Pages from the Past

150 YEARS AGO 1862 Girl found dead from exposure The Westmeath Independent reported in January 1862 on the death of a young woman on the streets of Athlone. The paper said an inquest was held on the body of "an unfortunate girl, named Honor Cairns, who came by her death from drunkenness and exposure to the weather on the previous night. The paper said a man was arrested as an accessory to her death but his evidence was corroborated by the statement of the medical attendant Dr Poyntz and of the police, that intemperance was the cause. The jury found accordingly. 100 YEARS AGO 1912 Athlone constable dies in Rossport drowning tragedy An Athlone police constable was one of three to drown in a boating tragedy in Rossport in Mayo in early January 1912. The area is of course now known for the acrimonious protests over the Corrib Gas pipeline. The Westmeath Independent reported in 1912 that an inquest had found that Constable Fallon of Lysterfield, Carrick, Athlone, had died by drowning on New Year's Day. The inquest heard that the RIC sergeant in charge had sent Fallon and another constable, John Connell, to check on public houses in Pullathomas on the Belmullet side of a water channel and to remain there until after closing time if necessary. The constables were brought back to Rossport in a currach, which was later found upturned. Fallon was 29, in good health, a man of fine physique and a leading figure at local athletic events, the inquest heard. The body when recovered was almost buried in the sand, and his tunic and belt were torn off suggesting a desperate effort for life. The inquest was told that the deceased were last seen as a local boatman, John McGrath began to ferry them back to the mainland. Lived with the Sioux in America The Westmeath Independent of January 20, 1912, reported on the passing at the age of just 21 of a Kiltoom, native in America. James. M. Brennan passed away at the residence of his sister Mrs O'Keeffe, in St Paul, Minnesota on December 8, 1911, the paper said. "Deceased was son of Peter Brennan, Curramore, Kiltoom and in his early childhood attended the national school in Ballybay and later the Brothers' school in Athlone. The report continued: "In August 1905, he left home for St Paul and soon after entered the academic department of St Thomas College, St Paul, where he made rapid headway with his studies and was held in hih esteem by his professors and fellow students up to the time of his death." He spent some time on the US Sioux reservation in North Dakota before returning to St Paul, the obituary concluded. 50 YEARS AGO 1962 Television comes to Ireland The year opened with the arrival of television to the country. The front page of the first edition of the Westmeath Independent of 1962 trumpeted: "Television service inaugurated ... Excellent reception in Midlands." The story began: "On Sunday evening last, Telefis Eireann was publicly inaugurated by the President Mr. E. De Valera and as the first pictures flashed into thousands of Irish homes a new era in the social and entertainment life of the country had begun." The paper quoted De Valera as stating: "I must admit that sometimes when I think of television and the radio and their immense power, I feel somewhat afraid. Like atomic energy, it can be used for incalculable good but it can also do irreparable harm. Never before was there in the hands of man an instrument so powerful to influence the thoughts and action of the multitude." The price of the pint goes up The thoughts of the multitude though may have been on another topic, it appears, as the same edition also reported: "The worse fears of members of the drinking fraternity in Athlone were confirmed when during the week they learned that the local publicans, following the suit of publicans in other centres, had decided to increase the price of the pint and other alcoholic beverages." The article said the Athlone and District Licensed Vintners' Association had met to consider the matter and agreed a revised prices following an increase in the brewery price of stout as and from January 1. The price of the pint increaed by 2d, bringing it to 1/6d. MBE for Ballykeeran woman A Ballykeeran woman was honoured in the British New Years' Honours List in 1962. The Westmeath Independent reported: "Mrs Laura Telford, Rossananagh, Ballykeeran was awarded the MBE in recognition of her long and valued service to British ex-serviceman, their families and dependants. She had been secretary of the Athlone Branch of the British Legion (Women's Section) since 1927 and chairperson of the British Legion (Women's Section) Ireland (Southern) Area since 1949. 25 YEARS AGO 1987 Athlone astrophysicist gets US university professorship The Westmeath Independent reported in early January 1987 that an Athlone native had been appointed to a prestigious US professorship. "A specialist in theoretical physics and astrophysics Professor Robert F. O'Connell, who is a native of St Francis Terrace, Athlone, has been given the designation Boyd Professor by the Board of Supervisors at the Louisiana State University in the United States where he has worked since 1964,"the paper reported. The article continued: "Professor O'Connell is the only son of Mrs Katherine O'Connell and the late Garda William O'Connell, Roncali, St Francis Terrace. His sisters Mary, Phyllis and Kitty also live in the United States while two others live in Ireland, Ann at home in Athlone with her mother and Margaret in Dublin." Emigration threatens GAA success It could be from a modern day newspaper but the headline 'Emigration a threat to Westmeath GAA' was published in the edition of January 7, 1987. Speaking at the annual GAA convention, chairman of Westmeath County Board Seamus Whelan said: "GAA clubs can endure most setbacks but the loss of players on an ongoing basis is difficult to sustain." He pointed out the success of a Westmeath hurling team in New York but added "really we would much prefer to have these players hurling on the playing fields of Ireland."