Tuam Town Commissioners, Minutes, 1891 - 1914

Pages 489 to 528 are blank. Includes:

-‘Resolved, That we the Tuam TC take this our first opportunity of conveying our heartfelt congratulations to the Right Hon W. E. Gladstone, of his accession to power.  We also tender to the Nationalists of our Ireland our best thanks for the noble efforts they have made at the General Election in returning so many members of the Nationalist Party to Parliament in spite of faction, coercion and of the Tory Government who use every foul means in their power to defeat Home Rule and put it beyond the aspirations of the Irish nation for centuries’ (p25, see also p66, p78, p82).

-‘That we the Tuam TC respectively recommend to the Congested Districts Board for Ireland as a work of far-reaching and almost provincial importance the construction of a causeway and bridge across Lough Corrib at Knock Ferry as a means of communication for the purpose of fairs, markets etc between the congested area of West Galway on the one side and North Galway and South Galway on the other side of Lough Corrib’ (p102).

-Transcript of letter from P J Conway, solicitor, ‘I will feel much obliged by your kindly associating the name of my legal partner Mr John Quinn, solicitor, with mine to act as joint solicitor for your body, a matter which will not involve any additional expense to you.  I have been acting as the Board’s solicitor for over 20 years, during which time I trust I have given satisfaction, and I hope you will now accede to my request and thus have the services of two solicitors instead of one; (p105, see also p218, p224, p236).

-‘That we petition the Local Government Board for Ireland requesting them to take the necessary steps to constitute us (the Town Commissioners) as Sanitary Authority for the town of Tuam in pursuance of the 7^th Section of the Public Health (Ireland) Act 1878’ (p114, see also p274).

-‘The Clerk, in accordance with direction given him at a former meeting laid before the Board copies of the Gaelic inscription on the Town Cross with the view to have them with English translation engraved on the lime-stone base, some of the originals being totally obliterated and what remains being difficult to decipher’ (p134).

-Tenders for fire appliances considered (p162, see also p206).

-‘That at this, a large meeting of the Town Commissioners, assembled we hereby approve of the Movement to celebrate the ’98 centenary…’ (p281, see also p286).

-Details of a Committee report to inquire into the Financial State of the Board, included ‘That in order to keep the Board’s expenditure well within their income the Committee suggest that some of the offices under the Board be dispensed with via these of Caretaker of the Town Hall, Town Inspector, Caretaker of fire Station and Bellman…’ (p332).

-‘That we the Tuam TC as representing the capital of the West, hereby express our approval of the Gaelic League movement and pledge ourselves to aid in perpetuating the Grand Old Tongue of the Gael’ (p338).

-Resolution of sympathy following the death of Mr Perry, County Surveyor (p602).

-The Board as the LGB to confirm ‘the Improvement Scheme, made by the District Council, for labourer’s cottages for the Tuam Urban Electoral Division, especially having regard to the number of houses in the said ED certified to be overcrowded, insanitary and unfit for human habitation’ (p628).

-Transcript of Address of welcome to His Grace Most Rev. Thomas J Carr, Archbishop of Melbourne on the occasion of his visit to Tuam (12 July 1908, p648).

-Special meeting called ‘for the purpose of meeting Mr E P O ‘Flanagan and negotiating with him for a further term of tenancy of the Tuam Fair Green’ (p709).

-‘That while sympathising with the Royal Family in their sad bereavement, we respectfully call upon the Prime Minister and the other members of the Government to remove from the Coronation Oath the language so grossly offensive to all Roman Catholics who comprise a large proportion of his Majesty’s subjects’ (p715).

-‘There was but one tender for contract to build four victuallers’ stalls in the Meat Market, Vicar Street, Mr Tobias McHughe’s at £112, which was unanimously accepted on the condition that the contract should include some additional items which the architect Mr J. J. Blake, MICE considered necessary to be due and cost of which he estimated at about £4, all to be done for the said sum of £112’ (p716, see also p737, p743, p744).

-‘I propose that the Tuam TC adopt Part III of the housing of the Working Classes Act 1890 and that 28 days public notice of our intention to take into consideration on the 7^th November the propriety of adopting the said part of this Act, and of the time and place for holding the meeting when they will take it into consideration and that at the said meeting a Committee be appointed with our solicitor to carry out the provisions of the Act’ (p764, see also p771).

-Resolution of sympathy following the death of Colonel Nolan, ‘who for 25 years was the able and distinguished representative of North Galway in the House of Commons…’ (p781).

-Meeting held to discuss the ‘buying of the meat market’ (p848).

-The LGB advised ‘With reference to the application of the TC of Tuam for the appointment of an Arbitrator in the matter of the lands which the Council propose to acquire compulsorily in pursuance of the Town of Tuam Order 1913, I am directed by the LGB for Ireland to forward you herewith, a copy of an Order which they have made appointing Mr. C. C. Meyrick of No. 74 Marlborough Road, Donnybrook, Dublin as Arbitrator…’ (p859).

-Resolution of Limerick County Council received and adopted, ‘That owing to recent political events, and particularly to the attitude of the army on the Ulster question, we the members of the Limerick County Council consider that the time has come when every effort should be made to organise the Irish Volunteer force in every parish in Ireland. We are convinced that such a force, wisely led by men in whom our indomitable leader Mr John E Redmond would have confidence, would prove to the world that the manhood of Ireland are ready to do their part in defence of their homes and their liberties, and if need be to protect our fellow-nationalists in Ulster from insult and attack’ (2 Jun 1914, p927).