A FULL grown otter is about 36" long and weighs about 15 Ibs. The otter has very fine thick fur which keeps out the cold and water from its skin. It was their fur that they were hunted for.
There were traps in two local streams, one from Cuilmore Lake and the other stream came from Callaghans Lake, both streams flowed into the Brown Oak River. Large steep traps were set in long narrow gullets which the otter came through at night. The traps were checked every morning, sprung for the day and rest each night. An otter takes about three hours to skin. Otter skins were posted to England. An otter skin fetched about £3 which was good money in those days. All this happened about 25-30 years ago. The otter is now protected by law and the West of Ireland is the otter's last stronghold in Europe. Fox hunting was another great attraction and still is. The ~fox needs little description to anyone. Everybody knows its red colour and black legs. The fox is a very cunning animal and a great survivor. He hunts mostly at night and will eat birds, hens, lambs and any other small animal it can catch. When the farmer kept hens the fox was a regular caller and had no trouble raising henhouses, The fox was hunted by all methods -snares, poison, trap, dog and gun. The fox is still about in large numbers and hunting seems to have little effect in helping to minimise its numbers and long may that be so. Snares and traps are no longer used. Sportsmen no longer like the cruelty that comes with traps and snares and they are banned by law.
The fox control hunt which still takes place about three times a year is very exciting. The fox hunts led by Dominick Kelly (R.I.P.), Kevin McLoughlin, Pat McNeela (R.I.P.) and Willie Roache would be joined by the local gunmen. A lump of bushes or a wood would be surrounded by shooters. Young boys and local farmers would beat through the wood with all types of dogs. The fox would rise and more than likely he would get away, after dodging four or five shots. Then the banter would start with someone saying to the man who missed the fox "is it 'paper cartridges you are using" or "did you forget your glasses." Of course, the fox was often caught and will be again because while he is there in large numbers as he is now, there will always be a need to control, him.