Humphrey And Paddy Den's Donkey

One of the last if not the last donkey derby to be held in the Town park in Millstreet In the late fifties when young bare back jockeys for glory on their mounts did compete When donkey racing was popular in Ireland at Autumn carnivals in every country town Back then to ride the winner of a Donkey Derby transcended one to above local renown Hopes of a Millstreet win depended on a young teenager who at gaelic football would know of greater fame From the nearby Tanyard tall and sturdy Humphrey Kelleher his was to become a very famous name Riding Paddy Den's black stallion donkey a powerful beast with a mind of his own One who often kicked and bucked and threw his rider for such behaviour he had become known The stallion donkey at the starting line was bucking but Humphrey proved too hard for him to throw He must have realized that he had met his master donkeys can be quite clever as we know At the starting gun he was the back marker he did seem slow to get into full stride The champion gray mare with her young jockey from East Kerry of the early lead refused to be denied But the Kerry gray did not have things her own way with Humphrey riding him hard on his back Paddy Den's stallion his ears flattened was racing in hot pursuit of her ahead of the main pack Ten metres from the winning post he hit the front the cheering could be heard for miles away On that sunday evening from the Millstreet Town park in September a great moment from a memorable day Since that carnival day in the Town park in Millstreet more than fifty years in the way of time has gone Paddy Den's donkey is now a faded memory but the legend of Humphrey Kelleher does live on In seventy three at full back for Cork against Galway at Croke Park the hero of All Ireland Final Day His first taste of fame was at the Millstreet Donkey Derby and far greater glory was to come his way.