Athenry News & Views Summer 2026

Summer 2026

mattress and a fibre mattress, two sheets marked in large letters “Galway Gaol”, two blankets and a quilt - all except the fibre mattress were prison property. The cell had a boarded floor, a groined ceiling and a semi circular window about six feet above the floor. The radius of the window was about three-and-a-half feet, with the centre portion pivoting and in four panes. The outer portion was strongly guarded by ten vertical bars placed diagonally, loaded into tho stone and braced by three horizontal bars, all about two inches thick. The furniture consisted of a plain deal table about twenty one inches by eighteen inches; an oak chair, a little mirror hung on the wall; a washing and a stop basin. In bold relief above the table was a copy of The Rules made by the Lord Lieutenant under the provisions of the Act for the Better Protection of Person and Property in Ireland, It comprised eighteen rules for the guidance of the prisoner, beginning with his admission and finishing with punishments. A bell pull and gas jet completed the internal furnishings. The cell door was two inches thick, lined on the inside with sheet iron. Near the top of the door was a spy hole with a lid, affording the opportunity to observe the prisoner. Every half-hour the heavy shoes of the warden could be heard as he marched along he corridor, incessantly chinking keys, banging doors and calling our “All is well”. The noise and hard bed combined to keep sleep at bay for the prisoner on his first night. Routine In the morning darkness of Thursday, November 9. while the prison bells were ringing. the call door was opened and the gas was put on. About twenty minutes were allowed for getting ready for the day and then ‘in stentorian tones’ during the second unlocking of the door, the warden’s voice commanded “All Out”. Out meant the exercise yard. Peter Broderick got a warm reception from the other prisoners. Their comments were consoling: “You here too. Good God, isn’t this too bad”, “Bad luck to them that sent you here”. O’Beine of Ballinamore went and ‘found something to cheer you up’ and Peter Broderick was in better fettle. A few minutes before eight o’clock the warden commanded “All In” and in they filed back to the cells. Breakfast, consisting of two hard eggs, a cup of tea and a penny loaf, was then served in the cell. Writing paper was served around after breakfast. After the letter writing time, the cell door was unlocked and ‘All Out repeated. Time outside the cell lasted for two hours - one in the exercise yard, the other the Association Rooms where the prisoners met. Back to the ceils again, ten past twelve to ten past two. Dinner served there included a bottle of stout. Outside again to the exercise yard, ten past two to ten past four. Back indoors to the Association Rooms, ten past four to ten past five. Back to the cells, ten past five to half-past seven next morning. Supper, consisting of a cup of tea, jenny loaf and one ounce of butter, was served around to the cells at half past five, the cell door was opened, tea utensils were removed and cell locked again. The Chief Warden went on his rounds and looking through the cell door aperative calling out “All’s Well”. The lights were put

out at half-past eight. At half-past ten, the ceil door was opened and the Chief Warden holding a bulls eye lamp enters. He satisfies himself of the prisoner’s presence, calls out ‘All’s Well’ and passes off. Cell relocked. The number of suspects imprisoned at Galway Jail ranged from time to time between forty and seventy. Some prisoners were transferred to Carrick-on-Shannon, Limerick or Armagh. The suspects at Galway Jail occupied the back seats of the gallery in the chapel on Sunday’s while the lower scats were occupied by convicted and untried prisoners. The female prisoners were on the ground floor - under the gallery - out of view of the males. Prisoners marched back to the cells after Mass on Sundays. Exercise There were two areas of exercise in the yard, and daily exercise began around 7.30 a.m. immediately after rising, often in the darkness before the winter dawn and often in the early morning moonlight. If there was severely cold air, as on December 12, 42 degrees plus fog, “the efforts to keep up blood circulation were laughable”. It was so cold on occasions it demanded violent exercises to keep warm. “The fierce marching of muffled men in the little circumscribed space’.” On very wet days the exercise areas were sloppy and disagreeable necessitating the use of a corridor for exercises. The playing of ball went on all the time in the exercise areas. The Governor might on occasion visit the exercise yard laden with official papers. Prisoners could be informed of transfer, release, or court appearances while in the yard. Prisoners on two occasions during Peter Broderick’s sojourn there brought up with the authorities the need to sheet the sides of a shed in the yard. Overcoats could be worn there on wet days. There was general amusement one Sunday morning when a prisoner appeared in the exercise yard sporting a top hat. Stock-in-trade Within a few days of arrival at Galway Jail Peter Broderick received from home consignment of personal items indicating social expectations of the time: two pairs of cuffs, six collars, four collar studs, razor, strap, tooth brush, soap, one handkerchief, Holy Water, beads, one pillow, two pillow cases, blankets, sheets, counterpane quilt and table cover. A week later he made an inventory of stock-in-hand in his cell: one bed, two sheets, two pairs of blankets, two pullovers (one League), two pillow covers, one table cloth, one counterpane, one rug, one Ulster, one duster, one dress coat, one everyday coat, three pairs of trousers, two vests, three shirts, ten collars, three pairs of cuffs, two towels, four pairs of stockings, two pairs of drawers, two flannel shirts, two ties, four handkerchiefs, one night shirt, hair-brush, tooth brush, rack beads and prayer book. Monday’s items were sent to the prison laundry and were returned later in the week. Isolation from the world outside, from the everyday bustle of life in Galway was almost total. An old factory whistle and the Angelus Bell ringing at 6 am. awakened the prisoners. Church bells pealing in early and mid-morning gave Peter Broderick the distinct impression there was rivalry between the churches in the town. “There appears to be a rivalry between the different church in towns. The

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