Solicitor lost his life as heavy snow blanketed the country
1933
ON FEBRUARY 24th 1933, snow, braced by gale force winds, swept the entire country leaving in its wake roads that were impassable with six to 10ft drifts.
Just a month previously the focus of attention in Louth was a strike by GNR workers, not for an increase in wages, but to prevent a wage cut.
The strike caused much bitterness, with violence on the streets and a train travelling from Drogheda to Dundalk was derailed near Dromiskin.
But the 1933 claimed at least one life, that of prominent solicitor Patrick Tallan.
Mr Tallan, based on West Street, had left to attend a court in Navan where he was defending a prisoner.
It was snowing so heavily that it was agreed that Peter Gregory from Priests Lane, who worked as a mechanic with Peter Murphy's garage in West Street, should drive Mr Tallan.
They got stranded in the snow near Beauparc and had to walk to a nearby home, owned by a family called Thom.
They took refuge for a night and the following morning when it was found that they hadn't reached Navan grave concerns were expressed.
But Mr Gregory was able to reach Drogheda later that morning to say Mr Tallan was safe.
However, when he returned to the Thom house with extra clothing for Mr Tallan, the Drogheda solicitor collapsed and died as he was about to get into the car. He was just 56 and resided in Fair Street.
Mr Paddy Donegan, who was only 10 at the time, later recalled an incident when members of the northern contigent of the Irish rugby team, due to play Wales, got stuck at Monasterboice and spent two days there.
'It was a weekend to remember,' he stated. 'I can remember that two of the players were Jack Siggans who was the captain of the side and a player called Ross.'
They ran out of food evetually but a bread van got stuck in the snow nearby and they were able to get a bread supply from that.
'My mother also baked bread,' he stated.
