reportage Running wild
The men who take part in south Kerry are small-scale farmers, fishermen, labourers from the villages of Cahirciveen, Waterville, Ballinskelligs, Portmagee and the island of Valentia; from townlands like Carn, Dromad, Fermoyle, Ardcost, Rinncathrach, Corrabeg, Corramore, Chapeltown, Coole, Finian’s Bay—and even an island townland named Paris. There are champions like the O’Driscoll brothers from Portmagee, the Learys from Cnoicn, the Cronins from Waterville and David O’Connor from Valentia. Some have half a dozen dogs—they call them ‘beagles’ hereabouts, though in truth they are closer to foxhounds—others have just one or two. In the past there were hundreds of men and dogs; today there are dozens. But the passions run as deep as ever. The dogs are reared with pride and dedication, trained hard, shaved in summer to ease the sweat of the running. The races are part of the weave of these communities, but no tourists will hear of them. This is local.
Spring 1999 | Tony O'Shea and related links | Archive | Back | Next | 4 of 15