Posted by murrisk on February 15, 2001 at 17:31:14:
Talk of the Moy drainage brought back a memory. In the early 1960's before the drainage scheme, many of the small srutháns draining into the river connecting Saleen and Loch Lannagh would flood in winter. These 'flashes' of water were ideal for a night shot at duck. The trick was to move into position as dusk fell, remain perfectly still and take whatever shots presented themselves as mallard and teal came in to pitch on the water. When you heard "the whistlers" it was too late as these only came when full darkness fell. I have no idea what species of duck(s) the "whistler" was. One evening my father , brother and myself moved into position for a night shot - I was shooting my fathers gun. There was a little fog over the water and another group moved into position on the opposite side of the water without announcing their presence. A duck came in, I aimed and fired. I don't know if I hit the duck but I certainly hit one of the group on the opposite side. The outrage and threats of vengence were loud, persistent and daunting. My father looked at me and and my brother and indicated we should head for the high grass. We slipped away home all the time trying to quiet our nervous laughter and nervousness. The man I had inadvertently peppered and who was peppering was Paddy Mangan a nurse (?) in St. Mary's.