80 years ago (1930)

Pope’s escape. How Pope Pius narrowly escaped death on Friday afternoon has just been revealed, says a B.U.P. Rome message. He was addressing Fascist Recreational Societies in the courtyard of Saint Damascus’ Church, when the glass face of the huge clock above the central loggia (porch or balcony) suddenly fell from its case, the iron hands of the clock just checking its fall. If this had not happened the glass face would have crashed right on top of the Papal throne. Firemen rushed to tie the hands with strong ropes, preventing them from rotating and thus dislodging the glass.

Another Clontarf. One would have thought that the people of the free state had had enough of the fruits of Republicanism. Mr Geoghegan, the new member , is a man of peace, but the policy of his party means war. Mr de Valera recently announced that another Battle of Clontarf might be necessary to remove the last vestige of  British rule. His policy includes the removal of the oath of allegiance, the abolition of the office of governor general, non payment of land annuities, high tariffs against British goods and in short he will abrogate the Treaty. He leaves the British government out of calculation altogether and never seems to think the carrying out of his schemes would plunge the country once more into turmoil and strife. His policy is, in short, “another round with England”, and the extraordinary thing is that so many people , by implication at all events, have supported it in this election. The electors of Longford – Westmeath have probably no desire for a repetition of 1921 – 22, yet the majority vote for a party whose policy can only be carried out by violence.

65 years ago (1945)

Honours for Longford airman. The London Gazette of June 1st, 1944 announces that the distinguished flying cross has been awarded to Flight Lieutenant Thomas Patrick McGarry RAFVR. The citation states that flight lieutenant McGarry was engaged in numerous operations against the enemy in which he displayed the utmost skill, courage and devotion to duty. He is entitled also to the 1941 – ‘43 star and in January 1944 he was granted the Pathfinder Badge, one of the most coveted awards in the RAF. It was while on operations with the famous Lancaster Pathfinder Squadron that his plane was attacked by German fighters and so badly damaged that it crashed in flames. Most of the crew were killed before he made a most miraculous parachute escape, being afterwards taken prisoner. Flight Lieutenant McGarry comes from Newtownforbes, Co Longford and is one of four brothers serving with the RAF. His elder brother, pilot officer JJ (Joey) has a long and interesting service in the RAF. Joining the force in 1937 after training in England, he served in Iraq, Egypt, France, India and Singapore.