I have just read the following…
Herewith my story… I am writing it on the eve of the half century, therefore my readers may be assured that my experiences are red hot though 1949 is dying hard in a cold north-easter. The bells are ringing it out… the minute hand of the clock slowly climbs the hill and as it passes the summit a new note of gladness and hope seems to echo through the cadence of the chimes. The old year brought me many happy days in the pleasant places and I feel that if the new year is as generous with its thrills I shall be enjoying life to the full.
In describing the attractions of Irish angling it is often a difficult matter for an enthusiast to lean lightly on the pen, after chasing his shadow for hundreds of days, or suppress his natural feelings of exuberance when big fish or big catches are being talked about. Such occasions are the acid test of an Irish angler’s modesty and veracity. It is ofter hard to convince people who are under the impression that fishermen are prone to exaggeration when speaking of their sport. I have often heard it said that a fisherman only tells the truth when he calls another fisherman a liar. I am the first to admit that is is not in any spirit of sarcasm that we, as a class, are the subject of jokes, as it is always in a humorous vein our exploits are referred to. As a general rule, fishermen’s stories have a high entertainment value in any company. So with these introductory remarks I have pleasure in submitting an account of my most recent experiences in the Ballina district which comprises some of the finest salmon and trout fishing in North Mayo… Fresh Water Fishing in Ireland by Larry Gaffey (1949)
P.S. My good friend Frank “the Yank” Loftus says…
“All fishermen are liars except you and me… and I’m beginning to wonder about you!