Eddie McGettigan talks with Jim Emerton
1 Eddie please introduce yourself to us all?
My name is Edward Mc Gettigan a very keen distance fancier living on the outskirts of the small town of Strabane in the North West of Ireland.
2 What stimulates you about distance and marathon racing into Ireland?
From the young age of 13 I had an interest in racing pigeons because my uncle John Mc Gettigan raced them and took me up to his regularly to watch them on race day, then in 2011 we sent to France 496 miles for the first time in a partnership and clocked on the second day with a blue w/f cock at 6.18 am that was me well and truly hooked.
3 Why is it so difficult to do?
I race in section H of the NIPA in the Northwest which in my opinion is 1 of the most difficult locations in Europe to race distance pigeons into Europe having the English channel and the Irish Sea to cross then to get around the Sperrin mountains to get home, to race consistently from these races is very difficult and to build a team of proven tested birds,
4 How do we put condition on the birds?
As for condition of the birds to get them from these races I'm yet to master it I've had them come from these races on youngsters and eggs but my most successful year was 2020 when I sent 3 yearlings and got the 3 of them on roundabout, I won 5 inland races that year also, so this year I'll be racing roundabout again.
5 What are your plans and dreams in the sport?
I've a 5 year plan of building a team ahead of me now which is hoping to get a team of experienced proven team to send to some BICC raced then with Poitiers being my first attempt at 675 mile then hopefully build from that but I know how difficult this task will be but I'm prepared to do and sacrifice what it takes to achieve this,
6 Who do you admire and why?
The main fancier I look up to in the sport is Alan Darragh from Cullybackey in Ireland winning 7 nationals all from the channel racing an unbelievable achievement, also I have much respect for local fanciers such as Darren Hamilton, Anthony Mc Crudden, Michael Moran, and 2 fellow club members Gerard McCauley and John White all having great section and open positions from France in recent years.
7 What breed of birds are you using to realise your dreams?
The bloodlines in my loft are mainly all direct of some of these fanciers mentioned above off there principle top pigeons, Alan Darragh is at the base of my own line and I introduced the matt rakes pigeons to them for a cross and they took off straight away with winning 1st club 2nd section 15th open st.malo 2018, then I brought in a few direct Antony van Dijk pigeons direct off his Barcelona pigeons including a son of triple 2 which has gone on to breed a 1st open ulster fed from st.malo last year clocked at 10.30 pm for martin black.
8 Is Barcelona into Ireland possible, and how far will you go?
The question is Barcelona possible, I believe nothing is impossible but this would be an unbelievable feat in race time into Ireland the conditions would need to be absolutely perfect for 5 or 6 days to give them a chance, I've read a lot about birds taking 20 odd days from Barcelona to Ireland years ago but would be a lot harder now.
9 Do you read books or watch films?
I do read a lot online about distance pigeons and also have watched a lot of videos on YouTube as well which I really enjoy.
10 What makes a champion bird and fancier?
I think a champion pigeon makes a champion fancier, a pigeon is just born a champion in my eyes it just naturally has what it takes they have it or they don't.
11 Please comment further on any aspect of the sport, such as strain building, records and International racing.
In order for our sport to survive we need to find a way to bring youth into it without youth there simply is no future, so we need to do our best to encourage young people to engage in this lovely game.
Thank you Eddie for your story
Jim Emerton
