The eccentric postmaster of Lismore
An extraordinary story was reported in the British press in January 1821. It concerned 96-year-old Mr Huddy, the postmaster of Lismore in County Waterford Ireland.
A view of Lismore Castle, County Waterford (Maps K.Top.55.7.2) Images Online
For a wager, Mr Huddy travelled in a Dungarvan oyster tub from Lismore to the town of Fermoy, a distance of about seventeen miles. The tub was drawn by a pig, a badger, two cats, a goose, and a hedgehog. On his head Mr Huddy wore a large red nightcap. He held a pig-driver’s whip in one hand and a cow’s horn in the other. He blew the horn to encourage his team onwards and to give notice of the arrival of the mail. This exploit was watched by a large number of spectators and unsurprisingly was a hot topic of conversation in the neighbourhood.
Margaret Makepeace
India Office Records
Further reading:
British Newspaper Archive e.g. Liverpool Mercury 12 January 1821
William Hone, The Every-day Book (1825)
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