crop destruction

On Christmas Eve, while talking about when he was young, Danny Dowling (b. 1927) revealed that when he was a chap he trapped and sold rabbits. He recalled that they were a plentiful pest. “The fields were full of them and they ate anything and destroyed fields of crops.” While rabbits were plentiful hares were scarce. Danny sold the rabbits that he trapped to a man named Murphy who also bought fish. The business was located at the corner of Bridge Street and the Quay in New Ross. Danny recalled that the rabbits were sent off to England.   Danny thought they were sent off to feed the men who worked in the coal mines during World War II. He recalled that when Clover Meats commenced it canned rabbit meat and that there were businesses that would come into an area to trap rabbits for a fee and then would make more money by selling the meat and skins of the rabbits they were paid to trap.

From newspaper accounts it appears that Clover Meats commenced operation in 1924. No reference could be found to the canning of rabbit by Clover Meats, however other factories were processing rabbit meat both for human and pet consumption. In the 1930’s and 1940’s there were lots of articles concerning the explosion in the rabbit population and the impact on farms, estates and even golf courses. A 1936 article in the New Ross Standard highlights the situation in Glenmore. “A Farmer’s Experience—There are many instances of the destruction that is being caused to crops by rabbits which are so numerous in many localities that they constitute a menace to the farmer.” A four acre field of barley in the Glenmore district had been so damaged by the rabbits that at the beginning of June the owner re-ploughed it and sowed turnips. “As soon as the turnips came up fairly strong the rabbits attacked the young plants and completely cleared the field.” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 31 July 1936, p. 3)

A couple of months later another article and an advertisement appeared in the New Ross Standard advising readers that there was a new buyer for trapped rabbits. “A NEW MARKET FOR RABBITS—An advt. by Fur Dyers. Ltd. Dublin, in this issue will be read with interest by most farmers. The rabbit pest has become a serious menace to agriculture in recent years and whole districts are so over-run with the little beasts that not only corn and roots, but grassland also has been eaten bare by them. Rabbits are very prolific. They breed from four to eight times a year, and the young rabbits in turn start breeding when they are six months old, so that only a mass attack on them will keep them in check. Fur Dyers, Ltd., are offering 8d. a pair for fresh trapped rabbits delivered at any railway station, and this profitable market should stimulate trapping in lands that are over-run with rabbits. They will take any number and pay carriage by passenger train. In these circumstances rabbit trapping should be a profitable side line not only for farmers, but for their labourers also.” (New Ross Standard, Fri 16 Oct 1936)

In 1938 there was an increase in the price of rabbits and it was becoming usual for the market price of pairs of rabbits to be reported in the newspaper. The New Ross Standard reported that the  increase price for rabbits was proving a strong factor in the thinning of the population of the destructive rodents. The prices paid induced many persons to engage in hunting and trapping (New Ross Standard, Fri. 29 Dec. 1939 p. 8).

In Glenmore, Paddy Kennedy (1922-1997) of Rathinure, was in his late teens and engaged full time in rabbit trapping. Being the son of a local farmer he trapped on his own farm and neighbour’s farms. As an elderly man he often spoke of his days of rabbit trapping and told my husband Peter Walsh that at one point he got half a crown (30 d.) for a pair of rabbits and made £600 one season. Local speculation is that Paddy was able to accumulate a considerable sum from his rabbit trapping enterprise.  Paddy would run his traps twice a night and early in the morning would load them onto his bicycle and cycle into New Ross where he sold the rabbits to Murphy the fish and rabbit buyer. Paddy said that he had rabbits hanging from his handlebars and crossbar. Today, Johnny Garvey, of Rathinure recalled that Paddy told him on one occasion Paddy was transporting so many rabbits the cross bar on his bicycle broke.

Unfortunately, with any endeavour where money is seen as easily acquired it wasn’t long before the newspapers were full of cases involving the theft of rabbit traps. Judge A. O’Donoghue, at the Rathangan District Court, Co. Kildare, in exasperation told two defendants who “borrowed” traps belonging to another man, “I never met a man yet who did not get into trouble over rabbit trapping.” The men had been charged with stealing 6 rabbit traps valued at 15s (Leinster Leader, Sat. 14 Aug. 1937, p 7).

After World War II broke out in 1939 there was an enormous increase in rabbit trapping. This was driven by the fact that game such as rabbit was not rationed in the UK and high prices were being paid for rabbits and rabbit skins (Larne Times (Co. Antrim, N.I.) Thurs. 18 Dec. 1941). In September 1941, both the Munster Express and the Waterford Standard carried a story concerning Paddy Kennedy (1922-1997) being charged with the theft of rabbit traps. It was alleged that between the 7^th and 13^th August Paddy stole 10 rabbit traps, valued at 2/4 each, belonging to James Rochford. One newspaper stated that Rochford lived in Robinstown and the other alleged he lived in Rochestown. Rochford is not a common name found in Glenmore, but we were able to locate his wife’s obituary from 1949. Per the obituary Mrs. M. Rochford died at the age of 40 at her home in Ballinamona, Slieverue. The family moved to Slieverue from Aylwardstown, Glenmore in 1938. Mary Rochford was a native of Clonroche, Wexford.

In 1941, after missing traps Rochford and his wife went into hiding from 3 o’clock in the morning until 6 a.m. on the 13^th of August. They observed Paddy come along and pull up 5 traps. Paddy was represented by Mr. Halley, solicitor, who cross-examined Rochford. Rochford on cross stated that he was not really a professional trapper.  Rochford also stated of Paddy,  “I know the chap very well…I heard that last year that traps were stolen on Kennedy…The traps had belonged to a man named Ayre. I admit there is a trafficking in traps.” Both men testified that they purchased their traps from Ayers. Rochford’s wife (whose name is listed as Margaret in the court article) corroborated the testimony of her husband. Paddy testified that he purchased 48 traps the previous year and 24 had been stolen. On the night in question he placed his traps in John Power’s field in Rathinure and had no idea that Rochford had placed any traps in the field. He noted that Rochford was far from his home. Paddy showed the Court his traps and the marks he put on his traps with a file. It was noted that the marks on the allegedly stolen traps and the marks on Paddy’s traps were very similar. “The Justice in dismissing the case, said that the evidence was not entirely convincing that Kennedy had stolen the traps.” (Munster Express, Sat. 5 Sept. 1941, p. 6; Waterford Standard, Sat. 6 Sept. 1941, p. 1)

In December 1941 the New Ross Standard, (Friday 19 Dec. 1941, p. 8) reported that rabbit prices had fallen to 2s/6d per pair. Up until a few days previous the price was 4s/6d per pair. The article concludes, “[t]he prospect of a handy-easy earned revenue to supplement the meagre incomes found all sections of people traversing the hills and bogs at night time, to reap the unexpected financial return that bunny undoubtedly brought many.” It is doubtful that the men who worked like Paddy running traps twice a night thought that trapping was a “handy-easy earned revenue.”

We were able to locate the seller of the traps to Paddy Kennedy. Beginning around 1925 Alex Aird advertised his rabbit trapping service. As Danny explained trapping services would charge a small fee or seek free housing and sell the rabbits they trapped. Every year Aird advertised his services and the address provided in the adverts changed. Some examples of the advertisements are provided below. Notice in 1937 Aird was located in Glenmore.

1925—RABBIT TRAPPING WANTED. FARMERS IN CO. WEXFORD who want their rabbits killed and crops saved should write me at once; we give no trouble and no expense. Apply W. A. D. Aird. Trapper, Dunbrody, Arthurstown, Co. Wexford. (New Ross Standard, Fri. 1 May 1925).

1936– RABBIT TRAPPING WANTED—Any Farmer in Co. Wexford who will give me the sole right to kill his Rabbits, in return I am prepared to keep his crops clear of rabbits for 12 months. If I get sufficient support, I will move my men to Wexford and start operations at once.—Alex. Aird, Trapper, P.O. Mallow. (New Ross Standard, Fri 23 Oct. 1936)

1937—RABBIT TRAPPING WANTED—Now is the effective time to trap your rabbits before the young rabbits are out. We are prepared to trap a Farm, a Parish or a County, providing an empty house or accommodation for men is provided. Alex. Aird & Sons, TRAPPERS, Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny (Kilkenny People, 20 Feb. 1937, p. 1)

Special thanks to Johnny Garvey and Peter Walsh of Rathinure, Glenmore for sharing their memories of what Paddy Kennedy (1922-1997) said concerning his rabbit trapping enterprise.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh