From the family albums (with thanks to John & Anne Laide) here is a reminder of one of the first Tralee Cycling teams. They are pictured in the Sportsfield Tralee on Sunday 6 May 1899. Look at how dressed up they were – caps, collars, ties and even in one case, a bowler hat! No lycra here. Lance Armstrong, what would you make of these? As it is a Sunday, and the group photo was taken in what is now known as the Austin Stack’s GAA grounds, we presume they were going to compete in track cycling at that venue. Eamon Brown (Librarian Killarney Library) reminded me that this Sports ground had a cinder track for cycling and was regarded as one of the finest sports grounds in the country. My husband’s Grandfather Arthur Caball is pictured sitting in the front row, third from right. He was 22 years old at the time. A not very legible list of his companions (team) on the back of the photo includes: Jim Godfrey, Johnny Connell, Paddy Carroll, ? Colleary, ? Naughton, Jack McCarthy, Billy McCarthy, Jim Carroll, Dan Fitzgerald, Johnnie Brewster, Johnnie Connor, Michael Nolan, Bill Smith
Arthur Caball kept up his interest in cycling first opening a shop in Castle St., Tralee in 1920 and then in Lr. Rock St., before finally settling in Bridge St., where Anne Laide (Arthur’s Granddaughter) now presides over Caballs, looking after all the Santa Claus’s needs, at this important time of year for the grand children, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren of Arthur Caball’s 1920 customers. And in Staughton’s Row, we have John Caball, great grandson of Arthur doing the same, selling bikes a lot different to the ones pictured above.
Outside Caball’s Shop in Lr. Rock St., 1929, Moss Moriarty, Jack Connor, Arthur Caball (1877-1939), Jimmy Caball (1915-2009)
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