Loughrea Town Commissioners, Minutes, 1949 - 1951

Volume of minutes of proceedings of the Commissioners meetings, includes resolutions such as:-

• 'Chairman explained to the members present the reason for calling meeting namely - To consider what preparations would be made re celebrations of the coming into operation of the Republic of Ireland Act, which he considered would be a Historic occasion’ (p16).
• ‘On the proposition of Mr M O’Regan seconded by Mr F Devine, Chairman the Board unanimously passed the following Resolution: “That, we the Loughrea Town Commissioners hereby approve the action of all parties in the Dáil in co-operating with the Taoiseach’s resolution in protesting against the British Government’s proposal to continue the partition of our county’ (p23).
• Disposal of Playground Field.
  Clerk stated that Co. Manager suggested that it be levelled and cleaned and that it be developed as a sports field.  Co. Manager also recommended that subject to sanction, that it be sold and the proceeds applied to the development of some amenity in the town’… (pp57-58; see also p60, p64, p71, p80, p96).
• ‘Antiquarians Visit
  Messrs J.B. Donoghue, M O’Regan and W Conlon were deputed to meet the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society in Loughrea on Thursday 29^th June 1950 and give them an official welcome to the town’ (p101).
• ‘..The Board unanimously decided to increase the Town Clerk’s salary by £20 per annum…’ (p170).
• Includes lists of persons to be housed in Liam Mellows site, Barrack Street and Abbey Terrace (p171, see also pp181-182).
• Resolution re Dutch in North:
  Mr Conlon proposed, seconded by Mr O’Regan  “That this Board strongly protest against the Dutch Government allowing their troops to occupy portion of our Irish Territory against the express wishes of the Irish Nation” (p171).
• ‘On the proposition of Mr Shea, seconded by the Chairman, the Board unanimously decided in asking Rev. Fr O’Callahan Adm, to make the necessary arrangements for the Blessing of the new houses’ (p183).
• ‘Referring to Demolition of the Bridewell premises when it was proposed by Mr Morrissey, seconded by Mr Cronn, “That the Co. Manager be requested to rescind his order in this respect as the Board are of opinion the premises should not be demolished but converted into stores or garages and retained for revenue purposes by letting at suitable rents”’ (p187, see also p228. p231).
• ‘After some discussion re delay in housing the Electric lights installed in the Cosmona Cottages, Clerk was directed to inform the Co. Manager that this Board recommend that the lighting contract be cancelled and local electricians be employed to do the work’ (p188, see also p191).
• ‘Mr Carty, Co. Co., moved his N.O.M…..”That bathrooms be provided in all T.C.’s houses”, Seconded by Mr Conlan, and approved by Co. Manager.
• Letter from the Co. Manager, ‘..arrangements are being made for the re-organisation of the Co. Engineering Services.  The Engineers who are at present performing the Engineering functions of the Town Commissioners are members of the Co. Engineering staff and are in receipt of a small additional allowance for the services performed for the Town Commissioners.  Under the re-organisation scheme the Town Commissioners will cease to pay the Engineers for duties performed by them, and will instead pay a contribution to the Galway County Council towards the remuneration of the Engineers. It is my intention to fix a reasonable contribution having regard to the extent of the duties involved.  By reason of the fact that the Council’s Engineers will be performing the Engineering functions of the Town Commissioners, they will be allotted a smaller odd area than that for which they are at present responsible so as to enable them to give more time to the duties they perform for the Town Commissioners.….’(pp202-203).
• ‘…Address of Welcome be presented by the Town Commissioners, Mr Séan MacBride, Ex-Minister for External Affairs, on the occasion of his visit to the town on Sat. 19^th inst…’ (p206, see also pp209-210).
• ‘..referring to the leasing of Bridewell yard to the County Council …..under no circumstances will he (Co. Manager) offer to the County Council or accept the proposals of the Town Commissioners.  The letter continued “If the Town Commissioners are not prepared to agree to lease the Bridewell yard for the unexpired period of the term of 99 years from 1^st January 1927 at a nominal rent of 1/= per year, the Co. Manager proposed to retain the existing pound and to leave it to the co. Vocational Education Committee to find an alternative site for the school”…’ (p231, p240).
• 'Supt Dunphy submitted statistics of the volume of traffic passing through the town and explained that from 5^th to 11^th September traffic ranging from 209 vehicles to 489 passed through the town each day, during that time the Guards had no reason to accost any driver for speeding and it was his opinion that the Board will not improve the situation by imposing a speed limit’ (p234).