Wrestling was a great pastime around Skerries and particularly around Milverton and Balcunnin. Nearly every man around was a wrestler.

Wrestling matches were carried on in The Black Hills (locally The Hills), and also on the Green at Lusk during Lent. They began on Shrove Tuesday and continued every Sunday until the end of Lent. A Mr. Joe O' Toole of Lusk was the manager of the wrestling competitions. He arranged the matches and procured prizes.

Some outstanding men among the wrestlers were: Paddy Connor, Eddie Connor and George Hoy. I believe Pat Connor never was thrown. I had the great pleasure of meeting Eddie Connor (of Killalane) a few years ago and photographing him.

I regret very much not having visited him more often and not having taken down an account of some of his wrestling experiences. Of course ordinary wrestling bouts outside official matches occurred at the crossroads or where ever else they were held. The Hills of Lusk Green were associated with championship wrestling.

My great friend, Nicholas Wade, informs me that it is now over forty years since wrestling matches were held in or around Balcunnin.

R. S. Duff [SHS, 1955]

Where Church Street and Strand Street merge into Holmpatrick was a large grassy slope. I often sat there on my way home from school playing Jacksies This is a game never heard of now.

It was played with five round pebbles, or if you wanted to be grand, you got five legs of mutton shells. There was a long routine to be got through; you started off with a Bobby oneses and played until you missed and then your opponent got her turn.

While we played with our Jackstones and boys had their Rollers and taws, both boys and girls played tops. You got a top in Biddy Reid's for a ½d., then a bit of snoud and a piece of leather to go at the end of the snoud, and you were ready for the fray.

Mrs. Branagan [SHS, 1949]

Anyone for Hinny Bock

This game, sometimes called Hinny was frequently played by Skerries boys about fifty years ago. It had the distinct advantage then of needing very little in the way of equipment or playing facilities.