There’s always a notable stretch in the evenings when the anniversary of Bertie Fisher rolls around.
Last Thursday week marked twenty years since the death of the rallying legend who enthralled the masses that lined the ditches, fields and side roads all over. During a 32-year career – his first event was as a navigator the Erne Safari Rally – the sporting icon notched up 43 victories. His titanic tussles with Austin McHale have become the stuff of rally folklore.
On Sunday, January 21st, 2001, the Fisher family were a short distance from home when their helicopter crashed near the Fermanagh village of Monea. Bertie’s son, Mark (27) and daughter Emma (25) were killed instantly. The following day, the life-support machine keeping Bertie alive at the Erne Hospital was turned off. His wife, Gladys and other son, Roy, who both suffered serious injuries, survived. It was a tragedy that shook the world of sport. Ditto the world of business.
The Letterkenny Garda Division will be redoubling their efforts this week with extra checkpoints operating on a larger scale from tomorrow.
Anybody who is undertaking an essential journey is being advised to expect delays and leave some extra time for your journey.
People are also being reminded that if a driver is found to be in breach of non-essential travel regulations that both the driver and adult passenger can be fined.
Garda Niall Maguire has been outlining what motorists can expect at the checkpoints:
SHARING OPTIONS:
Ernehill Samson who sold for the new record Elite sale price of €8,600, pictured with Catherine McCollum
The Irish Angus Cattle Society hosted its annual elite sale in Carrick-on-Shannon over the weekend. This was the 13th year of the sale and proved to be one of the best yet, with a record price and average rising to the highest seen in five years. Clearance rates for both bulls and heifers rose to the highest level since 2016, an impressive stat given the catalogue entry has increased substantially since then.
The general sentiment from both breeders and organisers was that the sale was a great success. It must also be noted that the overall standard of bulls offered for sale over the weekend was well up on previous years.