Gun Club
Extract from Killererin - A Parish History
Inaugral Meeting
In the 1960s and 1970s, hunting and shooting were very popular pastimes. On 21st June 1972, a group of men from the parish met to form a gun club. The meeting took place in Patrick Bevan’s house and in attendance were Rev Patrick Jennings, P.P., Killererin, Patrick McWalter, Hillsbrook, William Hanrahan, Lissavalley, Richard McWalter, Hillsbrook, Patrick Rooney, Omaunmore, Mattie Nolan, Omaunbeg, Christopher Byrne, Barnaderg, Austin McGrath, Knock, Michael Miskell, Knock, Martin Delaney, Cooloorty, Myles Nolan, Omaunbeg, Michael Connor, Peak, Michael Raftery, Corskeagh More, and Patrick Bevan, Barnaderg. Christy Garvey from Abbert was invited to talk on setting up a Gun Club.[1]
First Committee
Officers elected were Chairman Michael Connor, Peak, Secretary Patrick Bevan, Barnaderg, Assistant Secretary Richard McWalter, Hillsbrook, and Treasurer Paddy Rooney, Imanemore.
A public meeting was called to announce the new club. A notice was put in the Tuam Herald on 1st July 1972, giving the boundaries of the club. A set of rules and a constitution were drawn up.
Going from strength to strength
Over the following years, the club grew. Pheasants were bought every year to add to the local stock. The club always had insurance and later joined the National Association of Regional Game Councils. All through the 1980s and 90s, the club was very active in vermin shooting – foxes, magpies and grey crows. Clay pigeon shooting became very popular and was very big all over the country.
World Cup Winners
Mike Noone, Garra, and his nephew Adrian Noone, Courskeaghmor,e were very talented members. They shot at all levels of shooting, both national and international. In 2010, Mike Noone won the gold medal in the World Cup in South Africa and Adrian won gold in the World Junior title.
Gun Club Annual Social
For many years, the club held a parish social. In 1975, Barretts of Mountbellew was the venue and 350 tickets were sold at £1.25 each. In its heyday, the club had about thirty-five members.
Still releasing birds today
The club is a lot smaller now but is still releasing birds every year.[2] The club could not exist without the goodwill of all the farmers and people in the parish.
Present Committee
The present committee consists of Chairman Michael Miskell, Cloondahamper, Secretary James Langan, Togher, Treasurer Brendan Williams, Garra, and Safety Officer Sean Carter, Gurrane.
[1] First Minutes Book of the Gun Club.
[2] Personal recollection of James Langan, Togher, interviewed by Bernadette Forde in June 2014.
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