THE TUAM HERALD, SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 1909 TUAM, CO GALWAY DIED BODKIN -- Died at Annagh, Co Galway, on 2nd August, Martin Bodkin, youngest son of the late John Dominick Bodkin of Bengarina (?) of Castletown, aged 55 years, R.I.P. BLAKE - Robert Edward Blake, at 12 Murtagh road, Arbour Hill, Dublin, August 1st, 1909, aged 14 years. NEARY - July 31st, 1909, at a private hospital, Dublin, Thomas J Neary, Aghla_ieve House, Creggs, Roscommon, in the 33rd year of his age. ---------- An Australian silver coin of Francis II bearing date of 1745 was discovered last week in the ruins of an old house being reconstructed in Bishop Street. The third dividend in the Perease (?) Distillery of 2s 6d, making in all 12s 6d in the pound on the Debenture Stock has just been paid. With deep regret, as we go to press, we hear of the death of Mr James Garvey, N T of Cloghanover, which suddenly happened at Headford on Thursday mid-day. Early yesterday morning, quite unexpectedly, died Mr Charles Sheeban, at his residence, Vicar Street. ---------- PITHY PARS. --- Personal, Parochial Provincial and Particular ---------- In the "Globe" of last week appears the prosecution of the printer of the "Indian Sociologist" at the Old Bailey. The prisoner was ably defended by Mr Tully Christie, B. L. This clever young lawyer is the eldest son of the late William Kirwan Tully, Esq. Solicitor, of Carlow, and grandson of the late Jeremiah Tully, Esq, Solicitor, of the Grove, Tuam, and is, we are glad to see, forging ahead at the English Bar. ---------- A gentleman, a resident of Longhrea living in England, thus writes about the changes time has wrought there: - "There was a Pawn Office - a Mont de Piete - established in my day in a house once occupied by Mr Smyth, in Main Street. Behind was a three storey range of wool stores once used by him. The manager of the Pawn Office was Mr John Cowen, but the enterprise came to grief, and Dr Lynch went to live there, but later on it was converted into a police barrack. In those days I speak of, the population was about 8,000. It is not half now. I knew Monahan's Hotel, built where the new Cathedral now is. It was called 'The Head Inn' and is mentioned in Lever's Novels where many a pleasant evening was held. Loughrea was then the centre of the county society, and its hunt ball the great social event. One of the Monahans was Anthony, but the other, James, became a chief Justice. By the way, Charles Lever was Consul in Trieste, where he died and was succeeded by a great Irishman, Sir Richard Burton, whose grandfather was the Rev Edward Burton, Rector of Tuam. His grave is in Mortlake Cemetery. ---------- In the essay competition for school children inaugurated by the Turog Flour Company, Ltd, Master Charlie Fahy, a pupil of Monivea National School, succeeded in carrying off a twenty-shilling prize from amongst hundreds of competitors from all parts of the United Kingdom. ---------- A large pike, weighing 37lb, was recently captured in the River Corrib by a young man named Leo Lee, of Killeen House. It was exhibited in Galway during the afternoon. ---------- Several persons were successfully prosecuted at the last Headford Petty Sessions by Mr Joseph Canavan, for offences in connection with the Sheep Dipping Act. ---------- In Milltown the members of the Ball Court Committee are busy making preparations for the erection of a new ball court. The want of a suitable ball court has long been felt, for nowhere can be found keener admirers of the fine old manly game of handball than in Milltown. Mr F McDonnell has not only given a beautiful site free of charge, but has also headed the subscription list with the handsome figure of £5. Priests and people alike are taking a deep interest in the project, and subscriptions are heartily and generously given. A ball court is much required in Tuam - if some person of influence would only take up the project. ---------- An interesting handball contest is at present being organized by an energetic Committee in Athenry, and is to come off on the 29th August. The Committee are offering three gold medals as first prizes, and three silver medals for runners-up. Athenry may boast of one of the finest handball courts in the West, and this should make such a tournament all the more interesting from the spectators and competitors point of view. ---------- In the Connacht College the custom of using the Irish forms of the students names of college leads to a short excursus. Instead of the familiar Casey, Kelly, Murphy, O'Flarehty, etc, which smack of the stage Irishman, goats, tenement clothes lines, slatterns, and travesties of the human countenance, labelled Pat and Moike, we heard O Cathassigh, O Ceallaigh, O Flairhbheartaigh, forms suggestive of the princely lines from which they are descended. ---------- A long-felt want in Ballymoe has been at last supplied by the opening by Mahon Brothers (late of Connolly Bros, Castlerosa) of business in coach-making, car and cart making, and general carpentry work of every description. ---------- John Walsh, one of the oldest and most respected residents of Port Delhanise, Canada, died on June 13, at the age of eighty-five years. Deceased was born in Co Mayo, in 1825, and went to Canada in 1849. ---------- The Co. Roscommon Agricultural Show will be held on the 17th August. Entries close on the 7th August. ---------- A successful open air concert took place at Glynsk Castle, near Creggs, on Sunday. There was a dance in the evening in Tabberoe school. ---------- Jim McNamara British Isles Family History Society - USA, Newsletter Editor http://www.rootsweb.com/~bifhsusa