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| Lady's Well, Athenry (reference: Athenry Parish Heritage page) |
In August
1923 supporters of the then present government (Free-State)
and anti-treaty attend the pilgrimage at Lady’s Well, Athenry. Patrick Kennedy
presided over the meeting of Treaty candidates was held in the afternoon.
Stephen Jordan presided the Anti-Treaty gathering addressed by Mr. O’Dea. A
statement made by the chairperson aroused hostility in the crowd and a tussle
ensued. Some of the crowd panicked and fled the scene only to return later. The
Civic Guard entered the crowd and drew their batons using them vigorously. The disturbance was quelled and Mr. O’Dea was
able to resume his speech.[1]
The above event happened after a ceasefire for the Irish Civil War was called in May 1923 conflict was still high between Treatyites and Anti-Treatyites. The Civic Guard was formed by the Provisional Government in February 1922 to take over the responsibility of policing the fledgling Irish Free State. It replaced the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the Irish Republican Police of 1919–22.
In the year of 1932 which was the same year of the Eucharistic Congress there was a public meeting held at Lady's Well which authorised a ladies committee to collect funds in Athenry for the purpose of erecting a Memorial Cross at Lady's Well which was to be erected on 26 June 1932 for the Eucharistic congress. That same year Fr. Conroy P. P. organised times for masses for pilgrims visiting the well as visitors that arrive in Athenry at different times such as morning, evening by train and put an appeal to pilgrims to reply in his letter via the Connacht Tribune suitable times for them. '[2]
The above event happened after a ceasefire for the Irish Civil War was called in May 1923 conflict was still high between Treatyites and Anti-Treatyites. The Civic Guard was formed by the Provisional Government in February 1922 to take over the responsibility of policing the fledgling Irish Free State. It replaced the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and the Irish Republican Police of 1919–22.
In the year of 1932 which was the same year of the Eucharistic Congress there was a public meeting held at Lady's Well which authorised a ladies committee to collect funds in Athenry for the purpose of erecting a Memorial Cross at Lady's Well which was to be erected on 26 June 1932 for the Eucharistic congress. That same year Fr. Conroy P. P. organised times for masses for pilgrims visiting the well as visitors that arrive in Athenry at different times such as morning, evening by train and put an appeal to pilgrims to reply in his letter via the Connacht Tribune suitable times for them. '[2]
In August 1934 the Connacht Tribune
reported that a ‘A big crowd attended
arrived Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning . The Wednesday morning train was
crowded with pilgrims from Connemara and the Claddagh, Galway. Some years ago
an all-night vigil at the well-used to precede Lady day, very few keep the
vigil visits on the evening of the 14th and 15th.’
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