Seamus is the winner of ‘Cock and Bull’ trophy for witty tale

A Riverchapel man has received the ‘Cock and Bull Trophy’ for his hilarious tale of a father and son visiting Gorey during Fair Day set in the early 1900s.

Seamus Shiel was presented the trophy last week from members of Gorey Municipal District after a judging panel picked him as the overall winner at this year’s Cock and Bull Stories competition held in Ballyroebuck Hall in late October.

The competition celebrates the rich story telling tradition in Wexford and is open to all story tellers from near and far. The tale has to be between 10 and 15 minutes and then it is judged on criteria such as command of audience, originality and imagination.

‘I am delighted to have won the trophy,’ said Seamus. ‘This was my first time entering as well.’

Seamus’ story began with a father and son taking a trip into Gorey for Fair Day. The cattle would be brought out and men would examine and feel the animals to see which was the best breed.

After each sale the men would go to the pub for some porter and the young boy would get a lemonade and some biscuits, the fair day was the only time the boy got to enjoy these sweet treats.

Sometime passed and the boy glanced over at his father in the pub and asked ‘why do the men have to feel the cows that way?’. The father replied ‘that is just what you do when they are for sale’.

So the boy then asked his father ‘does that make mammy for sale because when she was in hospital I saw people doing that to her’.

Seamus said he shares this story on his travels around county Wexford, as it is something that can be changed to suit each individual town so people can connect with it.

Cock and Bull has taken place in the Gorey district for the last four years and used to be organised by Gorey Toastmasters and Gorey Municipal District.

Since last year, the event has been hosted by the relatively new story telling venue of Ballyroebuck Hall. Previous winners were Alan Smith, Ed Whelan, Donal Bolan and Mick Redmond.

Guest at the Cock and Bull evening included local people, visitors and Toastmaster members from surrounding counties.

The winners names are inscribed on the perpetual Cock and Bull Trophy.

Presentation of the ‘Cock and Bull Trophy’ to Seamus Shiel. Front (from left): district manager, Amanda Byrne, Cathaoirlach Cllr John Hegarty, Seamus Sheil and Cllr Mary Farrell. Back (from left): Cllr Robbie Ireton, Cllr Malcolm Byrne, Cllr Joe Sullivan, Cllr Pip Breen and Cllr Fionntan O’Sulleabhain.