The threat of a mass street brawl between hundreds of travellers was averted yesterday evening in Tuam, Co Galway, when gardai brokered a peace deal between two sets of families who have been engaged in a long-running and often violent feud.
However, gardai in the town and in Galway city are on standby this morning. More than 200 members of the Ward clan and an equal number of the McDonagh and Sweeney clans gathered in Tuam yesterday morning after a challenge was issued from one side to the other to fight on the streets of the town. Members of the Ward, McDonagh and Sweeney clans arrived in the town from many parts of the country and this led to the build-up of travellers who took up positions in the Parkmore Estate and Gilmartin Road areas on opposite sides of the town.
Dozens of gardai were drafted in from outlying areas to police the town during the stand-off.
The latest incident arose from a bare-knuckle brawl between several men in the town square last Friday, when traffic in the area was brought to a standstill as hundreds of locals rushed to watch the fight. However, it was soon broken up by gardai and charges are expected to be brought in the coming week. Weapons, including pickaxe handles, were seized by gardai yesterday morning from the two groupings, and as fear of a violent riot grew, four members from each side were brought to the Garda station to engage in peace negotiations.
The heated face-to-face talks could be heard through the windows of the Garda station and after 90 minutes the two sides emerged and refused to answer questions from the media.
However, deputation member and Sligoman, Mr Patrick Sweeney, said: "We've kissed and made up and we're great friends now. It seems it's all over."
Tuam's Supt Bill Fennell, who chaired the negotiation, said afterwards that he was confident that a settlement to the long-running feud had been reached in what he believed was a significant breakthrough.
He said that after the negotiations the traveller groupings had agreed to disperse and promised that there would not be any violence between the sides. News of the negotiations was relayed to the travellers and they dispersed soon afterwards, but many of the visiting travellers were still in the town last night.