A happy ending for Westport’s curious ducklings

by Auld Stock

WASN’T that a lovely story about the ducklings in Westport who ventured abroad, were separated from their mammy and eventually brought to safety.

The birds ended up in Mill Street car park and were spotted by Anna, Tiffy and Jeanine, members of the local Pax staff, and Tiernan O’Rourke of the appropriately named This Must Be The Place.

They looked after the ducklings before handing the birds over to the members of Mayo Animal Welfare who do such wonderful work.

I am sure their famous cousin, Daffy Duck, was very proud of the manner in which the Westport ducklings behaved on their first curious adventure.

A happy ending to a little story which caught the imagination of many people, an innocent episode with a happy ending, a relief from the bombing, killing and destruction in so many regions of our crazy world.

Sadly, many ducklings in a number of rivers in Dublin are being taken as pets and removed from their natural habitat.

Respect for wildlife is very important. There is a reason for every bird, insect and animal, big and small, on God’s earth.

The story of the Westport ducklings reminded me of a little poem which Josie McDonagh, a wonderful lady, taught us in St. Patrick’s National School, Castlebar, many years ago . . .

Three ducks in a pond

A green bank beyond

What a little thing to remember for years

What a little thing to remember with tears.

Happy days.

*Andrew Bathgate, Bacon Factory Road, Castlebar, had a number of brightly coloured ducks when I was growing up in McHale Road.

Lord Lucan brought the ducks to Castlebar after a trip abroad.

Andrew was brother-in-law of Dr. Thomas Gilmartin, Archbishop of Tuam, who was born in Rinshinna, Castlebar.

Andrew Bathgate was grandfather of the Denning families, Castlebar.

The English translation of Rinshinna is the fort of the foxes.