From the back issues of the Westmeath Independent

1859 150 Years Ago Magnificent display of vegetables at Ballinasloe Show The Ballinasloe Show has been in existence for many years and the Westmeath Independent reported on the show of Thursday, September 29th, 1859. "Owing to the extreme wetness of the morning, it was not expected that the show would be a large one; but it improved as the day advanced. The number of entries for competition exceeded two hundred. "The displays of roots, mangold, turnips, carrots, parsnips, cabbage and rape, was the most magnificent I have seen in the West of Ireland," the report said. "The show was largely attended by the nobility and gentry of the neighbourhood and the yard was graced by the presence of a number of fashionable-dressed ladies, who seemed to take a great interest in the proceedings," he said. The annual dinner of the society took place in the evening at Gill's Hotel. 1909 100 Years Ago Land dispute in Moore leads to ejectment orders against tenants Land agitation remained a significant issue in the midlands in 1909. The local court sessions in September in Athlone included two batches of ejectment orders against local tenants who were effectively engaged in rent strikes against their landlords. The main issue related to the Potts estate in Moore, where ejectment orders against 47 tenants were approved by the local judge, who had heard that the most of the defendants had not paid rent for close to three years. The Westmeath Independent reported the tenants had "refused to pay any rent with the object of compelling the landlord to sell them grassland and for the relief of the congestion which exists in the district." The court heard that the notices of proposed ejectment were not served on the tenants, but as permitted in times of discontent, were posted at the local courthouse in Ballinasloe. The server gave evidence that he was afraid to enter the district to serve the summonses. The local parish priest, Fr Thomas Reidy, told the court there was an agitation amongst the tenants to get the grasslands sold. He said he had been acting on their behalf in negotiations with the landlord, William T Potts, whom he described as "very unreasonable". Potts owned 2,000 acres across six or seven farms in the area, outside other sizeable land holdings in Galway and Westmeath. Referring to a previous incident in which a summons server had been covered in lime, the judge ruled that the service of the ejectment notices by placing on the courthouse in Ballinasloe was sufficient in law. He therefore approved ejectment orders in 47 cases. In another case, the same week, relating to a neighbouring estate owned by Rev R Rowe, the court granted eleven ejectment orders in cases where rent arrears varied from almost £58 to £5. 1959 50 Years Ago Athlone bid for another county final win "No football final has evoked such interest for years and the biggest crowd ever is sure to converge on Mullingar on Sunday next for the decider," the Westmeath Independent reported 50 years ago this week as Athlone, the holders, prepared to meet St Mary's in the county decider in Cusack Park, Mullingar. "Athlone are the proud custodians of the cup for the last four years: '55,'56, '57 and '58. Since 1947, the team has figured in nine county finals, six of which they have won. Will they create a record next Sunday, in winning the county final five times a row," the writer pondered, adding that on the three occasions that Athlone lost, it was at the hands of St Mary's." The article falls down in favour of Athlone, calling them a more "impressive side", but the piece does point out that luck will play an important part who emerges as the victor. "One dark shadow however, will be hovering over the Athlone team. They will be fielding without their popular captain Seamus Nugent, who suffered a serious knee injury in a recent motor accident. Needless, to say this is a great handicap in the midfield sector, where Seamus was wont to outshine his opponents." The team, the Westmeath Independent relayed would be drawn from the following players: E. Martin, H. Cuffe, M. Duffy, P. McCormack, K. Henson, PJ McCarthy, H. Murtagh, I. Gunn, TJ Finneran, S. O'Kane, M. Scanlon (captain) B. Colclough, S. Fogarty, K Ryan, G. Hickey, S. Dempsey, J. Reynolds, M. Kenny, J. Dolan, E. Guinnane, S. Farrell, K. O'Neill and P. Duffy. The game would be even more noteworthy than usual, the report concluded because The Artane Boys' Band would be in attendance at the county final to "add glamour to the occasion as the boys from the Shannonside, led by M. Scanlon, line-up beside their rivals from Rochfordbridge and march in parade to the music of these renowned scarlet-clad boys, mingled in with the applause and cheers of the thousands of supporters".