News headlines from 100 years ago this week in The Nenagh Guardian
April 11 1925
Fatal Railway Accident
It is with deep regret we have to record the sad death of Mr James Ryan, Derry, Ballymackey, Nenagh, which occurred as the result of a railway truck toppling over while proceeding on the train two miles from Fillers’ Flat, New Zealand, on 13th February last. Deceased, who was unmarried, was only 30 years of age. The trucks, after passing over the points at the siding, somehow left the line and toppling over threw the deceased and other occupants out.
Deceased belonged to a popular and widely connected North Tipperary family, being brother of Rev. P. Ryan, St. Louis, USA, Mr Michael Ryan, rate collector to the County Council, Mr J. N. Ryan, Mullingar, etc. He was a man of splendid physique, gentle and unassuming and very popular. He had been in Australia for many years and only crossed to New Zealand about a year ago. The first intimation his family got of the sad occurrence was in a letter addressed to his sister from a comrade of the deceased.
Ballywilliam Creamery
Sales for the year 1924 at Ballywilliam Creamery amounted to £17,007, with a net profit of £90 6s 10d. There was an expenditure of £388 in addition to the machinery account. The cost of coal is considerable - no less than £426 being paid under this head.
In common with other creameries, there was a reduction in the quality of milk received. The average price per gallon was very good - 7.63d against 6.7 for 1923.
The results are reported by the auditor to be very good, and tribute is paid to Mr Gleeson, the manager, for the efficient way in which the accounts, etc, have been kept.
Our local creameries, which operate in many parishes, utlilise the raw materials in the shape of milk and manufacture it into butter and cheese.
Through North Tipperary in recent years, good progress has been made. New creameries have been established, but progress in regard to milk supplies has not been as satisfactory as could be wished.
Behold the Electric Age
If there is one fact more than another that should stimulate the Free State Government to strain every nerve to bring the Shannon Electric Power Scheme to a successful issue, it is a study of what every progressive country in the world is doing to increase electrical resources.
In a most interesting article in the “Daily Chronicle” this week on the “All-Electric Age and its Lessons”, Sir L. C. Money, one of the leading British authorities on finance and industry, points out the moral power development today.
Having pointed out that England owes its industrial success in the last century to coal, he examines the trend of power development now.
How vital it is for Ireland, which has no coal to harness our water for power as the Shannon scheme proposes to do.
On Friday last, by virtue of its acceptance of Mr McGilligan’s motion, the Irish Free State Parliament approved, in principle, the Siemens-Schuckert proposals for the hydro-electric exploitation of the River Shannon.
One of the foremost provisions of legislation to be enacted for the scheme will empower the Government to direct the course of the Shannon in whatever manner it may think fit for the purposes of the scheme.
April 10 1965
Tipp defeat
Tipperary suffered their first defeat in a major competition in almost twenty months when they lost to Kilkenny by 7-10 to 5-7 in the National hurling League at Thurles on Sunday, before a crowd of 20,000.
Playing with the help of a stiff breeze, the winners were two goals up inside two minutes.
Tipperary seemed to lack that degree of fitness which carried them through the All Ireland final in September. Kilkenny forwards Eddie Keher, Sean Buckley, Tom Walsh and to a lesser degree J. Dunphy, showed a dash and style that at times bewildered Tipperary’s usually staunch defenders, John Doyle, Kieran Carey and Mick Burns.
That Tipperary managed to stay in the game with a chance for so long was a direct tribute to the efforts of Tony Wall and Theo English, both of whom showed to great effect when their colleagues were floundering all around them.
Of the rest, however, only John McKenna, Jimmy Doyle and Michael Roche ever matched up to the standard of their opponents.
’Mines drama
The Silvermines Dramatic Class continued the wonderful standard set by the two other classes of the parish, when they presented “The Matchmakers” and a one-act sketch at the Parish Hall on Sunday night.
The concert included a number of songs from The Concertina Showband, while from the Bridge Céilí Band we had some traditional music, with ballads from singing star, Tom Gleeson.
The dramatic class was comprised of Susan Maher, Eamon Dooley, Mick and John O’ Brien and newcomers, Fidelma Ryan, Rita Kennedy and Pat Treacy. On Sunday night next, the Ballinaclough class visit Toomevara with their concert and plays.
By popular demand, the Lissenhall class will make a return visit to the Parish Hall on the same night with their three-act comedy, The Money Doesn’t Matter. This play has a very experienced cast, with production in the hands of Dick Tobin.
Borris drama
Eglish branch of Macra Na Feirme produced “Wigs On The Green”, a three-act comedy in the Cinema Hall, Borrisokane, on Sunday night, and the play was well received by a very large audience. It would, indeed, be very invidious to single out any of the cast for particular attention as all excelled themselves. The producer, who did a very good job, was Mr Denis Gardiner, N.T. The show was opened by a tableaux of the pupils of Eglish NS, depicting such noble Irishmen as Robert Emmett, Wolfe Tone, Roddy McCorley and many others.
The stage setting and the pupils taking part were dressed in the national colours. The producer was Mr Noel O’ Donnell, NT.
This was followed by selections of Irish music by the pupils of the Boys’ National School, under their teacher, Mr Denis Gardiner, N.T.