From the archives: Mayo was crime-free county in 1948
By Tom Gillespie
SEVENTY-SEVEN years ago (1948) Ireland was a very different place, politically, to what it is today.
The Connaught Telegraph, in reviewing that year in their edition of January 8, 1949, reviewed the outstanding happenings of the previous year, including a general election.
It was held on February 4. The 147 newly elected members of the 13th Dáil assembled on February 18 when the first inter-party government in the history of the Irish state was appointed.
The general election took place in 40 parliamentary constituencies throughout Ireland for 147 seats in the lower house of parliament, Dáil Éireann. For this election the membership of the Dáil was increased to 147 seats, an increase of nine since the previous election. The 1948 general election is considered an important election in 20th century Ireland, as it paved the way for the first inter-party government.
This election was the last one before Ireland's withdrawal from the British Commonwealth, and the declaration of the Republic of Ireland, which came into effect as and from April 18, 1949, under the terms of the Republic of Ireland Act, 1948.
Reviewing the Mayo political scene, the Connaught wrote: The outstanding feature of the commencement of the year 1948 was the opening of the election campaign by the various parties, and what proved to be a most interesting, if not sensational, contest and result followed.
The first of the parties to hold a convention for the selection of candidates for the South Mayo area was Clann na Talmhan and after a lengthy deliberation the outgoing candidates, Messrs. Blowick, Cafferky and Commons, were selected, with the additional name of Mr. Thomas Burke, farmer, Doon, Westport.
In the heel of the hunt, Mr. Burke did not go forward, and the three persons mentioned faced the electorate.
Messers. Blowick and Commons were elected in due course, and Mr. Cafferky came a cropper, to the great disappointment of his large following in East Mayo.
Mr. Donnellan, leader and founder of the party at the time, addressed the convention and in the course of his address made a bitter attack on the Fianna Fáil party.
On his return to Mayo after being elected a minister in the new government, Mr. Joe Blowick was accorded a wonderful welcome and receptions awaited him everywhere he went until he arrived at his own home at Fortlawn.
It was with very much joy that his friends and supporters in Mayo heard that their popular T.D. had been elected Minister for Lands in the new Government, and after his car entered the Mayo border on his return from Dublin the Minister was carried shoulder high and bonfires blazed in many parts of the county.
Everywhere the Minister went he addressed large crowds and thanked those who were welcoming him.
In January the review reported the widespread mourning at the passing of one of the most eminent Churchman known in Mayo, Very Rev. Dr. Michael Henry, D.Ph., D.D., the esteemed Parish Priest of Straide.
The late Dr. Henry, who was a native of Kilavil, Co. Sligo, suffered for a period before his passing at the age of 73 years, and his funeral was one of the largest ever seen in the county.
He was a man of great mental stature and in the days of the ‘troubles’ displayed strong Nationalist leanings and was ever ready to succour members of the I.R.A. who were then receiving the attention of the British forces of occupation.
After his ordination he was appointed a Professor at St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen, and later was appointed chaplain in France during the 1914-18 war.
On the sporting scene, in March soccer history was made at O’Malley’s Field, Westport, when an Easter crowd estimated at 3,000 saw Connacht and Munster draw, 3-3, in a junior inter-provincial match, in one of the finest - if not the finest - games ever witnessed on a Westport soccer pitch.
Played at a fast pace and full of thrilling episodes and spectacular football, the game made a great impression on all soccer fans present.
The men of the west were selected from Castlebar, Galway, Westport and Sligo clubs, and they gave a truly magnificent performance.
At half-time the score stood 2-2 and the final draw was a fitting result to a really enjoyable and sporting game.
Mr. M. Brennan, Galway, was the capable referee.
Staying in Westport, in early May the town’s esteemed pastor, Very Rev. J. Burke, Adm., was the central figure in a simple and brief, but nevertheless impressive, little ceremony at the Fountain, Lower High Street, Westport, when he set in motion the electric motor which controls the machinery of the public time-piece, and thus, officially, Westport’s public clock was given to the people.
Following the touch of the priest’s hand the machinery whirred and the hands of the dials moved. Time now marched on.
Prior to the ceremony a workman was busily engaged in polishing the plastic dials of the clock and adding little touches here and there.
The attendance at the short ceremony included the town clerk, Mr. R.G. Browne, Mr. James McGing, chairman of the local Urban Council, and other public figures.
In the middle of the month of June, when conducting the Circuit Court in Castlebar, Judge Wyse-Power was presented with white gloves, there being no criminal business before his Lordship.
Making the presentation, the County Registrar, Mr. J. Kelly, said that with his 25 years experience of the people of Mayo, both as a solicitor and as County Registrar, he could say that the present pleasing position was just in keeping with the character of the people during all that period.
Mr. Kelly said that, of course, at times there were ‘black spots’, but generally speaking the people of the county conducted themselves very well and were a standing credit to themselves and the country as a whole. What the position came to now was that the people were living up to their reputation.
Judge Power, in accepting the presentation, said that it was only right that when there was no crime in a county such a grateful position should be marked by that simple and traditional ceremony.
In the January 8 edition, the newspaper reported on the appointment of a new judge, Mr. John C. Conroy, who was called to the Inner Bar and had been appointed a Circuit Court Judge for the period January 1 to June 30.
The appointment had been occasioned by the illness of Judge Wise-Power of the Galway Circuit. It was expected that a judge from one of the two other Irish-speaking circuits of Kerry and Donegal would be transferred to Galway.