Mayo Memories: People burned household effects because of turf famine

Tom Gillespie

FROM THE CONNAUGHT TELEGRAPH ARCHIVES

THERE was a turf famine in Castlebar in February 1945, and quick action relieved the situation.

The question of the scarcity of the fuel was raised at a meeting of Castlebar Urban Council by the chairman, Councillor J.J. Collins (Ind.)

He said he had got in touch with the County Surveyor, who informed him that the manager had arranged to issue free turf to Home Assistance recipients.

Councillor Joe Chambers (Ind.) said it was time something was done.

A poor old lady offered 4/9 for an ass load, and the scoundrel - “I call him nothing else but a scoundrel,” said Mr. Collins - would not give it until he got threepence more. That old lady had not the price of her breakfast.

Mr. Chambers complained that the people of MacHale Road were being charged 8/- an ass cart - at the rate of over £6 8s. per ton.

“If that happened in any other country the seller would be shot,” declared Mr. Chambers.

Councillor James O’Quigley (Lab.) said as soon as the cold weather set in a crowd of parasites descended on the town charging £12 per ton of turf. The people should not be left without a store of turf.

Councillor Collins said the Parish Council distributed turf last year (1944).

Mr. Chambers: Where is it now?

Mr. O’Quigley: It is gone now.

When the manager arrived later Mr. Collins asked him to tell the council what arrangement he had made for distributing turf.

The manager said that as far as he could see the turf people were charging exorbitant prices for turf, and Rev. J. Gibbons, C.C., the chairman of the council, the S.S.O., and the county engineer, Mr. Flanagan, met him to see how best suitable storage for turf could be provided.

They approached the Bacon Company and their thanks were due to them for coming to their assistance and providing a store.

They would get turf from from the Mental Hospital dump and distribute it free of charge to people getting Home Assistance and St. Vincent de Paul relief.

The chairman thanked the manager and asked would people be able to buy it.

Mr. Flanagan said they would try and arrange that later on, and they would work with the lorry all through Sunday.

The manager said he had been told that poor people had been compelled to burn their household effects.

Mr. Chambers said he would like to thank the manager for his prompt action in this matter and would request that turf be sold to the workers.