I set off last week for the real capital of Ireland, and after a few hours arrived to a very warm county Cork where I had been invited to judge the Lurchers in a much-anticipated show organised and ran by the Irish Terrier Federation. The federation which has been in existence a long…
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I have a farmer neighbour a few fields behind who has a diary Herd as well as chickens, ducks, Geese and a pair of lovely Alpacas. The river runs between us and from here and back a couple of miles along the river is a hot bed for fox activity. One early morning this…
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I met Mrs Faith White only a handful of times but was most saddened to hear of her recent passing, we met while Beagling and the first time was in Tuam, County Galway where the pack I followed back then had an annual meet over several days. Faith was a former Master of the…
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In contrast to my usual work, I have been doing something a little different the past few weeks and will remain doing so for the next few months. As part of a conservation project, I have been assisting in vermin control on a considerable stretch of ground and have been thoroughly enjoying it. As well…
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It has been a great spell of warm sun here for a change & while the foxes are having Cubs, eggs are hatching and Bees are making Honey ferrets will be coming into season. This annual event means for me a trip to my local vet Anne who has the delightful task of injecting…
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It has been for many a February in the Irish Extra a tradition to open my column with my congratulations to the first Irish Salmon of the year. This year, the first was caught by Garrett Byrne from Dalkey, Co Dublin, on the Drowes river on January 13th and weighing about 12lb. Congratulations Garrett, tight…
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March well and truly signals the end of the sporting season. As game shooting ends in January so does the season for Deer stalking come and end in February – If you have had a busy and enjoyable season its sometimes not bad to see the end of winter and things can slow down a…
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As the seasons move they dictate a lot of things, small things but relevant none the less. I keep my ferret run in the yard side of the house in winter, for not only is it easier to clean on a dark night but I can keep a closer eye on it and…
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I had much sport over the Christmas period, a period when I took a longer than usual holiday just simply to get more squeezed in. I would happily forego any summer holiday for a winter and in particular a Christmas one, it really is for me to quote the song “the most wonderful…
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I almost had to look twice at the month as I began this piece, November! Its almost hard to believe, on more column and I will take my pile of countryman’s weekly’s for the year, wrap a band round them and place them in the loft to look back on when I am…
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