Tuam Herald, Saturday, Mar 13, 1909 Tuam, Co Galway Costable J costello, R I C, Galway, who was recently transferred to Oranmore on special duty, has been granted a first-class favourable record for courageous conduct, and a third-class record, with £1, for good police duty --------------- Mr. Henry Doran, Mr. F T C Gahan, and Mr Mitchell, of the Congested Districts Board, last week accompanied by the Rev P Canon Lyons, P P, V F, Castlebar, met a number of the tenants on the Kilmaine estate at Snugboro, and discussed with them the best means by which the Brewaster farm might be divided up. Alternative offers of holdings and plots were made, and the tenants were given until Thursday to decide as to which offer the majority of them were willing to accept. --------------- The M G W Railway have a staff of men at work covering in the up platform of Claremorris station, and it is also thought that they will carry out a similar improvement at the down platform. --------------- His Grace the Archbishop of Tuam administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to over 400 children in Claremorris last week. He preached a very useful sermon exhorting the people to listen to the preachers and to stand faithfully by the Church. He complained of some papers in Dublin which were trying to undermine the faith and morals of the people; also of the excessive use of bad cheap tea, which was one of the causes why the asylums were full. He also complained of bickering, disputes, and wrangling in public life, and said that Irishmen were not fit to get Home Rule as they had not that patience and moderation so necessary for the proper control of public business. On Friday evening the first great solemnity of this mission took place in honour of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Blessed Eucharist. --------------- Mr. Timothy Gilmartin, son of the late Mr Richard Gilmartin, of New York, is at present on a visit to his uncle, Mr Michael Gilmartin, Rinshiona, Castelebar, father of the Very Rev Dr Gilmartin, Vice-President of Maynooth College. Mr Gilmartin is an American born, but always looked forward to a visit to the land of his ancestors. He arrived in Castlebar on Wednesday week, and has since been visiting numerous relatives, including his cousin, Mr Joseph Gilmartin, R.D.C. He speaks highly of the Irish in America, and takes a deep interest in the great struggle of the Irish people for their independence. He is a staunch supporter of the Irish Revival Movement. --------------- Athlone is one of the few places in Ireland where, we are told, a castle (caislen or caistel) was erected in pre Norman times. The Four Masters, in the year 1120, say" "The Castle of Athlone and the bridge were erected by Turlough O'Connor, in the summer of this year, i.e., the summer of the drought." The other per-Norman Castles, as far as known, were at Balliasloe, Galway, and Collooney, all erected in 1124; Cuileanntrach (unidentitified), demolished in 1155; Tuam erected in 1164; and Ferns, demolished in 1166. What sort of structures these pre-Norman castles were we are nowhere directly told, but we may perhaps, infer that the one at Athlone, at any rate, was of wood, as it "burned by a thunderbolt" two years later. --------------- A process-server named Kilroe was forced to beat a hasty retreat from the Kelly-Manon estate at Mount Talbot last week where he attended for the purpose of serving processes. The local police assisted in protecting a bailiff while engaged in the same duty on the Potts next day. There was no disturbance. --------------- With the passing of the Queen's College, now University College, Galway, there has also passed away a prominent figure in the College, an old soldier of the Queen, in the person of the Assistant in Natural History, Sergeant Brady. For upwards of twenty years Sergeant Brady has been known to visitors to the museums, and especially to students, for his knowledge and never-failing courtesy. Formerly he served in the 88th for over twenty years, largely in India; the effects of his various campaigns, the heat of the Indian plains and the cold of the Himalays could be seen inhis soldier's physique and unmistakeable bearing. He was taken ill a few weeks ago, but returned to his duty; which, however, he had to relinquish, and went home to die. He died on Thursday, the 25th February. --------------- In Dunmore last week a horse the property of Mr P Donlon, Carramane, Dunmore, taking fright dashed through the town and made its way into the wholesale and retail store of Mr. C J Kennedy, Co C, whose premises were well filled with customers at the time. No panic ensued, though some had marvellous escapes. Two of Mr. Kennedy's customers, Messrs. Rodger Kelly and James Mitchell, pounced upon the animal and succeeded, after some careful handling in removing him. Credit is also due to Constable Summers, R I C, for his promptitude and pluck in cooling down the wild animal.