Madam, – Elizabeth Sweeney recounts story of her arrival by transatlantic liner in Galway Bay in 1937 (Home News, February 4th). I can vividly recall being taken by my granddad, in his pony and trap, to Black Head to see the liners anchored just off the head – such joy and excitement it offered me as a young boy.
The huge ships were so close to the shore that we could hear the bands playing and the passengers dancing on the deck. We village people thought the liners came in especially to allow local people ashore, but, of course, as Elizabeth Sweeney said, a tender from Galway collected all those who wished to disembark for whatever reason.
One old lady known as the Yankee Curran (real name Ellen)arrived on at least two occasions by liner. A large Galway hackney car (with the huge trunks – associated with Americans – tied up securely behind), would sedately and slowly drive her through the village, giving all the villagers a chance to greet her and welcome her home. Sadly, such events do not occur any more. The Ireland I knew then was a poor but simple country. – Yours, etc,