Most Famous Greyhound in the World, Master McGrath, Lurgan

I'm standing in High street Lurgan Co Armagh and this is the statue of Master McGrath. The most famous greyhound in history.
Master McGrath (1866-1873) was a famous Greyhound in the sport of hare coursing.
Master McGrath was born in County Waterford, Ireland. A small, weak pup, he went on to become the most celebrated and successful dog of his time. Master McGrath was born in 1866 at Colligan Lodge, the home of James Galwey, a well known trainer and owner of greyhounds. Master McGrath was one of a litter of seven pups and although small was powerfully built. As a pup his pet name was "Dicksy". Unfortunately the young dog showed none of the outstanding qualities which were later to make him famous. At his first trial; his performance was so bad that his trainer ordered him to be given away. As luck would have it his "slipper" (handler) took charge of him and having more faith in him, entered him in several courses which he won. After these wins he was returned to his trainer. He won the Waterloo Cup on three occasions, 1868, 1869 and 1871 and was the first greyhound to do so. He became such a celebrity that his owner, Lord Lurgan, was asked to take him to be seen by Queen Victoria and the British Royal Family. His success enabled his owner to build a terrace of houses in Walthamstow from Master McGrath's winnings. These houses now form part of Shernhall Street, but are still clearly marked at one end of the terrace as "Master McGrath Terrace". Master McGrath died early in 1873 of heart disease which had already ended his career as a sire. An autopsy showed that his heart was twice the size of a normal dog's heart. He was buried in the grounds of a house called "Solitude" in Lurgan. The house has since been demolished for development and Master McGrath's grave lies at a house once owned by an early English settler.
Other name(s) Dicksy
Species Canis lupus familiaris
Breed Greyhound
Sex Male
Born 1866
Colligan Lodge
County Waterford, Ireland
Died 1873
Resting place Lurgan, County Armagh
Known for Hare coursing
Term 1868, 1869 and 1871
Owner The 2nd Baron Lurgan
Weight 24 kg (53 lb)
Appearance Black and white
Awards Waterloo Cup

[@harrymcc6740]

Thanks for this Tom. John Walsh, the trainer, was my great great great Grandfather.

[@TomMcClean]

I love these old stories of great champs long gone. I really love it even more when guys, like your good self, take the trouble, to call in and say who they are. Brilliant. I'm glad you liked the video. I do try to get it right but at 68 I may make the odd mistake or two! Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.

[@michelleraupert8832]

Lovely video, lovely greyhound. I have a blue greyhound called Pauline The Boss from Droopys Scolari/Natureofthetrade from Ireland. Pauline is nearly 8 now.

[@TomMcClean]

Many thanks for those encouraging words Michelle. Great stuff about your friend Pauline the greyhound! Best wishes from the Belfast Castlereagh hills.

[@andybrown223]

Not many places have that kind of champion in their town!,top dog 👏

[@TomMcClean]

Yes this dog was and still is world famous! Amazing. I always wondered where he came from and here he is in Lurgan!

[@jagd1817]

love that tune by the Dubliners my new favourite song

[@TomMcClean]

The Dubiners were a unique band and set the bar for so many others. Really talented creative guys.

[@tonycarton8054]

my granny worked in brownlow castle .appaently it has 360 rooms .i always asked if there were any ghosts? .She said no ,then shed tell us about banshees ,the handsome man at the crossroads in (with a cloven hoof)in her native Sligo i was always disappointed .Why have a castle with all them rooms without a decent ghost or two ? Keep up the work Tom ,gets us thinking .

[@TomMcClean]

I love old ghost stires Tony. There are a few local places to go but difficult to get near as most are private property. Here's one for you kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIe0q2SlmbR7lZY Drumbeg Graveyard & The Ghost of James Haddock

[@kidkid4251]

Im only 13 but from what ive herd about him hese amazing

[@TomMcClean]

Hey Charlie thanks for dropping by with your comment. Master McGrath was a world beater and he is buried in Lurgan!

[@herbwalker7413]

I used to live in Castle Avenue Portadown 1955 to 1969. At the end of the street was a dog food factory called Windsor foods and their brand was called Master McGrath. Portadown Kennel club would hold shows there.

[@TomMcClean]

Hi Herb thanks for dropping by with that piece of local information. Obviously the dog food factory wanted to be associated with a famous winner....and why not. Great to hear from you. Best wishes

[@bigl6218]

Wrong Mick the Miller is the most famous greyhound in Uk

[@TomMcClean]

Hi Luke thanks for that! You may well be right there. Maybe i need to retitle my video to best in Ireland! lol

[@baconsoda]

There was a bit of a row about the placing of that statue because some people felt that, being born in Waterford, he was a Catholic greyhound and having a pub named after him at the Catlick end of the town confirmed that and others thought that being owned by Lord Lurgan made him a Protestant greyhound so he ended up in the Proddy end of town. LOL, we have little to fight over, don't we?

[@TomMcClean]

That is so sad and so funny Brendan. Daft daft daft! The daftest I have come across was the wall built under the ground in City Cemetery (yes it was a proper wall 50m long and 2 m tall and half a m thick! ) It was placed there to separate the Prod graves from the Catholic ones. You got this wall division copied in many other graveyards when there was a 'mixed' marriage and they died!

[@TomMcClean]

No I didn't hear anything about this.

[@TomMcClean]

Right dartsmad1000 I would have loved to have seen this.