Tipperary Angling, Net Fishing and Fowling - Book of County Tipperary, 1889
About “The Book of County Tipperary,” 1889
George Henry Bassett produced 7 Irish county directories in the 1880s: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Kilkenny, Louth, Tipperary and Wexford. Each provides useful history of the respective counties as well as lists of office holders, farmers, traders, and other residents of the individual cities, towns and villages.
The directories are naturally an invaluable resource for those tracing family history. The Book of County Tipperary is the first of these to be made available on libraryireland.com, with its own search page. However, there are a few points to bear in mind.
- This online version is designed primarily as a genealogical research tool and therefore the numerous advertisements in the original book, many full page, and quite a few illustrated, have been excluded.
- The text has been proofed with due care, but with large bodies of text typographical errors are inevitably bound to occur.
- Be aware that there were often inconsistencies in spelling surnames in the 19th century and also that many forenames are abbreviated in Bassett’s directories.
With respect to the last point, surnames which today begin with the “Mc” prefix, for example, were often formerly spelt as “M‘,”. For a list of some of the more common forename abbreviations used in the directory, see Forename Abbreviations.
To enjoy the rich variety of advertisements, confirm accuracy of the entries, or have a printed record of a family member, obtain an original or facsimile copy of The Book of County Tipperary.
Without attempting a comparison with other counties, it may be said that Tipperary possesses genuine attractions for anglers. The principal rivers for salmon and trout are the Shannon and Suir, but there are many unpretending trout streams that afford no end of enjoyable sport to the initiated. The lowest point of the Shannon in the county is near Birdhill. Thence to Portland, the opportunities for angling are quite extensive. Salmon fishing draws a large number of Englishmen every spring to this part of the Shannon. Lough Derg is famous for big brown and gillaroo trout, and in what is called the green drake season, 20th to 24th of May to the end of first fortnight of June, is fished with keen appreciation by ladies as well as gentlemen. Mr. S. J. Hurley, of Killaloe, is a great authority on matters relating to the finny denizens of the Shannon and its tributaries, and will prove a valuable and most courteous correspondent to all who may desire more information than I can afford to give in this chapter.
The salmon angling stands of the Suir are Dudley’s, a quarter of a mile, Irish, from Clonmel; Bridge stream, a mile and a half down; Poulakerry, five miles down; Poulathassel, six miles down; Churchtown weir, eight miles down; Marlfield, two miles up stream; Knocklofty, three miles up; Kilnamanaghan, five miles up; Roxborough, six miles up; Suirmount, six miles up; Rabbitborough stream, seven miles up; Kenilworth, seven miles up; Mollough, seven miles up; Banard, seven miles up; and Newcastle, eight miles up. It is an old saying that salmon may be had at Newcastle any day, and at any height of water. All the stands above Clonmel are preserved, and the best of those below. The Suir salmon range in weight from 12 lbs. to 42 lbs. A few years ago, one caught at Cahir weighed 57 lbs. The second largest fish seen in Ireland was killed at Longfield, by Mr. Michael Maher, of Noddstown, Cashel. There is good salmon fishing from Newcastle as high up as Longfield, above Cashel. This stretch includes Cahir, Corrabella, and Neddins waters, Ardfinnan, Rochestown, Ballycarran and Suir Castle. The Suir is also an excellent river for brown trout, in weight, from half a pound to six pounds. It is free to all comers from Carrick-on-Suir to Clonmel, with the exception of a small portion preserved by the Count De La Poer, at Gurteen, near Kilsheelan, a favorite part of the river. The Count is liberal in giving leave to fish. All the Suir tributaries are good for trout. The Anner, which joins about two miles below Clonmel, is excellent. The Anner Preservation Society has the best parts, and issues tickets of admission at two shillings and sixpence, entitling the purchaser to one day’s sport, or a season ticket for £1. Mr. Robert Cooke, D.L., Kiltinan Castle, Fethard, is Secretary. Lord Ormonde also preserves part of the Anner for trout fishing. Among the anglers on the Anner and Suir are several ladies.
The River Ara at Bansha is good for pink trout up to April; the weeds afterward interfere. The Aherlow, which runs within two miles, Irish, of Bansha, is good during the entire season. It is the principal spawning ground for salmon. Among the rest of the county rivers good for trout are the Tar at Clogheen, the Nenagh, Islandbawn and Lisbunny, near Nenagh, Ballinaclough, near Nenagh, Glencoloo, seven miles, Irish, from Nenagh, Kilmastulla, a mile and a half from Birdhill and seven miles from Nenagh, the Linnaun, about five miles from Carrick-on-Suir, Kilcommon, Clodiagh, near Borrisoleigh, and the Mulkear, at Newport. In April, 1889, the Nenagh and District Fishery Association was established to protect the rivers from poachers. Mr. M. Gleeson, Solr., is secretary, and Mr. J. P. Walsh, J.P., treasurer.
Twelve snap nets are used in the fresh water part of the Suir for salmon fishing. A license fee of thirty shillings is levied for each net, to work which it requires four men and two boats. In the tidal portion of the river are about fifty snap nets and thirteen draught nets. The draught net pays a license of £3, and requires two men and two boats to work it.
Facilities for fowling are favorable in nearly every part of the county. In the Clonmel district the bogs and moors are good for snipe. Several of the inhabitants rent preserves which are well stocked with grouse, partridge, woodcock, etc. The Anner, near Clonmel, is excellent for duck and widgeon. The Galtee Mountains are excellent for grouse. The Carrick-on-Suir district is fair for partridge, duck, teal, widgeon and snipe. In the Nenagh district several of the resident gentry preserve their places. Grouse, partridge, duck, snipe, teal and widgeon are numerous. A considerable portion of the country is open to all comers who have game licences. The district of Newport is good for snipe, so is Templemore. First-rate duck and widgeon shooting are to be had along the Shannon.