I know that my family were in Omeath, Co. Louth at least as far back as 1820. My grandfather, Mickey McManus, known as Big Mickey because he was a strapping 6'3" tall, worked a small stony farm of about 15 acres. Mickey supplemented his income by selling fish from a horse and cart - often travelling 60 miles from home and sometimes staying away for a week or two on enterprising missions.

 

When Mickey was 80 years old he was still very much an energetic entrepreneur. But an unfortunate accident occurred in his 80th. year while he was perusing one of his enterprising ventures. He obviously had the foresight to see that tourism would be a thing of opportunity and advantage for Ireland. One day Mickey had 6 tourists in his jaunting car when his horse bolted and he fell between the car shafts. Mickey was a strong fellow and was not to be outdone because he was able to pull himself up in an effort to get back onto the car. But his efforts to recover control were ironically thwarted by his lifelong  supporter and working companion; the horse, for he suffered a fatal blow to his head from the horse's hoof as he attempted to pull himself clear of the shafts.

 

My family are still identifying enterprising opportunities, not least of which concern horses. Interestingly enough, my brother (and grandfather's namesake) Michael drives a horse and carriage in New York carrying tourists on sight-seeing trips. Of particular note is my 14 year old son Stephen, who also follows his great grandfather's expertise with horses. Stephen's talent for show-jumping is well recognised and in 1993 he won an All Ireland Medal. He has also competed at the well-known English show-jumping venue, Hickstead, and he has also won a major Welsh show-jumping competition too. So, excuse the pun but, as far as our family are concerned, the horses seem to have come through in the breeding. The female members of the family, however, are not being outdone by the males. If you enjoy Italian food and are ever in Dundalk, call into the oldest established restaurant there owned by my sister Ann and her Irish-Italian husband. McManus hospitality and quality of service to the tourist is assured when you call in - and of course, a very special welcome awaits the McManus'.

 

(From 'Heart and Hand: Journal of the Family History Society of the Ancient Clan McManus', 1994 (2) p. 49.)

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