Bull baiting (Pt.2) There was a big problem in Youghal - slaughtering of cattle was done in Meatshambles Lane, still there to day, just off Main Street. The centre of town was a little different then, the centre was by where the Post Office is today, where there was a large cross in the middle of Market Square and where, on market days, there would be hundreds of stalls, hucksters, tap women, pot boys and crowds, the pillory would be in action, the town crier crying, jugglers juggling, perhaps the occasional hanging, flogging or branding. Slaughtering cattle was not too big a problem per se, usually the blood on the street ran down to the sea but lots of flies gathered, lots of stray dogs , the odd roaming pigs and loads of birds would be ready to swoop down on any titbits which might become available. The council didnt like it. Once a month, one of the butchers would offer bull meat ... but this is what caused the problem.... the law stated clearly that bulls had to be baited before being butchered. We dont know exactly what fines were imposed for failing to bait but in Kinsale it was twenty shillings - probably the same in Youghal. The people loved the bullbaiting , the gentlemen would arrive with their bull terriers, bets would be taken - great fun but , one day, a great, strong bull terrier sank his teeth into the a bulls undercarriage on his first attempt. The bull reared and charged straight up Meatshamles Lane, the dog held on for dear life, the crowd scattered, the bull ran towards Main Street in absolute agony - the sort of agony that only men can dream of and charged at stalls, people, anything to get rid of the dog. More anymore dogs charged after the bull. There was mayhem before the poor bull was put down. A hastily convened council meeting decided that in future all slaughtering would have to take place ... outside the town walls, with a firmly closed gate to prevent a recurrence of the problem!
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 05:55:21 +0000
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