Clifden Poor Law Union archive collection, Descriptive List, GPL3.pdf

Clifden Poor Law Union
given his claim to the water right etc gratuitously (as entered on the minutes of the Guardians
of the 6 July 1892) with the view of having the works at once commenced, that they will give
their sanction to the loan as matter is pressing & of vital importance’ (GPL3/75, p137). Yet in
early March 1894 delays still ensued, primarily due to difficulties in finalising the conveyance
of land (GPL3/75, p497).
In late June 1894 the Board advised the LGB that „legal difficulties‟ were the reason for the
continued delay in enabling them to acquire the loan for the waterworks, and asked the
Board to assist them „…by overlooking the legal technical delay. All owners and occupiers
being willing to give all rights necessary and thus enable us to go on with the works, and let
the legal matter be subsequently arranged. The delay is most dangerous to the health of the
inhabitants’ (GPL3/76, p359-60). However, the LGB advised the Guardians that they had no
power ‘...to dispense with proof of full title to the lands required for the proposed waterworks
at Clifden’ (GPL3/76, p411). Later at the end of July they reiterated that „...until the
conveyance is executed no loan would be issued even if recommended’ (GPL3/76, p489).
Finally in early November 1894 the various legal difficulties had been overcome and the
Board was able to pursue the required loan (GPL3/77, p199). The LGB was prepared to
recommend a loan of £1,600 (GPL3/77, p281). However, the Office of Public Works (OPW)
refused ‘...owing to the existing outstanding arrears in the repay of previous loans’ to extend
a loan (GPL3/77, p359). The Union had an outstanding debt of £500 with the OPW under a
Seed Rate loan of 1880. The Board appealed the decision and stressed the necessity of
providing clean water to the town.
In late March 1895 the LGB advised the Guardian that the Lord Commissioners of Her
Majesty‟s Treasury ‘...are willing to entertain a proposal for a loan of £1,100 for the
construction of the waterworks at Clifden if submitted by the Guardians on the usual form…’,
and with regard to the balance of £500 ‘...which is estimated will be spent on the unskilled
labour in connection with the works the Irish Government will be prepared to supplement the
loan by a grant of this amount out of sums provided by Parliament for the relief of distress
when the necessary conditions of the loan have been complied with, etc’ (GPL3/78, p9). By
May the Deed of Mortgage had been executed, whereupon the Clifden BG advised the PLC
that it did not require the whole £1,100 in one lump sum, but would rather receive it by
‘...instalments as occasion may require’ (GPL3/78, p185).
At the meeting of 5 th August 1896 the salary agreed for the waterworks caretaker, Martin
Greaney, was £3.15.0 for a six month period up to 29thJuly 1896 (GPL3/80, p391). At that
time the Guardians struck the contract (water rate) with, for instance, John W King, Publican
to pay £0.10.0 a year, William Nee, Victualler to pay £0.10.0, Mullarkey‟s Hotel £0.10.0, and
Cartlann Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe „…cuimhne dhoiciméadach Chontae na Gaillimhe a shealbhú, a chaomhnú agus a dhéanamh inrochtana’
Galway County Council - Archives „…to acquire, preserve and make accessible the documentary memory of county Galway’
xxiv.