Jim Emerton talks with Dominic Mc Granaghan
1.Tell us about yourself?
Hi I’m Dominic Mc Granaghan, a retired school teacher – a septuagenarian (71). I live in the north-west of Ireland – in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. I have lived all of my life in Strabane, just across the border from Lifford, County Donegal.
2. What is the origin of your interest in pigeons?
I became interested in pigeons around 1970. One of my younger brothers kept a few pigeons in the backyard of my family home. My wife’s uncle kept and raced pigeons so I approached him for a racing pigeon for my brother. That was me hooked. From that I built a small loft and got a few racing pigeons from guidance with my wife’s uncle. I joined the Strabane Racing Pigeon Club and slowly watched and learned to prepare, train and race pigeons. TBH I hadn’t a clue.
3. Do you love nature?
I have a great love for all things nature, coming from a family of 7 brothers who all loved hunting and fishing. I made every effort to observe all things in my environment surroundings – observing weather and climate changes over time, the habits and interactions of animals like rabbits, hares and foxes in particular, fish like salmon, sea trout, brown trout, roach, rudd and pike. I became very aware of the seasonal changes and their impact on wildlife – on birds, fish, insects, mammals and plant life generally.
4. Do you read books and watch films of the sport.
I have always been an avid reader – and once the pigeon bug bit, I sought out Year Books going back as far as the 1920s, old and new BHWs, the writings of Old Hand, books by Dr Anderson, Kilpatrick and Healthy Pigeons by Dr L Schrag and began to correspond with a top fancier at the time one Billy Erwin from Ballymena, seeking any insight he could offer me. I also visited his loft, he showed us around some very good racing men in Ballymena and my brother and visited Harry Stockman, Ballynahinch and Tommy Kirkwood of Kirkwood Bros, Lisburn and Alan Hall, Omagh, all the while listening, observing and handling of their best distance birds. In more recent years, with my brother, who never left the sport since starting up in 1970, I have continued in that vein of listening, observing and handling the best birds of David Black, of N Black & Sons, Dromara and Richard and John Donnelly of Donnelly Bros Newry. As for films I wouldn’t have had the money to buy any. It was read, read and read. Since coming back into the sport after a long absence (uni then a teaching career) and with my retirement I re-entered the sport 4 years ago most of my learning has continued with the written works and You Tube clips of Jim Emerton, articles on Facebook namely of the many good distance fliers and the continuing support of David Black and John and Richard Donnelly. 4 contd. It would be remiss of me not to mention the influence, support and common sense of my brother who has been racing all these years, the advice and kindness of Sid Collins, Ballyclare, the genuine advice, kindness of Jim Ramsey, Derry and of the influence on my thinking of the article by Steven van Breeman – The Art of Breeding. By no means would I take for granted the many acts of kindness, influence and support from the wider pigeon fraternity.
5. How do you prepare a bird for the distance?
The furthest I had timed from in my early years in pigeon racing was to Penzane, Cornwall a distance of 333 miles. Upon my return to pigeon racing I set my goal to get a pigeon out of the NIPA French race in 2024. It was my 3rd year back and I had a few 2yr olds. Let me be clear I am a complete novice to distance racing (for me it was NIPA Plougaster-Daoulas, France (464 mls 1147 yds to my loft). This was first attempt. As a complete novice, my preparation was to house the birds well, feed well, give the chosen few (3 in all) a number of short training tosses, 3 inland races (raced on roundabout) and one cross channel race from Dale, Wales) (preferably Dale 1) (having been paired up for the f’rst time) hoping to get at least 6 to 8 hours flying time, noting weather conditions prior to and on the day itself. Closer to the time of the race, the birds were given 3 x 50 ml tosses (single tossed) for 2 weeks, birds were medicated for any possible respiratory / canker (purely precautionary) and at least 8 days before they were rested, allowed to exercise around the loft, the feeding was enriched to include a high fat content and nearing the time more and more Natural Marathon Mix plus conditioning fine seeds. Fresh water was available 24/7. The birds were sitting 10/14 days on eggs. That was as much as I knew. This year I did almost exactly the same as last year but threw in a training toss of at least 3 hours flying time. It was 2yr olds again and one 3 yr old this year. Incremental steps into distance (baby steps) hoping to achieve my first two goals – to get a bird home from NIPA Plougastel and to time a bird from Plougastel – though funnily these goals were achieved in reverse order.
6: What is the origin of your birds?
The base of my present birds are mainly from N Black and Sons who have had and continue to success from France every year for the last 50 years, a pair of birds from Sid Collins (the old Irish strains and a Red Cheq cock line bred to El Cid [x3 times timed from France) and a few birds from Donnelly Bros.
7. Are you ambitious and set goals?
I have ambitions to get a bird out of the INFC King’s Cup and then to follow that up with timing out of the King’s Cup and to follow that up with more distance - incremental steps.
8.Who are the people you admire in the sport?
The people I admire most in the sport are N Black & Sons (David Black being a sage who is always willing to lend a supportive ear and offer good advice), my brother who always shares his common sense approach with me, John and Richard Donnelly (Donnelly Bros), Sid Collins and Jim Ramsey (a fountain of knowledge, a good steady racer and shows such great respect, kindness and support – never bats away a query related to the sport no matter how daft I might ask).
9. Do you believe in inbreeding and strain formation?
I do believe in inbreeding, line-breeding and the need to bring in and try a cross (something akin to Dave Goddard’s belief in racing and breeding off hens’ from a cross while racing the cocks off a cross into his birds) I hope I’m correct on this. I would recommend Steven van Breeman’s The Art of Breeding.
10. Any comments on The Barcelona International?
A great race. Wouldn’t it be class to participate in down the line
11. How can we improve the sport for others?
IMO To improve the sport for others is that we are respectful of others, we treat each other as equals, we offer support where we can, that there is no favouritism, that people have a right to express an opinion and we give a helping hand when and where needed.
12. What are the traits of a champion fancier and pigeon?
This is an interesting one to me – the relationship between the fancier and pigeon. Note how one fancier can get a bird but they don’t seem to click. Sell/give the bird on and it can excel in the hands of another fancier. I often think of what Harry Stockman’s wife once said to a group of us in their company. To paraphrase :” some people would need to buy Harry along with his pigeons to get the best out of them.” As for a champion fancier and a champion they would tend to share similar traits/characteristics such a love for the loft, a good relationship, being calm, observant, being inquisitive, good health, a willingness to learn. IMO a champion pigeon must be healthy, calm, have a great love for home, inquisitive and be willing to work with and for its owner.
13. Does publicity have a place in the sport?
It most certainly does! The importance of the PRO at all levels can not be overstated.
14. Any comments on other aspects of the sport?
Not really – I think Nos. 1 – 13 cover a lot for me.
Thank you for taking part and sharing your knowledge
Jim Emerton
