Achoimrí Béarla ar na téacsanna Gaeilge

English summaries of the comprehension texts

Ideally, you should try and translate the texts using the dictionary at the back of Trialacha Tuigbheála but if you are finding it difficult, read these summaries to get a rough idea of the texts.

1 Pól Mac Suibhne – anonn is anall - Paul Sweeney - to and fro

Paul Sweeney is from Newry but moved to Glasgow when he was eleven years old. His father is a head teacher and his mother a classroom assistant.
Paul likes Glasgow but remembers Newry with great fondness. He keeps in touch with his family friends in Newry by visiting his grandmother every August. He finds that the month flies in.
He wants to be an architect and is studying Art, Maths and Physics. When he has finished his studies at university he wants to open up an office in Newry.
He will apparently settle down in Ireland, marry a wife, build a house a few miles out of Newry and fill it with eight children!

2 Cearthaí ar Mháire lá an agallaimh - Mary is nervous on her interview day

Mary gets up at 8.00. She is trying to stay calm but is quaking and pale. When she sees herself in the mirror, coming down the stairs, she asks her self to get a grip. She reassures herself she is the right person for the job. She knows about computers and has spent a year abroad. She has a great chance if she could only stay calm.
This puts the smile back on her face and she feels better.
She put the t.v. on but wasn’t really interested in that morning’s news. She had jotted down a few notes from the night before on questions she might be asked. Having lost her appetite, she eats a light breakfast. She left herself plenty of time and that relaxed her.
She was only a twenty-minute walk from the factory but, even so, she had ordered a taxi – nice and early just in case. She did not want to run in her new suit and the new shoes she had just bought the afternoon previous. They seemed to fit her but she was reluctant to walk too far in them.

3 Seán Ó Baoill dochtúir - John Boyle, G.P.

John Boyle from Gortahork (in the Donegal Gaeltacht) is working in Nigeria. He graduated with a degree in Medicine ten years ago. He was working in the Children’s Hospital in Belfast, a city he liked only that his contract finished after two years. His aunt, a secretary in a newspaper office in Derry (City), told him of an advert for a job in Letterkenny ( a town in County Donegal). He faxed off for information, applied and was offered the vacancy.
He worked three years in Letterkenny. He declined free lodgings in the hospital preferring to stay at home having been away eight years and wanting to see the old place and his parents. He was also needed to play goalkeeper for Cloghaneely Gaelic Football team. He used to be a talented footballer but at college he had to concentrate on his studies.
He saw a documentary about Africa on television. There was an appeal for anyone qualified as a nurse or doctor to spend some time in Nigeria. He wrote off to an office in Dublin and spent a year working with Red Cross as a director of a field hospital.
This is his fourth year. Despite the heat he managed to settle down. He got on with the work and met some nice people. He will be sorry to leave, but such is life. Despite not knowing what lies before him, he wants to go back to Donegal (Tyrconnell) and stay there as home is calling him. Too old for football, he will take up fishing.

4 Úna Nic Mhaoláin – scoláire ollscoile - Úna McMullan - a university student

Úna, from Belfast, is a studying Chemistry in Dublin on a three-year course. She finds her first year at university a great change in her life. All she had to do at home was make her bed.
In Dublin she is in a block of the Halls of Residence with nineteen others. She has to shop, cook, wash, iron and do all other household chores for herself. If she does not, no-one else will. She is getting used to it all now, in spite of her difficulties at first.
The Halls have advantages and disadvantages. Plus points are: cheap rent, central heating, hot water; she can walk to lectures in the morning unlike students in the city.
On the other hand, she must admit the rooms are not too big, there are long queues for cooking, it can get noisy at night sometimes. If she wants to go into the city, taxi fares are costly and she can only visit Dublin by night if a few friends share the fare.
She had her schooling through Irish and does not want to lose her Irish. Fortunately a girl from Conamara (in County Galway) is staying in the Halls and Úna is also a member of the Gaelic Society. She attends an Irish class. They are reading An Druma Mór (‘The Big Drum’, a novel) by Seosamh Mac Grianna – her favourite Gaelic author and someone who adapted Irish for modern living.

5 Báite i bhfiacha - Up to the eyes in debt

Joseph, cold and hungry, goes in to a little café. He was not so much affected by hunger as by cold. He was delighted when the waitress handed a mug of hot, steaming coffee. He would visit the café once a week, the people there, both staff and customers, knew him and he them. He was about to take his first sip.
He liked the little café for a number of reasons: fairly comfortable, not too dear and the serving staff were pleasant. He wanted the morning paper but an old woman had it. She came in every morning, ordered a light breakfast and took the paper. Fond of crosswords, but slow to fill them in, there were few mornings she didn’t manage to finish it. She would not put the paper down until the last clue was filled in. That was all she wanted the paper for.
Joseph, seeing her on clue number two, knew he was in for a long wait. He was not too worried about the headlines, he had enough on his mind, He looked at the date on the calendar. A month to pay back his debts.
Six thousand pounds, Why did I listen to the foolish advice I was given? Too late now, the damage was done.

6 Am luí i dteach Chlann Scott - Bedtime in Scott’s house

Half past ten at night and Trevor Scott was finishing off the dishes. The day’s work would soon be over and he could sit (down) a while.
His wife Wilma was in the kitchen with him, reading the newspaper. Twenty minutes would do her. She had no interest in sport or politics. She liked reading about court cases and film stars. Trevor liked doing the crossword before going to bed. This daily ritual kept his mind sharp and helped him sleep.
Their youngest child Martin was in bed but the twins were watching the t.v. Wilma thought it was high time they were heading off to bed.
‘Children, you should be in bed; at thirteen I would not be allowed to sit up. Father and I made an exception for the football. Up to bed now, brush your teeth and lights out.
We cannot complain, we got sitting up and our team won 3-1. They happily turn in for the night.

7 Clive Westwood: cúlra innealtóra - Clive Westwood: - an engineer’s background

Clive Westwood, from Birmingham, lives in Liverpool. He wanted to study architecture in London but was not accepted. His grades were not high enough for London. He should not have let exam results annoy him like they did. He thought it was the end of him, his moral was low.
He was accepted to the course in Liverpool. Thinking back upon it, he would advise us not to attach so much importance to exams, it is not worth it and people are much more important than exam results.
He went to study engineering in Liverpool and, believe it or not, he is still there. Hard to believe that was twenty years ago, It was difficult at the start, leaving his family, feeling homesick and he was shy and found it difficult to mix.
He persisted and got to know people. He joined the rowing club and the members of that club helped him more than anything else. They were kind and decent. They managed to win the Universities Championship. This required hard work and effort – up at six, four mornings a week, rowing flat out for an hour. He didn’t mind the early start or the training but freezing hands were sometimes a problem. He would do it all over again.

8 Gan sos, gan staonadh - Flat out

Brenda was so relived to put the heavy bags down she had carried those long one hundred yards from the bus stop. She searched her pocket for the key and managed to open the door at second attempt. Straight in to the kitchen and put the kettle on.
‘Dear bless us, you would not notice how time passes, three hours shopping!
Even though she was exhausted, she was in a good mood having got all she went out for.
She had the house to herself – husband at work and the children at school. She could now sit down and try her honey biscuits and Italian coffee. Much as she loved her husband and children she like to spend a while with noone to annoy her. Perhaps her family did not understand that they were making constant demands on her but they were.
It is not that she didn’t want to help. She would often ask her self what would they do without her but no sooner did she say that but she would ask what would she do without them? She did not want to go over old ground. She would like to sit now with a coffee and browse through the magazine she had brought home.
Coffee is poured, biscuits are on the plate, shoes are off and she is about to sit on the sofa when she hears footsteps on the path and the doorbell rings. Who is this stranger?

9 Ag obair ó dhubh go dubh - Domhnach is dálach
Working day and night - every day in the week

Thomas Doherty gets up when the radio announces it is nine o’clock. Thomas had been awakened earlier by his wife, Sorcha. He was tired - although not lazy. He would work hard during the week, getting up most mornings at half six. His employer often said in front of the other workers that there wasn’t a worker in the factory as devoted as Tom.
‘Few can compare to you. I have never seen, nor will I see, your equal.’
Tom says to his colleagues that he could not function without the wonderful help he gets from them. He is proud to be a part of this team. No one individual deserves praise as unity is strength.
Even so, it was Saturday and Tom didn’t mind getting up a little late than usual. He was exhausted as he and his colleagues had to get a large order ready yesterday so that the lorries would catch the boat. The factory had to be cleaned from top to bottom. It was left cleaner than the day it was built.
This weekend would not be as peaceful as usual. Sorcha had organised a family shopping trip to Derry and that they would stay in a hotel in Inishowen (County Donegal). The day had now arrived and although they had booked the hotel, they had nothing packed yet. They would have to leave ‘Ginger’, the family pet in Tom’s mother’s as pets were not allowed in the hotel.

10 Thugamar féin an samhradh linn! - Summer at Last!

Úna was in a fine mood when she woke up. She was going off to Australia – two months of sun, sand and fun.
Everything was in hand and organised. Her friend Sally was not so well organised although she always got there in the end. That lifestyle may have suited Sally but certainly not Úna.
Úna would get up, take a bath, listen to a nice CD and disconnect the phone. She would have a leisurely breakfast – the table set from the night before: cereal, bowl, spoon, Kenyan coffee and croissant – with a little white napkin to catch the crumbs.
This would bring her to half past eight and she would double check (yet again!) for passport, visa, credit card, handbag, cases, coats, travel pills – and the latest Maeve Binchy novel, as she was fond of reading. Taxi would soon come and airport was half an hour away.
Úna did not want to leave the house empty. Problem solved. Her cousin would come and stay. Úna would take no rent but gave her cousin two conditions: no parties and she would have to be out before September when Úna would be starting back to the school in which she worked. Úna left the key in her mother’s house.

11 Codladh corrach Mhicheáil Uí Ghallchóir - Michael Gallagher’s uneasy sleep

It is three in the morning and Michael couldn’t sleep. He goes down stairs, heats some milk and falls asleep ten minutes later. His mother has to waken him: ‘Get up John O’Brien will be here anytime now.
Michael bounds out of bed and throws on his clothes, John O’Brien’s car pulls up to the house. Michael knew he would get nothing to eat but didn’t care as the exam results were waiting in the college. He would have to make do without breakfast. He detested waiting these two long months for the results – an eternity. Out he comes, with no shoes on, and into the car.
‘Now, then, boyo, let’s go in for the bad news’ John says casually. John was a laid back personality and nothing, however bad, would annoy him.
The minutes later, they are running up past the secretary’s office and up to the main hall – the stop running when they see teachers. A long table in the middle of the hall. Micheál walks slowly up to the table. The principal hands him a brown envelope. Micheál’s heart is pounding and his hands tremble.
‘Don’t worry, Gallagher’, beams the principal from ear to ear, ‘you have done very well.’

12 Cormac Ó Cnáimhsí, ar a sháimhín só? - Cormac Bonnar, - peace at last?

Cormac is at home, happy and contented. House to himself – wife at Yoga class and sons out at football. Heaven! Mug of tea in his hand, paper on his knee, a game of football on t.v., his team leading 3-1, two minutes to go. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if this peace could last.
This was not to be for Cormac. Phone rings, Cormac recognizes his daughter Peggy.
‘Come quick, Daddy. Our Ciarán has not come home yet, to tell the truth I am a bit worried. I wouldn’t call only James is at work and I cannot leave the other children. Too cold and the baby has a cold and doctor asked me to keep her indoors.’
‘Don’t worry, Peggy, I’ll go over to Kelly’s house. I bet that is where he is. He goes there after school. Once those boys start their computer games they think of little else. I am almost certain that is where he is I saw Ciarán going in with Brian Kelly on my way home. I’ll give him a lift in the car.’
‘Thanks, Daddy. One other small request could you stop at the garage and get milk, bread and biscuits?’

13 Turas go Learpholl 1 - Trip to Liverpool, 1

Peter wants to give his son Conall, 13, a birthday present. He has thought, for some months now, he would like to go to a soccer match in England. His workmate Ken gave him information as regards tickets, travel etc.
Peter was told bus was almost full but a few places were left in he and Conall wanted them for Liverpool v Newcastle 24th March. Boat from Belfast to Liverpool, six-hour journey. Staying in a three-star hotel on the edge of the city centre.
The group had received special permission to visit Anfield: view the dressing rooms, playing pitch, trophy room. An hour-long video would be shown, followed by lunch in the Directors’ Restaurant and a guest appearance by the ream captain.
£180 for a grown up and 140 for a child. Finally, Peter raises the matter with his wife. ‘Darling, I have a suggestion for Conall’s birthday.’
‘What is it, Peter I am all ears.
He tells her the whole story but it is hard to tell from her face if she if for or against.

14 Turas go Learpholl 2: ‘Ní shiúlfaidh tú choíche leat féin’ - Trip to Liverpool, 2: ‘You’ll never walk alone’

Máire was not expecting this. Peter wanted a quick answer but realised he would have to be patient. He would understand if she was against the idea.
‘I am not too sure. It is not a question of money – although it is a lot for a weekend. I would worry about people drinking on the coach or using foul language.
‘I totally agree but do not worry. I raised this point with Ken. We need not worry, it is a family trip. Half the passengers will be children. Conall can sit beside Ken’s son, William. The committee are strict about no alcohol and behaviour on the family trips. Anyone breaking these rules will be expelled from the club.
‘I am glad to hear that and I praise the committee for it. But we will have to do something for the other children afterwards. They will be jealous of their older brother.
‘Leave that to me, Mary. If we are allowed to go to Liverpool, we will all go to Croke Park, Dublin, in September.
‘Alright, then but promise me you’ll keep a tight grip of him in the stadium.
‘I will, but there is another small snag he’ll have to take a half day off school.
‘Seeing as we’ve started we may as well finish.’

15 Pádraig Ó Siail: ar lorg oibre - Patrick Shields: - looking for work

I am Patrick Shileds from Belfast, currently unemployed. I cannot find a job. It is difficult to get work these days without a trade or qualifications. I am going back to studying, I believe a qualification in computers will help me.
I worked four years in a factory but it went out of business. I had a lot of friends there. Work was interesting and money good. Disappointed when it closed. as I was getting used to computing, especially e-mail and the internet.
Left school at 16 with no qualifications. Worked in a restaurant for few years – long hours, low wages and no free time at weekends. It was slavery. Went to London then – as two years as a waiter was more than enough for me. Worked on building sites for 10 years.
While I have no formal qualifications I want to return to education as I understand its importance. The skills I learned in the factory have given me confidence that I can handle new technology. I read an advert about a computer course for adults. I wrote to personnel, got an application and applied. I have been offered an interview and have three days to prepare.
I hope I do well and get on the course. My friend advised me not to be nervous, to take my time and listen carefully to the questions asked. If accepted this will be a great opportunity as I am certain I will get a get job.

16 Caillte sa tsneachta - Lost in the snow

Susan, from Eniskillen (a town in County Fermanagh) left her parents’ house on Sunday afternoon to go to Belfast where she lives and works. A journey of one and a half hours.
‘Take your time, daughter, don’t drive fast, to many people are killed on the roads by speed – and alcohol.’
‘Alright, father, I’ll heed that advice. Bye, Mammy phone you the night after next.’
Susan goes up road at a reasonable speed. Wintertime and it soon gets dark. She usually plays music when driving alone and this time she listened to a Clannad CD. Funny noise come from the car. The petrol gauge is at empty. Susan is mad at herself as she clean forgot to get any after lunch.
Pulls into side of motorway. She has a free membership of the Automobile Association – that and a weekend in Dublin were part of the deal for the car she bought in Ballycastle. Unfortunately her mobile phone battery was dead. She gets frightened. Snow is falling.
‘I’ll perish with the cold if I do not get petrol soon.’ A gritting lorry passes by and Susan flagged down the lorry with her handkerchief. She explained the situation to the driver and his colleague.
‘Lock you car and jump aboard with us, madam. There is a garage a mile up the road; fill this can with petrol and we’ll drive you back to the car. In the meantime we will phone the police and tell them you will come back to the car in half an hour or so.’

17 Tomás - an leanbh iomlatach - Thomas - the mischievous child

A Saturday morning in the middle of the summer. Cathy pulls kitchen blinds to block out strong sun. Thomas, the baby, is in his highchair eating his breakfast. Cathy’s husband Robert had gone down to the supermarket to do the week’s shopping. Robert used to write the list out on Friday night. It was hung on the wall and Cathy would read over it just before going to bed. She would occasionally add an item or two but, to give Robert his dues, he seldom left anything out.
Robert would come in he back door, leave the credit card receipt in the jug and fill the kettle before taking the messages out of the bags. Carol and Henry would be up at this stage and they would help their father – Carol filling the fridge, Henry stacking the shelves. Robert would put the plastic bags out of the way, just in case, for although Thomas was only a year he was crawling around for the last month and putting everything into his mouth or on his head. Just yesterday at lunchtime Cathy, luckily, snatched a bottle of bleach from him.
‘Put that bleach down, go out to the hall and play with teddy.’
Cathy told Robert the whole story when he came home from the garage. ‘Isn’t he a real tearaway? I caught him halfway up the stairs. I didn’t shout in case he might fall. He doesn’t understand danger. I have the cure for that, I bought two child gates in the children’s shop. I’ll put them up now before dinner - better to be too early than too late.

18 Ursula Briggs – bainisteoir - Ursula Briggs - manager

Ursula Briggs is from Leeds. her father is from Dún Laoghaire, outside Dublin, and her mother, Síle Gallagher, from Gaoth Dobhair. Her mother, a native speaker of Irish, has always spoken Irish to her.
She has been a manager in an assurance company for seven years. She was asked to move from London to Dublin, a move she made gladly. Lodged for the first ten months with her aunt, but has just bought a flat in the centre of Dublin. It will take her a while to settle in but, as they say, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’
Auntie’s house was great for company, meals and comfort but the traffic was heavy driving in to Dublin. I got fed up with it and I also reckoned that a flat would not be a bad investment. I also have my independence in the flat although I can visit auntie at any time. I have no more need for a car as I can walk to work. Having been brought up in a city I have to say that I like the bustle and buzz of city life. I could only live in a city.
My father left Dún Laoghaire (south of Dublin) at 18. He got a job on his first afternoon as a builder and has it since. He met my mother at a St Patrick’s Night dance. Mother was a student at a teacher training college. She got a temporary and the a permanent job.
My parents were married son after. They were not married in Leeds, of course, but came back to Ireland to get married in County Donegal. They travelled round Ireland for a month and then came back to Leeds and bought a house. I miss my family.

19 Moill ar phlean straitéise Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Lagáin
- The strategic plan for the Lagan Health and Social Services Board is delayed.

The Lagan Health and Social Services Board issued a statement in regard to health provision in Belfast and the wider area. It was hoped to publish the strategic plan in full but this was not possible, a few minor problems to sort out yet before the official document can be published. The Secretary of the Board addressed Press conference in Europa Hotel Belfast. Plan should de out within a fortnight.
‘Regret the published version cannot be presented to you. Let it be remembered this it is a five-year plan which has taken two years to research. If this short delay is put in this time-scale, we hope to be forgiven. In the meantime, on behalf of the Board, I mention some of the main findings of the steering committee:

• a pressing need for more resources to run service in a professional manner. Funding has been raised in keeping with    inflation but figures not enough due to rise in pensioners. Board urges Government to reconsider and increase budget.
• Grate scarcity of nurses. A new campaign will be launched to entice young people into the nursing profession. Practical    steps: increase in wages and holidays. Retired qualified nurses will be brought back to the wards. These people have valuable    experience, bonuses of £3000 will be offered, according to qualifications.
• More doctors will be appointed from the beginning of the tax year. The hours trainee doctors work will also be cut back    to fifty hours per week.
• The Board realises waiting lists are too long. Currently patients wait, on average, 14 months for operations such as heart    by-pass or hip replacement; we intend to cut the waiting lists as much as possible down to 6 months in most cases/
   Secretary did not wait for questions due to a pressing engagement with the finance committee. As a parting shot he said    press could ask questions at the official launch.

20 Móréacht ar muir: Tugtar tarrtháil ar La Belle France III díreach in am!
- Great heroics at sea: La Belle France III is rescued just in time.

A boat’s crew in danger of drowning were rescued last night from the North Channel. Three men, two women and a child were on board La Belle France III when its side was pieced by a submerged rock. The Portrush rescue vessel answered the SOS at 101.05 last night, all were taken off the vessel by 11.30 – just in time as our local reporter said the boat sank a quarter of an hour later.
Captain Hector Wilson of Portrush (County Antrim) was proud of his five colleagues: ‘These young Coastguard sailors put their lives at risk on rough seas. They do so willingly and they are never heard to complain. I praise them highly. Mr Wilson continued saying Portrush Rescue Station had got a new, seaworthy vessel a few years ago and only for that he was sure those poor people would have been lost last night.
‘In the old boat we would never have reached La Belle France III in time. The radar helped us locate the crew in a short space of time. Speed and accuracy are the two most important things in this business. On behalf of the Portrush Coastguard I wish to thank all in the community who gave us donations. What price can be put on human life?
All aboard La Belle France III were French except for a Spanish lady. All the passengers were taken to the Coleraine Hospital. The adults were released this morning but the child will be kept in another night or two but it is hope he will be released before the weekend. Siomon Lambert, the captain, thanked all those who took part in the rescue.
‘This is the most frightening ordeal I ever faced,’ he said tearfully. I thought we were gone, Waves as high as a house and a force nine gale. Captain Wilson and his crew cannot be praised highly enough. They are the bravest and kindest people I have ever encountered. A word too for the doctors and nurses. Many thanks and may God preserve you all.
When asked if he would go back to sea Mr Lambert said he might, some day. Even so, it was likely that they would fly home.21 Bronnadh speisialta ón Uachtarán ar an ealaíontóir chlúiteach Len Crosshaw

21 (full translation)
President makes a special presentation to the renowned artist
Len Crosshaw

A sumptuous banquet was held last night in the National Gallery in Dublin in honour of the renowned artist Len Crosshaw. This, of course, was by no means the first mark of esteem paid to him as many exhibitions of his versatile and talented work have been shown world wide over the last twenty years in galleries the length and breadth of Ireland, and wider afield in places such as London, New York, Italy, France, Spain. Mr Crosshaw is widely and internationally acclaimed by world art critics as one of the outstanding portrait artists of the twentieth century.
The President of Ireland hosted the auspicious occasion and more than eighty guests were in attendance, both artists and personal friends of Len – including his wife Regina and his young grandson Nobbie. Among the assembled was poet Séamus Heaney who recited a poem he had penned in praise of Len. The celebrated chef Michael Dean oversaw dinner. In her postprandial address the President presented Len Crosshaw with a gold statue of a brush and pallet in addition to a trip to Epernay in France, where he will spend a week touring the Champagne district – which happens to be the artist’s preferred beverage. He will lodge in a chateau as the special guest of the proprietor of the champagne producers Mercier.
The President informed those in attendance that it was not merely Mr Crosshaw’s outstanding artistic ability which won him this award, for it appears that he has spent quiet a substantial part of his life engaged in community and hospital work holding art workshops for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. The President revealed that she had received letters from students, doctors, nurses and community groups throughout the North and that she was personally impressed by the frequency with which words such as ‘respect’, ‘generosity’, ‘patience’, ‘optimism’, ‘humanity’ and ‘brightness’ were associated with Len.
The artist hails from Lancashire but has been living in Ireland for the last thirty years. County Down is his favourite Irish county and although he rarely attempts landscapes, he presented the President with a painting of the Mourne Mountains as a token of gratitude for the wonderful evening he had. Len said that he felt extremely fortunate to have bestowed with an innate talent for art. He could not claim to fully comprehend this gift nor indeed explain in any degree of detail but he did, nevertheless, feel duty-bound to share this gift with others. “I do not perceive art as a means of accruing wealth or as a profession, I prefer to view it as life itself. I could not live without art – that music and humour.”
The proceedings were filmed and some of the highlights of what was a most memorable night will be included in a documentary of Len’s life and work which will be broadcast on RTÉ at nine o’clock next Sunday evening. Readers are advised not to miss this epic programme. Len’s latest exhibition, ‘The Faces of Ireland’, will go on view in the National Portraits Gallery. The exhibition will be on show for three weeks. Twelve of these portraits will be included in next year’s calendar and the entire proceeds will go to various charities. May his hand never weaken nor his sight fail him!

22 Slad ar shiopa seodóra i lár na cathrach - A raid on a city centre jeweller’s shop

A jeweller’s shop was robbed late last night/early this morning. Electric wires were cut, curtains drawn and our reporter tells us a lot of rings, watches and other valuables were taken.
Charles Gallagher, the proprietor, said £20,000 of goods were stolen plus the damage to the building. It is not sure who was behind the raid but a white car was seen driving up and down the street the day before yesterday. It was thought they were tourists who had lost their way but the photographs may have been used in planning the raid.
When they had got all that was to be had from the main room the robbers went out to the back but, fortunately, they did not go too far and the safe was untouched. It seems it was not noticed in the darkness!
People living in the area say they heard a car blowing its horn at one in the morning. It was thought that it was a taxi. The noise continued and the neighbours knew something was amiss. Two men were seen running from the shop, each carrying a bag. A large clock was taken form the shop but it was let fall on the street. It was smashed to pieces, much to Mr Gallagher’s distress as it was a 200-year old Austrian clock, the only one of its kind in Ireland. ‘I pray these rogues will soon be caught’ said an emotional Mr Gallagher.
When the two who were involved in the theft were disturbed a wolf whistle was heard and the name ‘Jimbo’ was shouted out. They made their getaway in a white car. The car was found, burnt out, a few mile out of town. one of the bags was found, a few hundred yards away, on the road. It will be taken to the barracks for examination.
The police want anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious to contact them right away at the local station. It is hope to apprehend this gang before they strike again. A sum of money will be given to anyone who helps the police bring these thieves to justice.