In Search of the Missing Page 22
To my sister Celine: with Marie, ye both travelled everywhere, being thrown around unceremoniously in the back of Don’s van. Whenever we went training on the mountains, you and Marie were there to help. Remember Radio Rock – or the Hag’s Chair, as it’s known to hillwalkers? You had been hiding under the Hag’s Chair for many hours, again on a freezing-cold day, and your hands became so cold you dropped one of our expensive two-way radios. We never managed to locate that radio, and we consequently rechristened the Hag’s Chair as Radio Rock.
To Shane, Michelle and Gemma: any one or all three of you were always ready and willing to hide out up in Donoghues’ field each day after work so I could give the dogs a few quick ‘runaways’. You were constantly out in the front garden putting the dogs over the many agility obstacles that were permanently set up. In fact, Michelle, you did most of the agility training with the dogs for which I took most of the credit. You were also the one who did all the tracking training with our schutzhund dogs, and there are times now when training that I wish you were here to shout advice, as your knowledge and ability with dogs is as good as that of anyone I have ever met. Like your mother, you were not afraid to bawl me out if you saw me making a mistake when training, and, believe me, I listened! As a family, you had a lot to put up with as I was rarely there, and instead of me helping you all, ye were the ones helping me. Anyway, maybe we could climb Carrauntoohil together again some day!
To Gary Daly: I say thanks sincerely for getting me back dog training, and as a dog handler I rate you as one of the best. I always say that there are only a handful of people that I’ve met over the years who I would listen to and take advice from about dogs, and you are one of them.
To Áine’s parents, Pat and Ann, and my sister Eileen: a million thanks for all the times you spend looking after Jack and Andrew when Áine and I are away training or on call-outs. While we may get the credit for helping to search for missing persons, none of it would be possible without the backing of our families.
To Áine: Áine, you gave me a new lease of life. I dare not think of where I’d have ended up if you hadn’t come along at the right time. You are a true ‘doggy woman’, and you remind me so much of a young Monny Flanagan, with a love for animals that is unsurpassed. I’m never sure what kind of animal you’re likely to bring home next. I’m proud of the foresight you had when you took it upon yourself to import into Ireland the first bloodhound for many years. You trained Lucy with very little help from the rest of us as we were committed to air-scenting dogs, but you proved us all wrong. Lucy, as a trailing dog, has proved with her many finds over the years that bloodhounds have become an invaluable part of search and rescue in Ireland. Her reputation and your kennel Badgershill have become synonymous with top-quality working bloodhounds all over the world.
To Jack and Andrew: I say enjoy your young lives and thanks for the fun and happiness you bring to everyone you meet.
To Glen Barton: a million thanks for sticking with search-dog training. There were often times when the only training companions I had were yourself and Mary, and, of course, Dilis. Thanks also Glen for all the time you spent taking and sorting out all the many photographs we had to wade through for this book.
To Kieran Murphy, Paul ‘Husky’ and Claire, Mark and Suzanne, Paddy, Mary, Annette, Pat ‘Springer’, Tom ‘Dice’, Derek and all in Hop Island, my genuine and sincere thanks for making dog training so much fun.
Photographs
Harry, trying to be obedient on the agility table, at a Sunday-morning training session, 8 April 2007 © Glen Barton
Mick once again stops for a chat, while Bob waits patiently © Glen Barton
Bob, having descended a sponsored climb of Carrauntoohil, Co. Kerry, 29 April 2007 © Glen Barton
Caelán and Belle taking it easy on a Sunday morning in the training grounds in Moanbaun Woods, Watergrasshill, Co. Cork, 8 April 2007 © Glen Barton
Jack with Badgershill East of Eden, Eve, as a puppy. She is now owned by Sherry Robertson in the USA © Sherry Robertson
A handy observing trio: Mick and SARDA UK members in Cumbria © Mick McCarthy
Bob, the first qualified water-search dog in the Republic of Ireland © Mick McCarthy
Cassy, Dex, Zoe and Eiger © Mick McCarthy
Irish Search Dogs, Farran Woods, Co. Cork, May 2009 © Glen Barton
Neil Powell and Mick McCarthy after a successful search for a Boy Scout in Donegal, July 1992. Courtesy of the Irish Examiner
Dex on Hag’s Tooth Ridge © Mick McCarthy
Dad, myself (aged 12) with brothers and sisters at The Vee in Riverstown, Co. Cork, 1963 © Eileen McCarthy
The McCarthy family, taken outside Knockraha church, Co. Cork, 1954: my parents, John and Mary; (children, from left): Mary Philomena (aged 5), Eileen Maria (aged 8 months), Michael (aged 3½), John Anthony (aged 8 months), Daniel Joseph Martin (aged 2) © Eileen McCarthy
Nana Gleeson and Shane McCarthy, Knockraha, Co. Cork, 1973 © Eileen McCarthy
On my tricycle in Knockraha, Co. Cork © Eileen McCarthy
Shane, Michelle and Gemma McCarthy, Mayfield, Cork, 1979. © Mick McCarthy
Mick with Eiger in the front garden, Knockraha, Co. Cork © Mick McCarthy
Mick with Killarney Mountaineering Club, ‘taking it easy’ © Mick McCarthy
Summit of Carrauntoohil, Co. Kerry, Sunday 27 March, 1988 © Mick McCarthy
In Moanbaun Woods, Watergrasshill, Co. Cork (from left): Dex, Cassy, Elka, Eiger © Mick McCarthy
Front garden in Knockraha, Co. Cork (people from left): Shane, Michelle, Gemma; (dogs from left): Dex, Cassy, Eiger, Schnauzer © Mick McCarthy
Diver Paul McCarthy helping out with water-search training along with (dog) Teddy and Mick McCarthy, Farran, Co. Cork, summer 2009 © Glen Barton
Belle (Cáilín Álainn at Andorra Annual Champion 08) on the day she gained her championship title in Cloghran, Dublin, 15 November 2008 © Glen Barton
Mick McCarthy ascending a tricky spot on Carrauntoohil, Co. Kerry, April 2007 © Glen Barton
Water-search training in Farran, Co. Cork © Glen Barton
Mick preparing for show Cáilín Álainn at Andorra Annual Champion 08 © Glen Barton
West Cork gardaí welcome west Cork’s latest search asset, 16 March 2010 (from left): Glen Barton, Insp. Gerry Lacey, Paddy Harkin, Supt Eoin McEoin, Insp. Brendan Fogarty, Áine Dorgan, Sgt Mick Lyons and bloodhound Karla (now on-call 24/7 for the west Cork region) © Mick McCarthy
Mick and Glen on their way to a training session in Watergrasshill, Co. Cork, with Harry, Ben and Lucy, 13 November 2009 © Pat Rowe
Kram keeps a close eye on his handler Mark Collings © Suzanne Collings
It’s terrible how the last generation are still having trouble with modern technology (13 November 2009) © Pat Rowe
Rizzo at Barley Lake; he later died searching on Mount Brandon for a missing tourist © Mick McCarthy
Ceo and Teddy – both members of Irish Search Dogs – on their travels once again: Switzerland, 5 August 2009 © Claire Duncan
7 a.m. on Carrauntoohil, 27 February 2004: just woke up and Derek phones Olga to hear it’s pouring rain below the clouds in Killarney © Paul Ramsell
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