The late Hugh Duffy, of the famous fishing and shooting shop at Mainguard Street, Galway, will be sorely missed by his sporting friends from all over Ireland and from Europe. It was not the biggest shop in Galway but it was made infinitely smaller throughout the summer as it was stuffed with fishing rods, nets and reels, spools of fishing lines; while along the wall were glass cases of Swiss army knives, fire lighters, and beautifully engineered gadgets which had to be taken out and admired.
Into this space, and at times you could hardly breathe, Germans, British, French, and Irish stocked up on baits, flies and rods for the days’ fishing. Upstairs, the smallest stairs in Ireland, was an even tighter fit. Big men and big women struggled into a range of Barbour jackets, hats and caps, picking up bags, flasks, and food carriers, as they rushed out into Connemara to try their luck in our renowned lakes and rivers.
Behind the counter was the always affable Hugh, with his son Brian and Mike Harrison, offering advice, welcoming back familiar faces, and wishing everyone ‘tight lines’. Even as boys we would get landlines with up to five feathered-baits, rods, lead weights, and reels, all we needed to cast into the shoals of mackerel that returned without fail to Blackrock and Salthill, at the end of August and into September.
Hugh would always help tie on the baits, and wish us luck.Despite his Galwayness Hugh was Dublin born, but his father, fearing the worst during World War II, took the family to Galway for safety, and set up a successful accountancy business here.
Hugh was prepared for a career as an accountant until one day he was carrying out an audit for Fallon Electrics at number 5 Mainguard Street, and by happy chance acquired the shop, and turned it into the Aladdin’s cave of outdoor sport that it became.
Hugh met and married Mary, his adored wife, a highly gifted, and well loved nurse at Merlin Park, who sadly predeceased him, as did their baby son Hugh. But two sons Ronan and Brian carry on the good-natured Duffy charm.
Growing up in Galway Hugh was lucky to come under the influence of a retired Australian soldier, Lt Col Padden, who took Hugh hunting rabbits and wild fowl, while teaching him good gunmanship. Hugh joined An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil (FCA ) which became a life-long interest rising to the rank of Commandant (Retired ).
He became a crack-shot with rifle and bullet. No technology other than the man and gun. He won the coveted All Army medal for marksmanship 1957, and came second the following year. His son Brian follows his footsteps as a champion marksman. Hugh passed away peacefully at Moycullen Nursing Home last Friday, and was cremated today at Shannon. May he rest in Peace.
