The penetrable barracks!

1859 - 150 Years Ago The penetrable barracks! The Westmeath Independent reported in November 1859 that the government intended to remodel the barracks in Athlone, as work on the railway had rendered it indefensible. "It is in the intention of the government, early next Spring, to remodel the fortifications and defences of the Athlone garrison. The construction of railway and other public works in and about the town, have rendered the present military works worthless, in fact, untenable if vigorously attacked. Lives of the rich and famous The paper also reported on the lives and lifestyles of the elite of the day. "On Thursday, the Hon. Harris Temple entertained at Waterstown-house, a large party of the gentry and elite of the neighbourhood. A ball followed in the evening, at which the officers of the Athlone garrison, and a number of military friends from Dublin and the Curragh were present." Vandals attempting to derail trains near Athlone A reward was offered in November 1859 for information leading to the apprehension of those who were attempting to derail trains in the area The reward was put up by the contractors on the under-construction railway line between Athlone and Roscommon. The Westmeath Independent reported the practice of "the placing of large stones, on the line, evidently for the purpose of upsetting the ballasting train and endangering the lives of the persons engaged on it." 1909 - 100 Years Ago "The crash will come" warned local politician "We are drifting into debt, year after year. The crash will come and it may as well come soon as later," the Westmeath Independent read in November 1909. Sound familiar? Well, this time around the statement related not to the finances of the country, but of the local authority, and the statement referred to was made by the chairman of the local urban council in Athlone. The financial situation arose due to "outstanding debts", the paper said, and was exacerbated by a decision not to borrow from the gasworks account in the future. Up to then, apparently, the gasworks had helped the council to overcome sudden shortages and cash-flow problems. The Westmeath Independent reported: "It is not very consoling to the ratepayers of the town who are contributing enough rates to make the town at any rate free from debt." Progress on schools front News of developments at two local primary schools were reported in the Westmeath Independent of November, 1909. The paper said: that foundations were laid of the new Protestant school for the parish of St Mary's. The site was described as being between "Garden Vale and the Southern Railway Station". The ensuing school, Athlone Mixed National School, was demolished two years ago, and a new school was built in Clonbrusk. The same edition also noted the decision to transfer the Ranelagh Female School, which was formerly located near Roscommon, to Athlone. It continued: "For that purpose, the Incorporated Society has just acquired the intererst in Garrow House, opposite the Bower Convent, until recently the resident of Mr C. Mulvaney." Defeated in the Cup 100 years ago, Athlone contested the Irish Junior Cup, but went out, at home, at the first round stage to the Dublin Catholic University. The report stated that the visitors were the better team, but Athlone "gave them enough of it". The visitors went in front, but goals from T. Gavigan and W. Farrell left them in front, before an equaliser tied matters at the interval. The Dubliners scored "a few minutes before the end" to run out winners on a 3-2 scoreline. The Athlone team was: R Claxton, W Monahan, T. McCormack, MJ O'Meara, M Menton, T. Murray, J. Begadon, T. Menton, J. Menton, W. Farrell and T. Gavigan. 1959 - 50 Years Ago Banana box taken from shop Petty crime was making the front pages of the Westmeath Independent in November 1959, as the paper relayed a number of cases before the local courts. Two that caught the eye concerned bananas and onions! The first, concerned the larceny of a banana box by a man from St Mel's Terrace from the outside of a shop in Irishtown. Supt C. Murphy told the court that Garda Tobin saw the defendant drop what appeared to be a parcel. However, on further investigation, he found it was a banana box, which the man admitted taking from outside the shop for firewood. Solicitor W.A.Tormey said the accused was a hard-working young man. The charges were subsequently dismissed under the Probation Act and the box returned to the owner. Meanwhile, at Mullingar Circuit Court a Kinnegad farmer was awarded £160, with costs and expenses in his £275 claim against Westmeath Committee of Agriculture for breach of warranty in the sale of onion sets. He contended 75 per cent of the sets which he purchased from the committee bolted. Athlone's old links with Tangiers discussed A letter in Westmeath Independent five decades ago opened the lid on the town's links to Tangiers in present day Morocco. "The marriage settlement of Catherine of Braganza is of some Athlone interest, as in addition to the island of Bombay, dowry included the port of Tangier, thus giving England its first fortress in the Mediterranean. Tangier was commonplace in old Athlone in the name of Tangier Lane," the correspondent contended. The letter continued: "The late Diarmuid Murtagh, an author on the Jacobite period, was satisfied that this name indicated service by Athlonians in the army raised in Ireland by Charles II for service abroad. The contention that Charles swapped the house in Hammersmith for Catherine's marriage settlement is questionable: historians are all agreed that Catherine died possessing considerable wealth".