Pages from the Past

The Freemasons were a powerful and influential group in 19th century Ireland and Athlone was no exception as the following report from the Westmeath Independent of July, 1860, indicated. "The increasing prosperity of this Lodge was abundantly evidenced at a meeting of the Royal Arch Chapter attached thereto, on Tuesday last, for the exaltion of eleven brethern connected with it, and the neighbouring lodges. At two o'clock there was a goodly array of the companions, amongst whom were Lord Castlemaine, Hon. Robert Handcock, L. Dundas J.P., Wm. Potts J.P., G.M.Eccles J.P., JJ O'Sullivan J.P., Major McLain J.P., J.P. Whitford, Captain Frazer R.E., R. Larkan, Albert Robinson, J.W. Fair, E. Lynch, R.W. Fearon, J.R. Judge, J. Hill, Thomas Lawder J.P., Richard Garrett, M.L. Davis and co. The principals arrayed in their robes of scarlet and ermine and the regalia of the order, and the officers of the chapter in appropriate Eastern costume, having taken their places. The minutes of last convocation were read, and the roll called over. A ballot was then taken, which being successful, the following candidates were introduced - Brothers A. G. Woolston, J. Hodson, J. D. Lawder, George Speer, J. James, T. Poe, R.J. Moony, J. Keating, R. Owen, J. Verdier and were most impressively exalted to the sublime degree, the ceremony being most ably performed and beautifully worked by Comp. Adams, pursuivant to the Grand Lodge, who came down specially from Dublin for the purpose. Some other business having been disposed of, the Chapter was closed in due and ancient form, and the companions adjourned until six o'clock, when they sat down to a very elegant dinner, served up in good style by Com. Haire. The wines were excellent, the loyal and masonic toast were given by Comp. Whitford, who presided and the evening was spent in the most agreeable manner." 1910 Lack of business support leads to Regatta being cancelled Athlone's annual regatta was abandoned for 1910, the Westmeath Independent reported in late July of that year, after The decision was taken at "a small and rather unrepresentative" public meeting in the Fr Mathew Hall to consider the holding of a regatta on August 15. A circular letter had been sent to the traders of the town requesting their attendance. However, only eight of the principal traders of the town turned up. In the absence of the captain of the boat club, Mr H. Milligan stood in as chair and opened the meeting, noting with regret, the small attendance. Under the circumstances, Mr M. Foy proposed a motion that the regatta not take place that year. Mr R. Elder seconded the motion and expressed his sorrow "that a regatta, having regard to such a large expanse of water, and also to the progressiveness of the town in general, could not be a success." Mr T. Hogan said the business people of the town could clearly not be asked to give financial support to the hosting of a regatta considering their response to the circular advertising the meeting. On a show of hands the regatta was abandoned for 1910. The paper listed those present at the meeting as H. Milligan. R. Elder, G.V. Simmons, M.H. Foy, T. Hogan, G. Hnds, A. Dalyl, E.D. Bollard, E.O'Flynn, P. O'Flyjnn, G. Hurley, J. Timons, Webster, G.V. Pick, V. D Doyle, H. Go Moore, J. O'Brine, R. W. Clarke, N. OLyster, Coen, J. Galvin, A. Dixon, PJ Kelly, B. O'Ferral; and F. Kilkelly, Council to be sued over sewerage into river? One of the surprising findings on writing these snippets from past issues is how often, over not only decades but centuries, the same concerns and issues hit the headlines. And whilst the efficiency and scale of the town's 21st century wastewater treatment systems are vastly superior to those of 100 years ago, there are still some similarities as the following piece from the Westmeath Independent indicates: "That Athlone badly stands in need of a Main Drainage Scheme is not open to doubt. We can only expect to have it by piecemeal operations, for there is no money available now or ever likely to be available, to undertake a comprehensive scheme of drainage. For some years back, a good deal has been done to improve the drainage of the town, and at present another important scheme, involving two or three thousand pounds, is under discussions. At first the Council were willing enough, apparently, to proceed, and completed all the preliminaries, even to making application for a loan. More recently, the Council shied at the undertaking and are not satisfied that the likely advantage would justify such an outlay as is found to be necessary. Here, they are brought into sharp conflict with the Board of Works, who will permit no further drainage into the river, and may insist, as they state they will, in the removal of temporary sewerage going into the Shannon. The Council declare their willingness to fight out the issue, and, the facilities being so many for the Board of Works to fight, we see every prospect of the heavy expense of High Court litigation. This looks decidedly blue for the taxpayers. We sincerely hope that a way may be found out of the difficulty without an appeal to the High Courts, for its very much to be feared any such eventuality would not end to the benefit of the local public purse." 1960 Army battalion set for Congo The lead story of the Westmeath Independent of July 23, 1960, related to the imminent departure of Ireland's first international peacekeepers to Congo. The story read: "A battalion of 650 officers, NCO's and men of the Irish Army has been selected from over 3,000 volunteers and will be flown to the Congo next Wednesday by United Nations' aircraft. "The new Defence Bill which was passed through all the stages in the Dáil on Wednesday and in the Senate on Thursday. It is expected to be signed by the President at the weekend and become law on Monday. It will be the authority of the despatch of Ireland's first army overseas. "The battalion will be under the command of Lieut-Colonel Mortimer Buckley, a native of Faha, Killarney, Co, Kerry, who is, at present, Executive Officer, Western Command, stationed in Custume Barracks, Athlone. "An advance party of two officers will fly out on Friday and will be followed by eight more officers on Monday and by the main force on Wednesday. The men are being assembled at The Curragh and will be innoculated and be ready for flight by next Tuesday." The paper reported that a colourful ceremony attended by the officers and men from the Western Command who had been selected to form on of the three companies moved out form the Barracks the previous Thursday. Colonel A.X. Lawlor, O.C., Western Command, took the salute. The battalion, known as the 32nd Irish Batt, UNEF, was under the command of Lieut Colonel Mortimer Buckley. Operations Officer was Comdt. M.J. O'Brien, 4th Brigade HQ, Athlone, whose family resides at Beechpark, Athlone. The Western Command, which is drawn from twenty three Command Units, consists of Company HQ and three platoons. Comdt PJ Carroll, second in command of the 1st Infantry Battalion is in charge of the company, with captains S.P. Croghan, J. Dwyer and D.J. Black, all of Athlone, on the company staff.