many associations with the town and had lived in Ballykeeran, Athlone, at one time. 25 YEARS AGO 1986 New editor appointed to Westmeath Independent There was a changing of the guard in the Westmeath Independent in July 1986 when a new editor was appointed. The paper reported: "Ms. Margaret Grennan has been appointed Editor of "The Westmeath Independent" and "The Offaly Independent" newspapers. "The announcement was made last week by the firm's Managing Direcotr, Mr. John A. McManus. Daughter of Mrs Mary and the late Dan Grennan, Annagh, Ballykeeran, Margaret replaces Mr. J.A. Spollen who retired as Editor last October." Death of TD in Moate crash recalled The death of the uncle of the former Tanaiste Mary Coughlan was the subject of a civil action in the High Court during July 1986 which was reported in the Westmeath Independent. The paper reported: "A road accident outside Moate in 1983 in which Fianna Fail TD Mr Clem Coughlan died was recalled in the High Court in Dublin last week when a settlement in excess of £250,000 was announced and approved." The plaintiff in the action was Mrs. Margaret Coughlan, Inver, Co. Donegal, widow of the former TD and she brought an action against the owners and driver or a truck with which Coughlan's car was in collision at Athlone Road, Moate, on February 1, 1983.