With some new lofts to be measured and in keeping with our policy of re-checking existing lofts on our state-of-the-art GPS system, I set out on Monday, 22nd June for Tralee, Co. Kerry.

After leaving home at 7.15am to catch a 9.00am train, I arrived into Tralee at 1.20pm. There to meet me were Ger Lynch and Kevin O'Carroll. These two gentlemen were excellent as both guides and companions for the day.

Time was tight! There are two clubs covering the Tralee area - Tralee RPC and the Kingdom Flyers. Our "mission" was to get as many lofts as possible done before my departure on the 5.15pm train. These Kerrymen were up to the task, and had an excellent itinerary worked out.


We started at Ger's loft. Although racing as Gerard Lynch & Son, unfortunately son 'Christopher' was not there for the photo - we will get you again, Chris!. This lofts race mainly Busschaerts from Mitcham, South Norwood, England.



This is Jimmy Quilligan, who races the natural system - mainly Jan Aardens. The bird he is holding here is his entry for the race out of Perth, Scotland, in two weeks time. We wish you luck with it, Jimmy!


Here is another dedicated Kerry fancier, Pat Clifford. Pat races mainly Van Hee bloodlines.


This is Brendan Nolan and his son, Aaron. New to the sport, Brendan got his stock from Gerry O'Neill of Cork - a very wise decision indeed!


When we called to re-check the loft of Robert Foran, he was not there - he was gone fishing! But his lovely wife, Trish, was there, and as I understand it, she does most of the work on the loft. So, we got her to pose with Kevin instead.


Stephen O'Brien got his young son, Sean, to pose with him for this photo. Stephen races a Busschaert/ Jan Aarden mix.


Here is what you call a good mixture - Pat Moynihan, a Corkman, his son Ian in a Kerry Jersey, his son Anthony in Manchester United colours and he races pigeons from Oliver Power of Limerick!


This is Pat McMahon, one of the well-established Tralee fanciers. Pat has been racing so long now that you can truly call his bloodlines "his own mix".


Another stalward fancier, Sean O'Mahony, has been the backbone of the sport in Tralee all down the years.


It is easy to guess from this general view of Kevin O'Carroll's lofts that he is very committed to the sport.

Kevin O'Carroll holding one of his best mealy pigeons. Kevin races a mixture of Jan Aarden and Janssen.


I just had to include this general view of the lofts of Donald Guerin. Although the dull conditions of the day do not do it justice, the view behind the lofts stretching back to Ballybunion and the Atlantic Ocean is really beautiful.

Paul and Don Guerin outside their lovely racing loft.


Neilus O'Sullivan is another newcomer to the sport, and we wish him well. He made a very good decision from the start - getting birds from two of the top local fanciers, Kevin O'Carroll and Gary Fernane.


This is James Whelan, who is also enjoying his first season racing. Enjoying it and winning! - He won out of Kildare, for which we congratulate him.


This is a general view of the beautifully-kept lofts of Gary Fernane.

Gary Fernane holding the father of the pigeon he clocked out of Hamilton, Scotland, a few weeks back. It was the first pigeon into Co. Kerry. Well done Gary! For your own information, just look at a map and see the tough 336 miles that pigeon had to fly.

At this stage, time had run out, and there just was not enough time to visit the remaining lofts. With skillful driving and local knowledge of all the short-cuts, Gerard got be to the station in nice time for my 5.15pm train.

I look forward to a return trip to Tralee to visit the remainder of the lofts - and, of course, a spot of fishing with Gary Fernane!