THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS. | |
| Thompson, in his 'Natural History of Ireland,' 1851, before alluded to, writes :- "Meadows on the margin of Lough Beg, connected -,vith Lough Neagh (on the eastern side), still bear the name of Coy Meadows, from the circumstance that there was a Decoy there at a very distant period."Lough Beg, this writer adds, was, in 1851 " one of the finest haunts for wildfowl in the north of Ireland, Wild Ducks and Wigeon in particular are so numerous, and in such dense flocks as sometimes in calm weather, when most conspicuous on the smooth surface of the water, to appear like floating Islands." Lough Beg is at the extreme northern corner of Lough Neagh, and is 14 miles NW. of the town of Antrim. | |
 |
|
COUNTY GALWAY. | |
Decoys in use. None. | Decoys not in use. Eyre Court. Clonfert. |
| Eyre Court, 7 miles W. of Banagher and 12 miles N. of the shores of Lough Derg at Portumna. A small Decoy existed here till about 1860 but Mr. Eyre informs me that it is now numbered with things of the past. Thompson, writing of this Decoy in 1851, says: "40 to 50 Teal are often taken here in a day when the wind is favourable." Clonfert, 2 miles S. of Shannon Bridge, where the Rivers Suck and Shannon unite. I have no notes of this Decoy. It was discontinued about 1820, for Thompson writes in 1851 : - In the County Galway therewas an extensive Decoy at Clonfert, but it was given up about 30 years ago." | |
|
|
COUNTY KILDARE. | |
Decoys in use. None. | Decoys not in use. Ballynakill. Lyons. |
| Ballynakill.-Several sporting writers merely allude to a Decoy as having formerly existed here, but I am unable to obtain any reliable particulars of it. | |