Coursing kennels in rude health for season ahead in north Kerry

SIR,

Regular readers of The Kerryman may be forgiven for thinking that the Tarbert area was reduced to one single coursing kennel. Although the aforementioned kennel has been prominent within the sport, there are many more followers of the leash locally than just John Flynn.

John has been a source of great pride to the local greyhound fraternity and we as a community have greatly enjoyed his many successes. Though this be the case, I feel that readers should be afforded a synopsis of the strength of the sport locally, before the curtain is raised on a new season.

John Flynn through his meticulous study of breeding, tireless work etiquette, and, impeccable preparation has returned three coursing classics to this Parish but our sole representatives in Powerstown last February came from elsewhere.

Jimmy Sweeney, a valued member of the teaching staff at St. Michael’s College in Listowel, was successful in qualifying no less than three last season. This was a figure which represented a strike rate of no less than 100 per cent for his Tarmons kennels. Being a grandson of the legendary Jimmy Holly, of Ballygoughlin fame, he didn’t exactly lick it off the road! We greatly look forward to their all age campaign in the coming season.

The Prendiville family of Pulleen need absolutely no introduction to the sport. Although John Prendiville is 28 years departed from the scene, his famous Swanky line is as strong today as it was then. Indeed, it was a source of great joy last October to see ‘ Swanky Wonder’ take on the might of Newry in the Derby Final at our local Glin meeting. We also look forward to his return to the second season.

Sean Egan, who defeated all opposition in the O’Connor Memorial Cup in Glin, has two runners for the season. Joe Langan of Chapel Street, in partnership with the great veteran of the sport, Jeremiah Cregan of Piermount and New York, have a very promising young pup called ‘ Stacey’s Boy’. James Enright of Doonard, in partnership with Cillian Brosnan, have great hopes for their charge ‘Roll Over Rover’.

The Saleen kennels of Patrick and Tom O’Connor will be well represented in Glin, and I am reliably informed by kennel hand Stephen O’Carroll that they have some very interesting prospects and the preparations are going well.

Ciarán Ahern who needs no introduction locally, as he attended Tarbert National School, Tarbert Comprehensive School and played all his football with the Tarbert club until this year, hopes his ‘ Galevalleys’ will reap the benefits of Mary Coolahan’s cooking.

James Shine of Clonoughter, Glin, who’s grandmother Eileen O’Connor resides in Sallowglen, hopes to be on the podium in Clonmel with his majestic black bitch ‘ Mommy I’m Broke’.

Our sacristan James Lavery will be keeping a close eye on his flying machine, ‘Durango Johnny’ who happens to be a son of Derby winner ‘Adios Alonso’ and champion bitch ‘ Tobar na Molt’. Similarly, Mary Holland, of Tarmons Hill, is very hopeful of her dog by out of ‘Whytanyard Kerry’.

Seán Coolahan, in association with the hotelier Jimmy Browne and his nephew Bobby, have another dog from that ‘ Tobar na Molt’ litter. They also have a bitch by the Derby winner ‘Coolavanney Bingo’ and Oaks finalist ‘ Killacolla Kiwi’, bred by Josephine O’Donnell formerly of The Square. Both of these reside in Ballydoyle with Kevin Barry.

Yours truly is remaining tight lipped about a bitch by ‘Adios Alonso’ and ‘Duchess’, who hails from Galway and is aptly named ‘Queen of the Tribes’.

So we have an interesting season ahead and hopefully some of the cream will rise to the top. Best of luck to everyone and hopefully our community will be as well represented in Powerstown next February as it has been in the past. Sincerely,

Tomás Coolahan

Main Street

Tarbert ‘Mafi Magic’