196 



there is not a trainer on the Turf who holds an escutcheon more 

 untarnished. 



Now we arrive at an establishment larger than some of those about 

 the Curragh. It is Conyngham Lodge, built many years ago by the 

 late Marquis of Conyngham. The celebrated brothers Murphy lived 

 and trained here for a long time after they moved from Pope Lodge, 

 which is farther on. Since they died various tenants have held it, 

 none of whom dwelt there as long as did that best of good fellows 

 Captain George Joy. To that gentleman's judgment and sagacity are 

 our friends in England indebted for the possession of some of the 

 best horses of modern times — Bendigo, for example. He died at 

 Conyngham Lodge in February, 1891, regretted by everyone who knew 

 him. 



Turf Lodge is next en route. Here Mr. Richard Newcomen has 

 resided for years, and at times owns a good horse and trains others. 

 In former days Turf Lodge was the home of the Hunters, and there 

 were stabled the famous Roller, and, as dam of Birdcatcher, the still 

 more famous Guiccioli. 



Lark Lodge, once the residence of that great pillar of Irish racing 

 Mr. William Disney, comes next. Here we are shown the sods which 

 cover the bones of Birdcatcher. 



At French Furze House we meet Paddy Gavin, who has under his 

 care a promising lot of youngsters. Many a good race have I seen 

 him ride with Tom and William Ryan, Davy and William Canavan, 

 Tom Kelly, and other good cross-country jockeys of twenty years ago. 

 The Keegans lived here for many years, and were, in long bygone 

 days, celebrated alike for training and riding. I remember Larry, 

 who at the age of eighty died here in 188L In his day he was one of 

 our finest steeplechase riders, but he had a very ugly seat. Paddy 

 Gavin married his daughter, and has lived at French Furze for several 

 years. 



Brownstown, the home for generations of the Knoxs, is our next 

 visit. This is the birthplace of Birdcatcher, and here lived, until his 

 death a short time ago, that once great cross-country rider Mr. George 

 Knox. Many of his last years were spent under the affliction of total 

 blindness, the result of a fall in a steeplechase. 



A little way off the Curragh we come to Normanby Lodge, called 

 after, perhaps, the most popular Lord-Lieutenant we ever had, who 

 kept his racehorses here in the thirties. When I was a youngster 

 the late Mr. Richard Sadlier held court at Normanby, and that in 

 regal style. From it the hospitable Tipperary man sallied the day on 

 which he won the famous Welter Private Match at Punchestown on 

 his wonderful brown horse, Bismarck, beating Mr. Alan Macdonagh 

 on Humming Bird and Mr. Henry Linde on Nereid. A northern 

 sportsman now resides here, in the person of Colonel Thompson, a 

 member of our Turf Club, and who has in training there several useful 

 horses of his own. 



