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Archiver > IRL-GALWAY > 2001-12 > 1007228185


From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [GALWAY] !! Connaught Journal; June 5, 1823
Date: Sat, 1 Dec 2001 11:36:25 -0600


Connaught Journal
published Galway, Ireland
Thursday, June 5, 1823

THE FAIR SEX
The charming prattle of the fair sex has certainly been specially granted
them by nature, as a relief to their confinement, and sedentary occupations.
It is unjust, therefore, and cruel, to censure their propensity to chat. A
learned and ingenious friar, once preaching to a convent of nuns, on Easter
day, assured them, that our Saviour, when he arose, appeared first to a
woman, that the news of the resurrection might be sooner spread abroad.

MODERN IMPROVEMENTS
It has been thought expedient to place upon the levey book a good round sum
for the erection of two Galleries in the Church of St. Nicholas. One Gallery
is finished, at least the heavy work has been gone through, and has cost the
inhabitants of this miserable place some- (we do not know how many)
hundreds. The other Gallery will, we hear, be as expensive, if not more so-
and will be erected in the identical spot in which the former Gallery stood,
which was taken down a few years back.- Thus it was with us in Galway. We
have, as the proverb says, "a time to gather and a time to scatter- a time
to build up and a time to pull down." If a Gallery was considered at all
necessary in this beautiful building why was the old one taken down? It
certainly was not removed through any apprehension of its falling, for the
work and materials were found to be excellent; no- this was not the reason
of its disappearing, but the Parish saw, that instead of its being at all
useful or necessary, it was calculated for very bad purposes, being nothing
less than a perfect nuisance, and a lurking place for abomination of every
description- a mere profanation of the House of God. In this assertion we
are borne out by every person with whom we have communicated; and, while all
see that it is an unnecessary expence to the Parish, none have had the
firmness to come forward and oppose the impost.- Our astonishment at this is
very great; but we must confess that it is wonderfully increased at hearing
that it is intended to remove, or take down, the handsomest ornament in the
Church, for the purpose of making way for this Gallery- We here allude to
Lynch's Altar. The new Gallery cannot be built so as to avoid disturbing
this venerable remnant of antiquity, as the old one was, but Lynchs' Altar,
the finest specimen of mechanism in the entire building, Lynch's Altar,
which has stood the test of so many centuries, and even commanded the
protection of a Gothic infuriated Soldiery in the general destruction of
Church property and ornaments, must be now set aside, removed or taken down;
and by whom? by men who ought to be enlightened- who pretend to taste and
judgment, but who do not seem possessed of any strong claims on either. The
large tomb will be (we hear) also removed. We shall merely ask- Will the
descendants of the LYNCH family suffer this to pass without an observation?

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CONNAUGHT JOURNAL
SIR- I beg through the medium of your valuable print to direct the public
attention to the wretched state of those poor creatures that are sent to the
Fever Hospital. You are aware that in consequence of the rapid decrease of
Typhus in this Town, or, rather (thank God) its total absence at present,
the porters employed to convey patients to the Hospital have been dismissed;
of course, those unfortunate person that may be yet attacked, will not be
taken out without paying those porters themselves; - they are charged 1s 8d
and we know that many of them would expire from want and sickness before
they could make up even this trifling sum. I speak of what has come under my
own view. Yesterday a poor woman was taken ill of the Fever; she was ordered
to pay the porters, she would not be moved from the bed of sickness but for
the humanity of a few individuals who paid for conveying her thither.
The cases at present are few. The Town has seldom been so free from Fever;
but even a few, when they have not the means of immediate or timely
conveyance, might spread the disorder again amongst us. During the
prevalence of the typhus last year, the porters were paid, I believe,
half-a-guinea a week out of the Funds of the Hospital. Now, as Providence
has put an end to their weekly employment, they should still be paid, if
possible, a reasonable sum out of the same Funds for each person they may
carry in. There is a Chair belonging to the Establishment; and I should
think 10d for each person conveyed thither by them would be a very ample
allowance.
Your very obedient servant.
CIVIS



Cathy Joynt Labath
Celtic Cousins
http://www.celticcousins.net/


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