Pages from the Past

1860 Notorious pickpocket in Connaught Street In early November 1860, Constable Robert Irwin arrested a notorious thief and pickpocket named Carberry, who had a few minutes previously robbed a countryman named Finnerty under the following circumstances - Finnerty was in the act of paying for some goods he had just purchased in Mr Watson's shop, in Connaught Street, when Carberry snatched the purse and took to his heels. Turning down Patrick Street, he was met by the constable who closed upon him and found in his possession the purse containing £9 4s 6d which Finnerty had brought into town to pay his rent. A week later, the paper reported that Carberry pleaded guilty at the petty sessions of robbing Finnerty and was sentenced to an imprisonment of six months. Soldier attempts to rob local house An attempt was made on Thursday night to rob the dwelling house of Mr Patrick Keating, in King Street, by a private soldier of the 67th Regiment who scaled the Barracks wall adjoining. In endeavouring to drag himself up to the window his foot slipped, and the crash of glass gave a timely alarm. The culprit was on the following morning traced by a track of blood to his room, his feet having been severely cut by the glass. 1910 New soldiers' married quarters On the Accommodation Road and facing the married quarters of the Military Barracks, the new soldiers' home now stands, and is getting the finishing touches from the hands of the plumbers, graziers and painters. The new year will find it in full working order, and already a considerable amount of furniture has been put into the smaller apartments. The new house is a spacious structure, and though built of iron, it presents a very substantial, and, even, handsome appearance. The report outlines a spacious, well-lighted reading room, and at the upper end, “a handsome platform designed for use at concerts and meetingsâ€. There would also be a refreshment bar, or coffee room, the end of which faces the river and a kitchen, including a fully-equipped flue oven. The contract price for the building was £2.739 and the work has been carried out by Messrs J and R. Thompson of Dublin and Belfast. The old soldiers' home on Northgate Street will cease to exist, the paper said. 200 police outwitted at Mount Temple public meeting The dramatic banner headlines read, as follows: Outwitted, Mount Temple scenes, 200 police engaged, Protecting Clonrellick, Farm invaded by cheering Nationalists, Cross-Country Runs, People's Fine Meeting. The story related to a planned meeting by the Mount Temple branch of the United Irish League a half-mile away from a controversial ranch, the Clonrellick Estate, which had been the subject of serious land disturbances. Spooked by what was obviously considered as a public meeting at a sensitive political location, the authorities sent a battalion of 200 police to surround the Clonrellick Estate. Faced with what was seen as a provocative police presence, a couple of hundred people, from an estimated crowd of 2,000, outmanoeuvred the police and occupied a field in the estate, before being ordered off the land by the police. The Westmeath Independent editorial criticised the police actions. “A little army of police posted, after the fashion of a military occupation around Clonrellick ranch, and the roads leading to that storm centre, was on Sunday last a very silly as well as a very ineffective display. South Westmeath is harrassed enough with extra police, and we can imagine no possible reason for the antics of last Sunday by the castle authorities if it is not to inflict further unnecessary taxation on a peaceful and law-abiding community.†1960 Shortage of balls almost scuppers National League game A seven-mile dash by officials saved the National League football game between Roscommon and Dublin at Knockcroghery on Sunday, November 13. Roscommon scored first with a well-taken point by Don Feeley, but the ball, having gone well over the bar, fell on a spiked gate and burst. Officials were undaunted by this accident, however, and got another ball from Knockcroghery village The game went on though the ball now being used was old and was not considered completely suitable. While the game proceeded other officials made a quick car trip to Roscommon seven miles away, for another ball. They called at the home of Dr. D. Keenan, Ard na Greine, Roscommon, chairman of the Roscommon GAA County Board where a third ball was obtained. Then they returned to Knockcroghery and the game went ahead again. Extending water supplies to Cornafulla The possibility of extending the Athlone town water supply along the Ballinasloe road to Cornafulla was mentioned at Roscommon County Council during November 1960. It arose during consideration of a proposal to provide a water supply for Cornafulla school. The council suggested that the extension of the water supply from Baylough, Athlone, to this area, might be considered. Deputy J. McQuillan said it was a long distance from Baylough to Cornafulla. Senator Brian Lenihan said that a piped water supply along this main road was an ideal extension. This was a very thickly populated area. Mr McQuillan asked how many years would it be before the water would be extended to this district. Senator Lenihan said that such a scheme should get priority and it would be wise not to delay it too long. They should try and find out when a piped water supply might get underway.