As hunting with dogs has been mentioned, forgive me but I have a question about drag hunting or rather a famous dog Ringwood owned by Connie Doyle, a member of Cork City's Fairhill Harriers during the early part of the 20th Century. (maybe 1920s) I have been told the dog had a song written about it under its non de guerre, The Armoured Car. Has anyone ever heard this song or have any info on the dog, club or Connie Doyle.…

According to my Cork wife Connie Dolye gets a mention in a Cork song called "Dear Old City by the Lee". I can't find the lyrics online but I'm going to Cork for Christmas so I'll try to get someone to sing it for me.

This is the only reference I can find online.

The first drag was probably held at the beginning of the 20th.
Century. A whole mythology has grown up around the hounds and their exploits. The sound of harriers baying is known as "music". A famous dog which ran drags from 1921 to 1926 was Ringwood, better known as "The Ar-
moured Car". This celebrated animal had immense stamina, great pace, a mellow "tongue" and was bred by Connie Doyle, of the Northern Harriers,
Fairhill:

"When outshone the evening star
Who was running out in front
And he leading the hunt?
It was Doyle's Armoured Car!"

I'll ask around about that too. They love when you show an interest in Cork. They take it as a sign of sophistication.

Just found the lyrics of Armoured Car

The link doesn't work. Here you go

Come all my good friends and around me attend
You can listen to my song
You must appreciate a hound so great
To the sport that you belong
No land or title did he ever own
And he cared nought for whom you are
He was bred and trained by the boys of Fairhill
And they called him the Armoured Car

Facts to you I'll disclose, he had a checkproof nose
And he never yet lost a hunt
He had cast-iron jaws and steel-padded paws
Every nail was like an iron bar
From one mile to ten, he would never give in
If you ran him from here to Castlebar
Small wonder, gentlemen, that the boys of Fairhill
Used to call him the Armoured Car

In the year of twenty one when he started to run
Having surveyed the country all round
He sent a sworn declaration to the Harriers Association
That he cared not for man, hare or hound
And he swore right then that if he didn't win
To Fairhill he'd never repair
And I'm sure the British fleet they would have to retreat
From Doylie's old Armoured Car

'Twas on the green fields of Gurranabraher he first declared war
On his terrible Southern foes
And he swore once again that if he didn't win
To Fairhill he never would go
Coming down Scrivens's farm he raised the alarm
Saying, I wonder where the other hounds are
And loud and high you could hear the cry
Of Doylie's Armoured Car

At the Battle of Waterloo well they all well knew
How he laid the enemy low
When they thought he was done from the heat of the sun
And the armour on fire would go
To the finish from the start he broke the Blarney dogs' heart
From the flags sure he took them afar
When a shout from Séan - carr' ahead, Ceolán!
Take the place of the Armoured Car

He stormed Timoleague nearly causing a plague
For he fought till the sands grew dark
And the country people round, they had got terror bound
When for light, faith, there wasn't a spark
The judges growing tired were soon inspired
When out shone the evening star
Who should be coming to the front and he leading the hunt
But Doylie's old Armoured Car

When the Free State bill was framed and peace proclaimed
And the country slumbered in repose
North, South, East and West, he couldn't be suppressed
For he cared not for man or foe
When the Black and Tans and the Saxon gangs
For England sailed afar
With all their guns and rap, sure never could they capture
Doylie's Armoured Car

Now here is my glass and around may it pass
As we drink in bonds of love
Here's to every hand that mine can expand
And to those up in heaven above
Here's to every hound who knows his ground
No matter where they are
'Twould be Connie Doyle's delight if every dog here tonight
Had a heart like the Armoured Car

(as sung by Jimmy Crowley)

Henry,

Thanks for your reply, im really grateful, the reason I asked was Connie Doyle was my wife's Grand-mothers brother. I would be interested in any thing else you find out about this.

Cheers,

Mick

my father in law had this song on tape, but it got stolen about 2 weeks ago. Any idea's who sang it? lor where i can get it for him?