Damien Clarke

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THE FEDERATION WESTERLY PROFILE

Fancier – Damien Clarke

This months profile starts with a bit of geography lesson because Damien is from a place in Ireland called Wicklow Town. Wicklow is about 30 miles south of Dublin just off the main route N11 on the coast of the Irish Sea. Damien is one of the nicest people you could meet full of charm and a great sense of humour. Getting this profile out of Damien was like getting blood out of a stone, he is the master of one-word answers so over the past 6 months I have been asking questions via the e-mail and have compiled the following from his answers. Damien is the Federation Representative in Ireland and anyone wanting information on how to join then please contact Damien on 0404 68871

In November Damien will be 44 (sorry to remind you Damien – DW) and has lived in Wicklow all his life he is married to Geraldine and last July saw them have their 16^th anniversary. They have two boys Scott who is 14 and Lee who is 12. There is a slight interest developing in pigeons from Damien’s youngest son who has along with a few West’s has some African Owls. It is Lee along with Damien’s wife Geraldine who looks after the birds when Damien is away at the shows. Damien is very much a family man and when I asked him if he had any other hobbies besides his birds he answered yes – my garden and my wife Ger.

Damien is a fireman and as he put it a part time barman – I think it’s a good excuse to go down the pub every night. Damien has two mongrel dogs Penny who is 14 years old and Tammy who is 3 and Penny’s daughter.

Damien is a member of the Federation and Bideford in England and in Ireland his club Limerick Fancy Pigeon Club and there is a cordial invitation to anyone wanting to show there and believe you me you can guarantee a great weekend as only the Irish can give you.

A. I have always had an interest in pigeons; however I never got involved with them until I was introduced to fancy pigeons. Pat Murphy who turned out to be a very close friend first introduced me to many different breeds but I just took a big liking for the beautiful West of England Tumbler. I first started to keep birds in 1990. I started off with a pair of garden fantails and a racing pigeon, but it wasn’t very long before I got involved with a lot of different breeds such as Long Faced Tumblers, Pouters, Modenas, Lahores, Jacobins, Frill Backs, Kings and the West of England to name but a few. The reason for keeping so many birds at that time was because we only had about 20 members in our club so this helped keep an interest for all the members because everyone could show against each other. When I first got into pigeons I flew most of my birds and it was a few years before I got into showing and flying I am lucky where I live in that I can fly my birds with no problems. I then started to take showing seriously and decided as West’s were my favourite breed I would concentrate on these. I started with two pairs of West’s I bought from Pat Murphy (Ireland). I worked with these for a couple of years and did well but by this time I had begun going over to the Doncaster show. I got to know a lot of people like Roy Partington, Alan Hall and Ian Stuart (Scotland) who is now a very good friend and very helpful to me. I got some very nice birds from him and they improved my stud very much. I was really doing well at the shows in Dublin and the North. A year later I decided to show some birds myself at Doncaster a first for someone from the south of Ireland. I took seven birds winning two firsts, three seconds and one third, which I felt really good about. It was about this time that I had become aware of the Federation and it’s show in Bristol, so I had to see for myself and yes this was the cream for the West’s. I have now been going to this show for three years and judged the blacks including chequers last year. It was pleasing to see that the Black cock I had put up went on to be best West in show together with my best young bird winning Best young Bird West in show made me feel a job well done. I have got to know a lot of the lads in The Federation and they are a great bunch of lads for both the crack and their help and they are only a phone call away.

A. At present I have 44 birds made up of 3 pairs of Birmingham Rollers, 3 pairs of Garden Fantails (which I keep for flying and personal interest) 1 pair of African Owls and the remaining 15 pairs are my West of England Tumblers in Blue, Silver, Khaki, Indigo (Andalusion) and Reds. My favourite colours are Blacks and Blue Chequers.

A. I have breed about twenty this year after a very slow start (attached a couple of photos) but the old cliché is you only need one so fingers crossed the champion is in Ireland this year.

A. My Loft is ‘L’ shaped. It is 24 foot long and it has four compartments, three of them 8 foot x 6 foot and the fourth is 11 foot x 6 foot. The four compartments can be entered by a corridor, which extends along the full length of the loft.

Q. What do you look for in a good West?

A. I like a nice full round head, with plenty of width in the front of the skull, a nice white or pearl eye with a nice full and proportioned body. A good width of feather and medium length legs but most of all expression a cock needs to look like a cock and a hen look like a hen.

Q. Tips for novices?

A. Get to know the fanciers in your area and ask them for as much advice as possible. Attend as many shows as possible and get to know the breeders, buy your stock birds from people who do well at the shows. Always keep a dry loft that is well ventilated with no drafts, this is key to preventing diseases. Get to know the right feed, the one that will help to build up your birds. Poor quality food means poor quality birds. Get to know your own ideal bird from the better breeders and never let your vision be lowered always try to improve on what you have.

Q. What are your future aims?

A. To show in Bristol at the Federation show and hopefully win. It has to be the show to win if you are a serious flying breed fancier.

Q. What are your views on flying breeds in Ireland?

A. A few years ago we were well behind but thanks to the guys in England we are rapidly catching up and getting some good pigeons together in Ireland and the competition is getting really good. We are always looking to improve and always on the look out for quality birds when they become available.

Q. Are there any people you would like to thank?

A. Yes, like us all there is always somebody who helps, Robert Alexander from Ballymena, Ian Stewart from Scotland, Steve Carey, Dave Walters, Barry Collins, John Jones all from England. To all those that work so hard to put on the shows in Dublin, Limerick and Bristol (Federation). Last but not least my very good friend Ian Johnson who gave me a great start in my now showing team I am sure I have not mentioned all so sorry and thank you.

Thanks Damien it may have taken six months to get your profile but it has been well worth it. I have written a separate letter under club news with reference to the Federation so will leave you all wondering where I will pop up next.– Yours in sport – Dave Walters