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This story was written by Brian Morgan with the permission of Mr Robert McIlroy

As a ‘youngster’ Robert McIlroys father had taught him how to trap rabbits ,hares and how to ‘tickle trout in the Glencairn River North Belfast The ‘trout tickling was a skill that was to become very useful for Robert and his military career.

An incident where this special skill served him well arose one day when he was serving in the army and he’d seen how they would use bombs in the water to catch the fish. The bombs would explode and dead fish would come to the surface. Robert shook his head, not approving of this method, and said ‘sure that’s no way to catch a fish, putting them aul bombs in the water, sure all you’ll get is aul skin and bone’

So Robert took it upon himself and went down ,in front of one of the officers, to the water . He proceeded to show them how to get onto the bank, tickled a trout out and then to much amazement, threw it over his shoulder onto the land.

The officer was, not only astonished, but so impressed that he said to Robert ‘sure you’re a useful fellow , your going to be a lance corporal from tomorrow.’

After ‘tickling’ many trout, out of the water, they would light a fire a few yards back and throw the trout on until they smelt nice and smokey, cut them up and share them amongst each other.
It was a wholesome meal, there can be no doubt about that, states Robert, as he vividly remembers the beautiful taste of smoked trout fresh from the river.

‘It stood me in good stead.’ remarks Robert, and it certainly has as for at the age of eighty five he is still going strong

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