The rabbit industry in Tipperary

A newly published book on rabbits in Ireland during the twentieth century includes a chapter about people involved in the industry in Nenagh and Roscrea.

Author Michael Conry claims to have interviewed over 900 people in a 25-year period (1990-2014) in researching his book 'The Rabbit Industry in Ireland: 20th Century Snapshots'. Those he engaged with were involved in every aspect of the industry, from catching the rabbits, trading in them, and exporting them.

 

Among the figures of local interest is Joe Rea (born 1926) of Silver St, Nenagh, who (like his father before him, also Joe) snared, ferreted and long-netted rabbits to make a living, helping him to rear his 14 children. According to the author, Joe caught rabbits “with Michael Shoer, Jim Butler or Paddy Maher and others from St Joseph's Park, a place where almost everyone was involved in the rabbit business”.

 

There was quite a demand for rabbits in Nenagh, where Dr Courtney “strongly recommended rabbit meat for people who were ill”. Joe's sisters would sell rabbits around the town for eight pence to half-a-crown each.

 

Also involved in rabbit hunting in Nenagh was Seán Mounsey (1921-2015) of Ashley Park, who told the author about ferreting with Ned Duff because “it was the only means of getting a few bob for the weekend”.

 

Roscrea was home to “probably the best-known rabbit men in north Tipperary”, Jack Troy (1886-1969) and his sons Jackie (1909-1994) and Neddie (1911-1979). The author spoke to Betty Monaghan (1927-2013), who was reared in Rosemount by her grandmother, Annie Troy. She recalled how the Troys would come back with 30 or 40 rabbits in the evening. They would supply the Sacred Heart Sisters in the convent with 40 rabbits a week for the boarders, and sold them to their customers around Roscrea.

 

Another man involved in the rabbit trade in Roscrea was Christy Neville, who was supplied at his Limerick Road premises with rabbits from the Troys, and people like Dinny Moloney of Ashbury, Jim Kersham (Alley Lane) and the McLeishs of Co Offaly. The author spoke to Kitty Neville (born 1931), who told him that “these rabbit men were comparatively well-off and their children didn't go to school in their bare feet like a lot of other children in the town”.

 

Also featuring several people and their stories from south Tipperary, the book seeks to capture the important role of the rabbit to the financial welfare of Ireland. It is illustrated with a large selection of photographs, maps and diagrams.

 

'The Rabbit Industry in Ireland' by Michael J Conry (a native of Roscommon) is priced at €30 and available in local bookshops or direct from the author at Avila, Chapelstown, Carlow / 059-9131535 / conrymj@gmail.com.