John O'Callaghan

Last Saturday I went across to Cabra, a real hotbed for pigeon racing. Cabra R.P.C has produced some of the best flyers in our Fed which includes one of the greatest men ever to race a pigeon in our Fed, the late Terance O'Brien. My visit took me to Cabra's newest champion, the lofts of John O'Callaghan. John first raced with his father Shay in the 70s. John tells me his dad was a good flyer especially off the channel and is grateful to his dad for introducing him to the sport. John has had few partners some would say he's had more partners than peter stringfellow but really its only two, Mick Farrell and world beater John Nash (More on him later). He has raced on his own for three years know. After a nice welcome and a cup of tea its down to business.

BREEDING
The stock birds and racers are paired up around the 15 of Dec. John floats some eggs from the stock to the racers but with more and more good racers in the team this is becoming less as he likes to keep theses young ones. At this time the birds are feed maples peas and hormoform, with breeding mix only feed a couple of times a week. Also at this time plenty of pickstone and gemthepax are given. And judging by the young birds in the nest its working pure class. 

RACING
Onto the Old birds, and John has 25 widowhood cocks and 15 spare hens. For racing the hens are mostly for the channel where John tells me he gets some great results with them. Birds are trained every day weather permitting with local trainer Sean Moane. The birds are feed Versa Laga widowhood mix and Vanrobaeys super diet. Due to Anto Gannon racing against him he wouldn't tell me how he feeds. Damn you Anto.

YOUNG BIRDS
The young birds are raced on the darkness system. They are feed peas at weaning and are put on a couple of the Versa Laga race mixes when the time comes. Once again training is daily. One thing John does try to do is get the race team altogether to stop the problems that arise from adding smaller ones to the team.

TIPS AND TREATMENTS
The first thing John would tell any novice is get the best birds available to you. Treat regularly for canker and respiratory. Don't let stray birds into your loft as you don't know what they could be carrying and lastly keep your loft as clean as possible.

THE STOCK
The main birds in the stock loft have come from his good friend John Nash. These Staf Van Reets have been responsible for a lot of Johns success. Also in there are some Rodger Yeats birds doing the business. John over the past few years has been getting a draught of young birds of his good friend John Heffernan with a lot of winners coming from theses as well.

THANK YOU
John would like to thank a few people for all their help over the years firstly John Enright who helps out with the training. Dessie Burke who helps feeding the birds in the winter as with work John cant get home with the dark nights. John Nash for the help and support over the years. John would like to thank all the lads in the club as he really enjoys racing with them especially the craic in Finbars GAA club after racing. Lastly his wife Elaine for her help and support. John says he couldn't do it with out you.

RESULTS
John has been combined champion for the past two years. And last year he top the Fed for the first time. He also had the top YB in the Fed. His wins are many at club level and prizes too many for me to list. I would just like to say after meeting John a few times he is one of the sports nice guys and wish him all the best in the future.                    

Tucker Daniel