Plaque 5: John Duffy’s Circus

Roll up , Roll up, the Circus is coming to town – John Duffy and Sons – one of the greatest names of Circus Fame, found a permanent home in Dunmanway, at least for the Winter season from October to Easter for several years. The circus families, except for the international performers who rotated among different shows, integrated into local life, with children attending school and playing football with local children around the town until Easter. Their address was the Circus Depot, Carbery- Dunmanway otherwise known as Galvin’s Service Station today. Almost nothing is left of the old training ring or circus life, except for some tales about elephants and other animals buried in the field behind. Stories still circulate about lions, monkeys, and elephants howling in the darkness—especially during stormy nights. In 1950 a journalist lived in with the Circus families at the Circus Depot for a few days , he wrote an article published in the  World’s Fair in December 1950. By 1950 John Duffy senior had passed away in 1944 and his sons were then running the Show –

The following is an excerpt –

In the churchyard of St. Patrick, Dunmanway, County Cork, there is a grave with a memorial that here is the last resting place of one John Duffy who departed this life at the age of 68 in 1944. A little further along the main road into Dunmanway, on the left-hand side as one approaches from Cork and Bandon, is another memorial to this former outstanding personality of Ireland’s showlife and circusdom – the headquarters of John Duffy and Sons’ Circus which he established and travelled on the death of his father who had created the original Duffy’s Circus. One cannot easily miss the place, which, occupying a corner site, has two red gates boldly inscribed with the words “Circus Depot”

Ten Years There : it is ten years now since the late John Duffy decided to make Dunmanway the home of his circus. Prior to that the Winter quarters had been hired, not the most satisfactory of methods. Anyhow, learning from a friendly estate agent in the little town that the place was going, he stepped in and took over. Even though when it rains in this district there are half no half measures about it, I don’t think that Mr. Duffy or his sons John and James, have had any regrets at getting settled. Dunmanway hasn’t, I know; the town is proud to house Ireland’s National Circus.

Homes- On and Off Wheels : Behind the main road wall, on either side of the gates, are the bungalows respectively of John and James Duffy, cosy and comfortable places wherein they and their families live during the days of the Winter, sleeping in their caravans parked on the concrete behind.

No Time Lost: To the left of the main yard stands a big building used for several purposes.  In the front part are housed the cages of the lion and lionesses and their young cub recently born, and the monkeys. Then one comes to an expansive section occupied by many of the circus wagons, with evidence that the Duffys loose no time in getting ready for a new season once the old is finished. At the time of my visit – November 12-15- most of these wagons had already been repainted by John McCormack, Thomas O’Neill and their helpers, and generally, overhauled. They fairly shone with their fresh bright colours and coats of rich varnish.

Training Barn : In the backend of this building is the training barn with a full- sized ring and affording plenty of height for aerial practice. It was in here that I saw six-year-old Anne McCormack ( John’s daughter) giving, for one so young, an astonishing performance on a pretty high tightrope- astonishing for its correctness of technique, that is, until one realised that she was being taught by Georgie Knight.

A Closed Caravan: Along the full length of the other side of the main yard runs an open fronted shelter beneath which stands more wagons and props and tackle. It was here one morning that I found tent master Jim Hayden overhauling some canvas, while under the direction of Mr. James the carpenters were at work building a new van to take the elephant to the Belfast Hippodrome. And it is at one end of this shelter that one comes across a caravan, fully furnished with the curtains drawn. The home-on-wheels of the late John Duffy, there it stands just as it was when he died in it.

Elephant House: At the end of this concreted yard is another, whereon are provided winter quarters for some of the shows more or less permanent personnel, and for a number of the travelling showfolk. In one corner here are located the stables of the riding horses, and the permanent quarters of elephant Lilli Marlene. In this yard too is the forge.

Sunshine Farm: Behing this yard is a meadow forming part of the property in which for the first two days of my visit three horses were grazing. But what of all the other horses belonging to the Duffys? These are not wintering in Dunmanway. Sixty of them enjoy the sweet grassland of Sunshine Farm, some 198 acres in extent situated near Innishannon, 23 miles from headquarters. Twenty more are kept at another large farm, devoted in the main to tilling, while a few more are in the North for breeding purposes. I was taken out to Sunshine Farm to see for myself how well conditioned were the horses as they grazed at will in this vast expanse of rolling meadowland. John James Duffy is a firm believer in covering as many miles as possible in the shortest attainable time. If anyone seeks confirmation of this they have but to ask John McFadden.

Good Workers: At the Dunmanway quarters the number of people constantly at work there during the winter months averages thirty-three. And by work I do mean work. It was an inspiration to see how the men went about their jobs – no clock watching here. This may in no small part be due to the fact that they like working for the Duffys, for after spending four days in such intimate contact with the two families I was left in no doubt as to the correctness of the impression gained when meeting them on the road both this year in 1949 – they are honest, kind and decent folk.

The Two Freds: Occupying important roles in the Duffy organisation are two men, each christened Fred. There’s the general manager. Fred J. Barbour, who hails from Cork. Fred doesn’t live at the quarters but every day he is much in evidence, doing the hundred and one jobs that fall to a manager’s lot. And that Grand Old Men of Advance Agents, Major Fred Lewis. Unfortunately health reasons prevent this Fred from leaving his wagon, but I am sure that he is happy at heart to spend his days for ever surrounded by the ceaseless activities associated with circus and all that goes with it.

Seasons Ending: Until requisitioned for housing, the Duffys owned the Depot on the other side of the road. There it was that they assembled their cavalcade of wagons prior to starting out on a season’s run, and a fine sight it must have been, one which created no little excitement in Dunmanway, but not nearly so much as to the two performances there which the Duffy Circus invariably gives on the last day each season. Dunmanway may have other claims to fame – I must confess to being ignorant about its history – but today it surely can have no prouder boast than being the home of Ireland’s National Circus.