Living the dream at 85

There’s a photo that has pride of place on a wall in a comfortable home in Cork city, a photo that has been a long, long time in the framing.

Front and centre in the picture is a magnificently conditioned animal, Connells Cú, and prime among the smiling faces gathered around is 85-year-old Tom O’Connell.

The reason for the photo, the reason for all the celebration? Late and all as it has come, Tom finally has a dog going to Clonmel, to the National Coursing Meeting, the All-Ireland championships of a pastime almost as old as time itself.