The Gallaghers of Ballinrobe

The Connaught Tribune features pictures of the horse-jumping competition at the Kilmaine Show in September
1929, a year before Uncle John died on the way home from attending that town's fair.
MEDICAL EVIDENCE.
“Dr. M.J. Hawkshaw gave evidence that the
deceased was brought to his house at 2 a.m. on Friday
morning by Sergt. Reynolds and another Guard. He was
dead when he saw him. He was told he met with injuries
and was found on the road. Without making a post-mortem
examination he was unable to say the precise cause of
death. He could not make this examination by himself and
required another doctor.
When the taking of his evidence was resumed, he
said he had been assisted by Dr. George Mcguire. He found
that there was a large blood clot on the brain. There was no
fracture, and only one slight mark over the lower part of the
forehead and nose. He would say that this was not the result
of great violence. In his opinion, the cause of death was
hemorrhage, due to the fall from the bicycle. The body was
healthy and well-nourished.
He thought it quite possible that the youth was
conscious for about half an hour after the fall, and could
have moved about and placed his bicycle in the position in
which it was found. If the deceased had been struck by a
motor (car), he would expect to find marks.
Dr. George McGuire made a deposition agreeing
with Doctor Hawkshaw as to the injuries and the cause of
death.”
SYMPATHY AND COMPLIMENTS.
“This having concluded the evidence, the Coroner
addressed the jury, who decided to return a verdict in
accordance with the medical evidence.
The Coroner said he felt sure the jury would like
to record their commendation of Mr. Michael Garvey. He
had done everything he could for the deceased, and it was
no fault of his that the efforts were unavailing.
The foreman of the jury and Supt. Dunphy having
concurred, a vote of sympathy was passed with the family
of deceased in their loss. Those present associated
themselves with the coroner's sympathetic references.”
* * *
Uncle John was buried Sept. 20. A brief item in a
local newspaper noted he had been popular with the young
men of the town, “who paid their tribute to him at the
funeral on Saturday, when affecting scenes were witnessed
at the Old Abbey Cemetery.” A High Mass was celebrated
the following Monday, with five priests participating,
including St. Mary's Pastor Monsgr. E.A. D'Alton and the
Rev. Eaton as the main celebrant.
Within the year, Uncle John's sister Delia returned
home for a short time from America to be with the grieving
family. Using her own resources and those from her
brothers Pete and Pat in America, she helped pay for a
monument that was erected at the Gallagher burial plot in
the Abbey Cemetery. The granite memorial, topped with a
Celtic Cross, still stands, asking for The Lord to have
mercy on the souls of Michael and John Gallagher. Their
parents, brother Owen and sister Mary were added after
their deaths. John’s age on the monument and in his
brother’s testimony at the inquest was given as 25 years.
Judging from his known birth date and the date of the
accident, he would have been about to turn 27. It is just
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