The ‘Hobby Horse Man’ | What has happened to Colm’s hobby horse?

Following confirmation by the Trufelli family that Barry’s Amusements in Portrush has been sold and closed, many locals have taken to social media to ask what has happened to the specially commissioned hobby horse, which was dedicated to the memory of their longest-serving and best-loved employee Colm Quinn, affectionately known as the ‘Hobby Horse Man’.

One post said: ‘Wonder what they have done with Colm’s horse and the plaque off the wall, I hope it has been given to the family.’

Another posted: ‘When my daughter was a teenager she worked on the hobby horses with Colm and to her he was Mr Barrys. A lovely kind man. I hope some lasting tribute can be sorted.’

When approached, the communications company dealing with Barry’s enquiries said:

“The business only closed yesterday, but the family (Trufelli) will be consulting with Colm’s family”.

Colm Quinn worked in Barry’s for more than 60 years, and when he died in 2015 aged 79, more than 4,000 people got in touch to pay tribute to him for the pleasure he gave, and to express their sadness at his passing.

At the time, Colm’s brother Tommy said that the dedication of a new hobby horse was a “wonderful gesture” by the Trufelli family.

For many thousands of people, a day out to enjoy Barry’s amusements and meeting the Hobby Horse Man will always be a treasured childhood memory.