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Profile 23/06/05 - Liam Hegarty &
Son of Derry City
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This
partnership has won one of the toughest
Bude races in memory into the capital
of the north west of Ireland namely Derry
City. Each are quiet in personality and
are well liked members of the Foyle Racing
Pigeon Society. They live in the large
Creggan estate which overlooks the historic
Bogside and are dedicated pigeon fanciers.
Of course when I arrived to do my report
like all men Liam senior asked me if I
would like a cup of tea but then passed
on the task to Mrs Hegarty. And a good
cup it was too- thank you, Mrs Hegarty!
Liam
had pigeons all his life, feral as well
as racers, although he did not participate
in the sport until about 1972/1973 and
had his successes especially from Talbenny
and Skibereen in partnership with his
son Paul. They were away from the sport
for a few years after 1998 but returned
in recent years. At present they admit
that they are only finding themselves
again and acknowledge that patience is
required in the sport. Thus their present
stock are what is known in Derry as 'liquorice
all sorts' and they are committed to forming
their own family in due course. They are
natural flyers although they are experimenting
with the darkness system.
The
bird which won from Bude (see photo) is
a Busschaert and the partners carefully
prepared it for its 300 miles plus journey
from southern Britain including quite
a few miles of water. They feed a mixture
and include peanuts stating that the birds
would devour the partnership in pursuit
of the nuts. In relation to sickness they
yearly treat the birds for worms, canker
and respiratory trouble. In general they
have not much trouble with ailments throughout
the year because of this preventative
approach.They
make use of the deep- litter method but
would remove droppings weekly if required.
The
partners have no secrets and don't believe
that there are any in the sport aside
from hard work with good stock for 365
days a year. The secret they suggest is
condition and their birds receive a regime
of frequent tosses with the fed transporter
and
their own transport if the former is not
available.
The
Bude win would be their best performance
to date for in reality many outstanding
pigeons failed to return throughout the
north of Ireland on that day. As for disappointments
in the sport Liam stated that there were
many especially those pigeons whom they
expected to do well in races but failed
to perform or never returned.
A reality experienced by the majority
of fanciers if not by all. For the novice
they would suggest obtaining late breds
from a fancier doing well in their own
area and building slowly. Like all in
this series patience is a wonderful virtue.
Liam is also of the opinion that the sport
is not dying and especially not in their
own city. That it is bigger in Derry than
he can ever remember. They are also of
the opinion that club or fed support should
be given to
the young fancier upon entering the sport
like, for example, a clock or a basket
due to the present cost of such items.
Liam
Hegarty and Son (or should it be sons
and nephew for Michael and Paul's son
Owen are in the photo) are a committed
partnership and deserve as much success
as possible in the sport. I have no doubt
that this will be forthcoming and to conclude
again Mrs Hegarty you can make a good
mug of tay. Thank you all for an enjoyable
visit and in particular Owen for admitting
that he 'squeezed his way' into my camera.
by: Liam O Comain
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