Source: Michael Purcell 2013
Up Dev 1937.
Transcribed June 2009 from old
newspaper in the PPP.
Nationalist and Leinster Times.
3rd July 1937.
President de Valera at Carlow.
The public meeting at Carlow on Friday
evening, the 25th June, when President de Valera addressed a
gathering of about 6,000 people at Shamrock Square, was the largest
and most enthusiastic held in the constituency during the General
Election campaign.
The President was met at he outskirts of the
town on the Kilkenny road by members of the Town Council, including
the Chairman, Mr J.J. Cuddy, Mr F. Dalton, Mr W Hanlon, Mr Tom
Seeley, Mr M.Doyle, together with other public representatives,
where he was extended a hearty welcome.
A guard of honour of members of the Old I.R.A.
escorted the President along Burrin Street and Tullow Street to the
Shamrock.
A body of horsemen accompanied the
procession.
As the huge procession passed through the
streets the cheering was continuous, and when the President arrived
at the platform the scene was a most impressive one.
Hats were waved in the air, and shouts of "Up
Dev" could be heard over the general din. It was some minutes before
the cheering died down, and the President acknowledged the reception
extended to him by raising his hat.
He was looking in excellent health and
spirits after his strenuous tour of the West and South. At the
platform a guard of honour of the Garda Siochana under Chief Supt.
Burke and Supt. Connolly, was drawn up in front of the platform.
An address of welcome from Carlow Town
Council was read by Mr J. Smyth, Town Clerk to which the President
suitably replied.
Mr M. Behan, Director of the Sugar Company
presided.
The President delivered a long and powerful
address in which he dealt with criticisms of the new Constitution.
[note added by Michael Purcell, June 2009 -
The previous week one of the Carlow
councillors, Mr E. Bermingham objected to an "address of welcome"
from the Town Council to President de Valera but the Chairman, J.J.
Cuddy overruled the objection.
Councillor Edward Duggan and Councillor Ray
McDonnell both declared they would not take part in the meeting with
the President!.
J.J. Cuddy declared that we still have good
men in our ranks and Mr de Valera tops them all, in a generation or
two the times we live in will be called the de Valerian era, such is
the power and prestige of this man among men, it is our duty to
honour him as Mr de Valera and the President of our State.
The elections were held the following week,
Mr de Valera was returned to power and Dr Humphreys F.F., from
Myshall was elected to represent Carlow with W. Norton, Labour,
topping the poll also elected were T. Harris F.F., S. Minch, F.G.,
all in the Carlow-Kildare constituency]
1937, Sunday Drinking & Sunday
Football
Nationalist and Leinster Times.
November 1937.
Sunday Football.
We understand that, owing to the scenes of
drunkenness and disorder of which the Bishop of Kildare and
Leighlin, Most Rev. Dr. Foley was himself a witness on Sunday night,
at the Bagenalstown and Carlow Railway Stations.
It
is probable that he will issue a strict prohibition against the
holding of all competition football and hurling matches on Sundays,
and that he will make it a reserved sin to drink in a public-house
on these days.
We believe that such a prohibition has
already been issued in some of the Northern dioceses, and not long
ago it was a reserved sin in this Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin to
drink in a public-house on a Sunday.
His Lordship has announced his intention of
dealing with the whole subject in the Cathedral on the night of
Sunday, the 22nd November 1937.
Source: Michael Purcell 2013
Transcribed June 2009 from old
newspaper in the PPP.