The Story of a Legend

You've probably never heard of it but Hare Coursing is one of the world’s oldest field sports.

It dates back to the Pharaohs of Egypt and was probably brought to Britain by the Romans.

By the end of the 19th century - with 236 coursing clubs in England alone - hare coursing was the most popular pastime in the United Kingdom.

It is a test of skill between two dogs - chiefly greyhounds - which pursue some form of game by sight, not scent. In England, the dogs were originally called ‘gazehounds".

Basically, a hare is chased into "the running fields" by beaters with flags who walk the fields where the hares crouch in their forms. 

After the hare has been given an 80-yard start, an official, called a slipper", releases two dogs simultaneously. 

A judge in a red coat, who follows the pursuit on horseback, awards points to each dog for its speed and its ability to make the hare turn to avoid its pursuers. 

The dogs catch their prey by speed, running by sight not by scent.

An average course lasts up to 40 seconds, in which time a greyhound can cover one third of a mile.

The Waterloo Cup (which attracted spectators numbering in the thousands) was the most prestigious event in the coursing calendar.

It was called "the blue ribbon of the leash".

Modern dog lovers can have little idea how important this meeting was to the greyhound fraternity of the 1800s. The Waterloo Cup was a huge event and as time went on so the prestige of just being nominated for entry was worthy of acclaim. 

The dog that wins the Cup is exceptional, the Exocet of the greyhound world. 

The first supreme champion in the sport of coursing was Lord Lurgan's greyhound, Master McGrath, who won the Waterloo Cup on three occasions - 1868, 1869 and 1871. 

   

Master McGrath became a household name throughout the entire United Kingdom. 

Such was his fame that Queen Victoria commanded his appearance at Windsor Castle. 

Master McGrath set the standard by which all proceeding greyhounds would be judged. 

Did you notice that his breeder was a man named James Galwey?

James Galwey with Master McGrath

Well, James Galwey (1800-1880) is a Galwey-Foley and was Uncle Tom Foley's great uncle.

James was a true Renaissance Man.

Born in 1800 to Mary Byrne and William Galwey of Dungarvan, county Waterford, James was a Lieutenant in the 86th Foot Regiment which served in Ceylon. 

86th Foot Regiment

After retirement, he was appointed Inspector-General of Prisons in 1849.

In 1867, he was appointed High Sheriff of Waterford. High Sheriffs were chosen by the outgoing sheriff from a list furnished to the Judges to fill the office.

He was Director of the Waterford & Limerick Railway.

He was appointed to the Magistracy for Waterford in about 1871 -

And, he was the Land Agent for two huge estates.

But, the crowning achievement of his life was breeding the Three Time Winner of the famed Waterloo Cup - Master McGrath!

Never married, after his retirement, James first lived in Glen Lodge in Dungarvan.

This huge mansion sat on 45 acres.

Glen Lodge

In May 1851, selling Glen Lodge, he auctioned its contents. Perusing this newspaper ad gives us a peek inside an Irish gentleman's home in mid-Victorian times.

As you will agree, Glen Lodge must have been QUITE a Bachelor Pad!

Along with the furnishings, James also sold all of his animals and his farm equipment. 

He started his life over in Colligan Lodge in Dungarvan where he lived from 1855 until his death in 1880. This 27 room home was actually owned by the Earl of Dalton for whom James worked as Land Agent.

Colligan Lodge

James Galwey loved Colligan Lodge and took a genuine interest in its care and maintenance.

Its 1,200 acres was situate in woods above the Colligan River where salmon was easily fished.

The bottom lands and thickets along the River provided fine habitat for deer, pheasants, woodcock and other creatures. Perfect for hunting.

Game, then as now, was quite abundant.

During his fifty years living at The Lodge, James Galwey entertained often - and on a grand scale - usually mentioned in the newspaper.

Appearing on December 26, 1862, 

On January 19, 1862 -

And, the next year, James was reported to have entertained several Barons for a weekend of "shooting".

James Galwey, Esq was also reputed to be a "benevolent landlord".

Partially dismantled in the 1940s, this is what remains of Colligan Lodge:

Although thoroughly derelict now, Colligan Lodge sat on 1,200 acres with the most stunning views.

Despite all of his lifetime achievements, James Galwey was the most proud about breeding the Three Time Winner of the Waterloo Cup -

the famous Master McGrath.

Master McGrath

Always a dog lover, he became a very successful and respected breeder of greyhounds after his retirement.

In 1867, Lord Lurgan - a great coursing enthusiast - sent one of his dogs - described as a "very fast Bitch" named Lady Sarah - to Colligan Lodge for breeding. 

His sire was one of James' foremost coursing dogs named Dervock.

Lord Lurgan (Charles Brownlow)

The second Lord Lurgan's claim to fame was as a leading figure in the coursing world.

Coursing dogs of that time were trained as youngsters in remote hilly areas where they could run freely and catch anything that took their fancy. This brisk form of long daily exercise produced a high level of power and stamina at an early age - something that the purists of the sport feel had been lost with modern training methods.

By this time, James was widely recognized for his knowledge of the science of breeding and dog training. 

And, as mentioned, in 1867, Lord Lurgan sent one of his best bitches to Colligan Lodge to be bred. They produced a male named Master McGrath.

Master McGrath was one of a litter of those seven pups and although small, was powerfully built. 

However, the dog showed none of the outstanding qualities which were later to make him famous at his first trial. 

His performance was so bad that James Galway ordered a young boy named Master McGrath to "send him away."

This upset the boy so much that he succeeded in convincing James to save the little dog.

As luck would have it his "slipper" (handler) took charge of the pup's training and, having more faith in him, entered McGrath  in several small races which he won. 

This description of the dog conveys the power and speed of the chase. 

"His eyes were like to living balls of fire. The muscles on his back sprung and twitched like whalebone. The dog looked as if he were supercharged with electricity. I knew at once the hare had no chance. McGrath swept round her when she broke and crashed into his game as if shot from a gun. I can never forget it."

After these wins, he was returned to his trainer, James Galwey.

Master McGrath became a top coursing greyhound in Ireland and was entered in England’s prestigious Waterloo Cup in 1868. 

At just two years of age, he surprised his detractors by bringing the Waterloo Cup home to Ireland. 

Waterloo Cup

The next year, more than 12,000 people gathered at the Waterloo Cup in Altcar to see if this Irish interloper could repeat his previous victory in the Waterloo.. 

In his final course, Master McGrath drew in with a Scottish bitch who was also considered unbeatable.

In what many consider to be history’s greatest coursing match, the two dogs ran neck and neck until Master McGrath proved he wasn’t a fluke and pulled ahead to record his second Waterloo Cup win.

The next year, 1870, when trying to win the Waterloo Cup for a third consecutive year, Master McGrath suffered the only defeat of his coursing career. 

Despite sub-zero temperatures, the course that year had been declared fit for competition (although many disagreed) and the Waterloo Cup of 1870 went ahead. 

This proved to be a disastrous decision for Master M'Grath and very nearly killed the great dog. 

The course was run on the Salt Marshes and it should have been foreseen that several dogs might stray towards this treacherous strip of water - as did the Master - taking a tumble and crashing through the ice. 

Lady Luck was with McGrath that day.

 It was the quick action of an Irishman named Michael Wilson that saved the great dog from a watery grave. 

Wilson plunged into the freezing river and dragged a close-to-death Master McGrath to the safety of the bank. 

It was touch and go for a while but the dog's stamina won through and he survived the trauma of the day.

After this mishap, Lord Lurgan vowed never to course Master McGrath again and took him home to Ireland to recover from his ordeal.

But, the following year, with Master McGrath back in racing condition, Lord Lurgan just could not resist the challenge of trying for a third Waterloo Cup victory. 

To the utter disbelief of some, this amazing greyhound came through and won the event for a third time without allowing his adversary one single point.

The entire country of Ireland and especially Dungarvan was ecstatic about Master McGrath's victory.

Published on May 5, 1869 -

For a full account of this amazing event -

Such was Master McGrath's wide appeal to the whole spectrum of British society that he was invited to appear before Queen Victoria (a greyhound owner herself) at Windsor Castle. 

The meeting duly took place with the Master and his trainer John Walsh travelling to the royal occasion by train. 

And so the "Mighty" McGrath went back to Ireland to spend the rest of his years in retirement - but this was not to be. 

He died prematurely on Christmas Eve that same year (1871).

All of Ireland mourned his passing and many Christmases were spoiled as the news of his death swept across the land. 

Lord Lurgan requested an autopsy which determined that the immediate cause of death was double pneumonia of some standing, probably from one to two years - a legacy perhaps of that terrible moment when he fell into the freezing water of the river Alt. 

In this diseased condition, his heart hypertrophied, being twice the size of a normal greyhound of his weight and this probably accounted for his tremendous stamina in the coursing field. 

Known as 'the immortal black', Master McGrath had lost only once in 37 course meetings. 

So great was Master McGrath’s fame in Ireland that, after his death, a monument was erected near his birthplace in County Waterford.

Master McGrath Statue

A poem commemorating his triumph in his second and most famous Waterloo Cup victory, was later put to music and became a popular Irish ballad.

He was later memorialized on the Irish sixpence coin and was the subject of several paintings. 

Our cousin, James Galwey, Esq, JP, continued breeding dogs after the passing of Master McGrath.

James Galwey

In February of 1870, his beloved Colligan Lodge was accidentally set on fire and burned to the ground.

James was so well respected by both his fellow gentry and his tenants that a large group of them met at the Courthouse to offer him their support.

James Galwey, Esq., JP passed away on November 22, 1880 at eighty years of age.

Although he never married, in April 1863, this obituary appeared in the local newspaper reporting the passing of a man who had lived with James for many years.

In closing, here is a Letter to the Editor that was written about James Galwey by Uncle Tom Foley's father, Edmund Galwey-Foley. Discovering this letter was the impetus for this post.

UPDATE

The Republic of Ireland has become one of the last remaining countries in the world to allow hare coursing. 

This blood sport has already been banned in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and remains illegal in most civilized nations.

SECOND UPDATE ON OCTOBER 10, 2017:

I just discovered the Last Will & Testimony of James Galwey, Esq.  It is a very interesting and detailed document that you will enjoy reading.

EPILOGUE 

History gives a nation its bearing on what it is and how its people are affected by what has happened in the past. 

Its kings and queens, its wars - with victories and defeats - these all mold a nation’s culture into the way it views itself in the present. 

In the same way, a family history presents how a family has survived and come to terms with the great social and cultural experiences of the ages.

We hope these stories will give each member of our family a foundation and, in some small way, explain how we came to be what we are today.

Hopefully, through these vignettes, our future generations will gain a knowledge of the energy and dynamism, the loves and hates, the errors and mistakes, the victories and failures, the struggles and successes that make us what we are.

Our family history presents a fascinating read - and, hopefully, some lessons to be learned in the process.