asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he has received an application from the representatives of the late Patrick Gallagher, who was evicted from his holding at Traeneerla, Killimor, Ballinasloe, in July, 1890; whether the application for restoration to this holding, made by the representatives of the affected tenant, was refused and the land given to another party; whether he can state the reasons why this application was refused, and whether it is proposed to consider favourably the application of these people for a parcel of land equal in value to the original farm.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - BALLINASLOE EVICTION—CLAIM BY TENANT'S REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. HOGAN
The late Michael Gallagher made application to the Estates Commissioners as the representative of his uncle, Patrick Gallagher, deceased, who had been evicted from a holding at Traeneerla, on the Clanricarde Estate. The late C.D. Board, on acquiring the lands, proposed to provide Michael Gallagher with a holding. On the death of Michael Gallagher applications for the lands were made by several persons: (1) Thomas Gallagher, brother of Michael Gallagher, who resided in New York; (2) Michael Gallagher, a cousin of the deceased Michael Gallagher, whose mother is a tenant purchaser of another holding on the Clanricarde Estate; (3) Thomas Gallagher, another cousin, a shop assistant in Aughrim, and (4) Patrick Hardiman, with whom the deceased Michael Gallagher had resided until his death, and who forwarded a copy of a will of the latter, leaving him any rights he had to the evicted holding or any holding granted in lieu thereof. Moreover, the Thomas Gallagher who resided in Aughrim, stated that the deceased Michael Gallagher had, a few days before his death, made a will in his favour, and that he had defrayed the burial expenses.
The Estates Commissioners, in the exercise of the discretion vested in them, decided to take no action in respect of any of these applications, and the holding was sold to another evicted tenant on the property, whose former holding was not available. The Land Commission do not propose to take any action as regards these applications. It is, of course, open to them to reconsider the case when lands in that neighbourhood are acquired under the 1923 Act.
Mr. O'CONNELL
May I ask the Minister if any of this clan of the Gallaghers succeeds in establishing a claim to be regarded as a representative of the evicted tenant, will his claim be favourably considered?
Mr. HOGAN
Of course, the Deputy knows that if anybody succeeds in establishing his claim to be regarded as a representative of an evicted tenant, that that claim will be considered. I could say no more.
Arising out of the original Ministerial reply, is this parody of the Gallaghers a parody on the music-hall ditty, "Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Shean"?
Mr. HOGAN
Is that a joke?