From the archives: Snow-bound radio report had Mayo councillors in a flurry

By Tom Gillespie

ALLEGATIONS that a Radio Éireann news bulletin report in February 1955 concerning poor weather conditions in Castlebar was inaccurate were made at a meeting of Castlebar Urban District Council, when members protested against the report and held that it had an adverse affect on the fair held the following day.

In The Connaught Telegraph of Saturday, March 5, 1955, the report appeared and, ironically, the reporter who sent in the weather report was present at the council meeting.

Councillor Joe Chambers: There was a report on Radio Éireann on Friday last which did a terrible lot of damage to the fair on Saturday.

It said that Castlebar was snow-bound. A lot of farmers attacked me. They seemed to think it was the urban council that was responsible for the radio broadcast.

Councillor Gussie Wynne: A number of business people came to me and complained about the report.

The town clerk read a letter of complaint from traders, as follows:

On Friday last, the evening before the fair in Castlebar, Radio Éireann announced in its news bulletin that due to weather conditions traffic in Castlebar was at a standstill and many cars were stranded.

This information was false and misleading and must have deterred farmers and buyers from attending the fair.

We, the undersigned traders, have to register a strong protest at the dissemination of such false information and request the council to take the matter up with Radio Éireann and recommend to them that in future such information should be verified before being broadcast.

Signed: Robert Kilkelly, Michael Heverin, Paddy Irwin, Stan Mellotte, John Irwin and H. Pelly.

Councillor Wynne: I propose that we pass a resolution protesting about this report and that the resolution be sent to Radio Éireann. A resolution like this must come from some authority like this council. I do not know who the Radio Éireann reporter is, but as a result of the report Castlebar lost money and the people are complaining.

Councillor Chambers: I think this is the first time that any report like that came over the radio. We must be fair, it was a bad night and I think the council should not lean too hard on anyone and particularly on a townsman.

Councillor Robert Kilkelly: Reports like that should not be sent. It said Castlebar was snow-bound and it was not snow-bound.

Councillor Michael Heverin: That report did a lot of harm. Sending a resolution like that does not mean that we are asking for anyone to be dismissed. We should send a letter to Radio Éireann and tell them that in future they should check up on reports.

Councillor Chambers: I do not think we should do that and if we do the council will not be unanimous. It is not fair that we should try and deprive anyone of a living. In sending that letter we will be depriving someone of a living. I say drop it. We can vote on it.

Councillor Wynne: I cannot withdraw. I was asked by traders in the town to send a protest as the town lost money as a result of that report.

Councillor Willie Cresham: I do not want to be associated with the resolution.

Councillor Heverin: I was approached by people about this matter and a lot of people were annoyed about the announcement on the radio as the roads were not in such a bad condition. I would have it on my conscience if I did not agree with Councillor Wynne. I think Councillor Wynne is thoroughly justified. If the man who sent this report gets paid for it he should get into trouble if he did not send in an accurate report.

Councillor Chambers: I think this report did some harm because some farmers thought it was the work of the council when it was not. I still believe it was sent in good faith. The weather was bad and whoever sent in the report probably thought that the town would be snow-bound or he might have been hoping that it would (laughter).

Connaught Telegraph reporter Mr. P.W. Leamy addressed the meeting and said: Our job is to give factual and not fictional information to publicise certain matters. On Friday evening last no less that nine accidents took place. One car was buried out the Westport Road. One cow was killed in an accident at the county home and one cow was injured between Castlebar and Breaffy. It was sold to an institution that deal with them for 15/- (laughter).

So it was very easy for people to say that reports were inaccurate. As far as I am concerned the facts are always correct. I would like to remind you that the law of slander is the spoken word.

Councillor Wynne: Was it you who sent this report to Radio Éireann?

Mr. Leamy: Yes.

Councillor Kilkelly: If this is so I think Radio Éireann must have misquoted Mr. Leamy when they said that traffic was at a standstill.

Mr. Leamy: Yes. I have a copy of it to prove that I said that snow fell intermittently and that traffic was practically at a standstill. I have no apology to make.

Councillor Heverin: Mr. Wynne proposed that we send a letter to Radio Éireann and I second it.

Councillor Heverin: Mr. Leamy said there might be legal action over anything said here. He said that it was not his report that came over Radio Éireann and that he has a note of his report.

Councillor Chambers: Whoever you say did wrong you are trying to penalise Mr. Leamy.

Councillor Chesham: I propose an amendment to Mr. Wynne’s proposition that no resolution be sent to Radio Éireann.

Councillor Chambers: I second Mr. Cresham’s amendment.

The amendment was put to a vote as follows: For the amendment - Councillors Chambers, Cresham, McCormack and McTigue. Against - Councillors Heverin, Bourke, Wynne and Kilkelly.

The chairman gave his casting vote in favour of the amendment and it was carried.

Mr. Chambers: I propose that the Press be asked not to publish this discussion.

Mr. Heverin: I propose every word be reported. “Be just and fear not.”