courses

January 15, 1906

from National Library of Ireland on The Commons

• 12 older comments, and then…
• Angela Orlando said:

  A fine dog... truly a champion... I would guess Phelan to be on the right but I am only guessing... thanks for sharing this wonderful old portrait capture!!! In the Waterford Directory 1894 for The Quays, Merchants' Quay, there is a listing #49. as R. F. Phelan, grocer and publican.

• National Library of Ireland on The Commons said:

  Angela Orlando Thank you. Would assume he is one and the same as the grocer/publican Phelan. Must keep an eye out for shop fronts along the quays, some of which are already uploaded here to see if we can identify his shop. Unfortunately, we don't seem to have any other photos of R.F. Phelan to check against, to see which (if either) is Mr Phelan. Although I can't imagine a proud owner of a champion would not want to pose with his winning dog...

• Swordscookie said:

  The Irish Cup was run in Clounanna (?spelling) in Co. Limerick and was one of the premier greyhound races in its time. Coursing seems to be dying the death these days and a whole way of life is disappearing which is a good or a bad thing depending on where you stand. Interesting that the dog was named after DeWet, one of the great Boer Generals in an island that had provided many of the troops who fought and died in the war against him. For some reason at that time the Boer stance struck a chord in Irish nationalists and the Boers assumed almost hero status. Will you look at the big working mans hands on the dog handler? I wouldn't want to mess with him!

• National Library of Ireland on The Commons said:

  Swordscookie Don't know if you can make it out, but Clounanna is engraved on the Cup (Shield)...

• Niall McAuley said:

  Yes, along with shields showing the arms of the four provinces, and then something like "Presented to the winners of the races by the something? of Limerick".