1848 - Improvement of Lough Corrib

IMPROVEMENT OF LOUGH CORRIB

PUBLIC MEETING

On yesterday (Friday), a most respectable meeting took place at the Town Court House, called by the High Sheriff, for the purpose of memorialising the Lord Lieutenant to forward the contemplated works on Lough Corrib, and, to petition Parliament against granting a bill in the ensuing session, to interested parties in whom the people of the town of Galway have no confidence. At three o'clock the Court House was crowded. In the vicinity of the bench we observed - Michael P. Browne, High Sheriff, Rev. P. Daly, P.P, Rev. John D'Arcy, John Ireland, J.P., John Gunning, T.C., R.A.H. Kirwan, Cregg; Patrick Joyce, James Stephens, T.C., Thos. Palmer, George Cuppadge, James Duggan, T.C., John Harrison, John Redington, John Costello, Patrick J. Broughall, Denis Corcoran, John F. Blake, Galway Vindicator; Thomas Kyne, E.E. Maunsell; L.S. Mangan, Mark A. Lynch, J.P., Phenaes Franklin, M. McNamara, Solicitor; Patrick Commons, T.C., Patrick Clayton, &c., &c.

Upon the motion of the Rev. P. Daly, P.P., Michael P Browne, Esq., High Sheriff, was called to the Chair.

The Chairman read the requisition in pursuance of which he called the meeting, which he was happy to find so respectably attended. The works of improvement upon the Lake was a matter of the utmost importance to have commenced, affording, as it would, considerable employment to the labouring poor of this locality, and at a time when we were surrounded with distress, destitution and misery. He thanked them for the honor they conferred by calling upon him to preside over the meeting, and, he begged to assure them, it was his desire upon every occasion to aid in the improvement of Galway.

Rev. Mr. Daly next proposed that the Rev. John D'Arcy do act as Secretary to this meeting; which was seconded by acclamation.

Rev. Mr. Daly said that he had been honoured with the commission of proposing the first resolution; and he was happy at having the satisfaction of stating, that at length the Lough Corrib works were about being commence, and though the spade had not been yet put in the ground, he might say that a beginning was made, as the engineer had come to town, and had told a deputation, of which he was a member, that the only delay was the few preliminary arrangements of making out the ground, and so on. It would be hard to name the exact day on which the works would commence, but he would say before the end of next week (cheers). As they were all acquainted with the state of the town, he need not tell them how great a blessing it was that these works were about to commence, nor how great an evil that any impediments should be case in the way; yet he had to tell them that an attempt had been made to obstruct them by a company, under a pretended commission, who though they could raise money in England and turn the thing to their own advantage, or, to use an old saying, ``throw a sprat to catch a salmon.'' He would not detain them by detailing the advantages or importance of the work, which would extend to future ages, increase trade and commerce, and would probably be the means of making Galway the Packet Station of the Western World. After some further remarks on the evil of any obstacle being thrown in the way of the works being proceeded with, the rev. gentleman concluded by proposing the first resolution.

James Stephens, Esq., in seconding the resolution, expressed his satisfaction to see that the engineer had arrived in town. At that late hour he would not delay the meeting. The question was, whether they would prefer Exchequer Bills, or bills issuing from Austin Friars; there were £70,000 set apart for these works, and they would not allow Mr. Cahill or any one else to interfere, especially when they had no money but the bills to which he had alluded. 

J. Ireland, Esq., J.P., proposed the next resolution, and entirely concurred with the gentlemen who went before him, that no private company could undertake to carry on these works; they were in the hands of the government, who alone had the means at their disposal.

L.S. Mangan, Esq., seconded the resolution.

Mark Lynch, Esq., J.P., said he had been honoured with the proposing of the third resolution. He hoped that nothing would be done to retard the proceeding of the Board of Works on Lough Corrib, for it would be a very great grievance should any party interfere for that purpose, as the conducting of them was in the hands of those who were best able to carry them on to the advantage of all. He had been speaking to Mr. Roberts, C.E, who told him that he was only waiting to have a staff to commence them. Mr. Lynch then proposed the resolution which was seconded by

John Gunning, Esq, T.C. - He congratulated his fellow-townsmen on the commencement of so useful a work, and one so calculated to relieve the existing distress. He also had waited on Mr. Roberts, C.E., who assured him that the work should proceed without delay.

Richard A.H. Kirwan, Esq., came forward to propose the next resolution, and was received with great applause. He said that the object of the resolution which he had to propose was to petition parliament against the giving of power to any party to carry on the works alluded to. He heartily agreed that no other company could carry out these works as the Board of Works could who had a large sum of money at command for that purpose. It was clear that a private company would look to themselves in the first place, and try to make what profit they could, and the consequence was, if the management was given to them, that the same advantages would not arise to the people, nor the same return for their money (great applause.) He was sure that there was not a man there who was not interested in these works; they would have the lake opened for navigation, and the people would be employed, particularly those on the eastern side of the lake, namely, the parish of Annadown with which his family were interested, and which contained a great number of poor people. Most of the rivers, too, would be made navigable to their sources, so that it was the interest of every one that the management of the works should be entrusted to the government and the Board of Works, and it was their bounden duty to petition against any interference in the matter being permitted to others.

John Redington, Esq., seconded this resolution.

The Rev. Peter Daly moved that the committee be empowered to frame a petition to parliament founded on the resolutions just passed, as it would be inconvenient to assemble the public again for that purpose. He was sure the Town Members would use their influence in support of the petition, of this Mr. O'Flaherty had assured them, and he was confident Mr. Blake would act similarly. He also hoped that the county members would think it for their interest to lend them their assistance.

It was then resolved that the petition be entrusted for presentation in the lower House to Messrs. Blake and O'Flaherty, and to the Earl of Devon and the Marquis of Sligo, in the House of Lords.

The High Sheriff having been moved from the chair, and Richard A.H. Kirwan called thereto, -

The Rev. P. Daly, seconded by M. A. Lynch, Esq., moved that the marked thanks of the meeting be conveyed to the High Sheriff for his dignified conduct in the chair, as well as for the readiness with which he came forward at all times in support of the interests of the public.

The meeting shortly after separated.

Galway Vindicator, and Connaught Advertiser, 5 February 1848.