Irish South Road News

With Thomas Daniel  - 29th April 2009

2009 had a sad start with the passing of three well known fanciers. Firstly, Johnny Mc Carthy of the Celtic RPC. Johnny was a lovely man who everybody liked in the sport. Johnny hadn't been well for a time but still his death came as a shock. Johnny was one of those people who was always there when you went to race mark the birds for open races, setting clocks or marking birds quietly getting on with his work. He will be sadly missed by all especially in the Celtic Marking Station. I went to his funeral mass and he got a great send off. Pigeon men from all over Dublin and beyond, and also all the lads from Blackditch United, Johnny's local football team of which he was Chairman for many years, attended.

Secondly, Paddy Donnelly a founder member of the Finglas RPC. Paddy done trojan work to get the Finglas club started in the early days and then moved to the East Coast Fed. Paddy's first love was channel racing and he didn't mind telling people. I always liked meeting Paddy as he always spoke his mind and was never short of an opinion and was well respected in the sport. His funeral mass was a testament to that with Pigeon men from all over Ireland attending. Before I finish on Paddy one of my favourite stories in Pigeons was about Paddy. About 12 years ago I was in the Regency Hotel after the Dublin show. In those days Tom Casey and Gerry O'Neill from Cork came up for the show. They had been in Paddy's for a loft visit. The story goes Paddy was showing them the birds and going on about eye sign. Look at the eye on this look at the eye on that and so on. Then Casey picked up a Bantam Cock that was walking around the garden and said to Paddy "look at the eye on him Paddy, and he wouldn't fly to the roof". They were ejected from the garden. I always thought of that story when I met Paddy and smiled.

Finally, Paddy Hutch of the Finglas RPC. Paddy was also a great worker for his club, first to the club and last to leave, another who was always there for all open races. He will be sadly missed this year in the station and by his brother Sammy a well known Dublin pigeon trainer who Paddy travelled with on Tosses. John Mc Loughlin and Johnser Byrne contacted me to let me know they were having and auction in Paddy's memory. The auction was a great success and the lads would like to thank all those who put birds up and gave donations. They would like to thank auctioneer Heno Byrne for his time and the Sarsfield RPC for the use of the hall.  RIP to all three men and condolences to their families.

On a happier note, I would like to congratulate Nolan Brothers on breaking their duck in the first race in the Clondalkin RPC. What makes this win even more special, is that all that week Churchie had five or six before them out of training every day. Let that be a lesson to you Churchie, training is only for horses!

Tucker Daniel