North Kerry Harriers

Formed by a group of hunting farmers from north Kerry in 2002 to promote the sport of hunting. Members are also involved in point-to-pointing, hunt chase, team chase and charity rides.

Chair and master: Michael O’Sullivan

Secretary: Shannon O’Mahony

Point-to-point secretary: Bernadette Hanrahan

Huntsman: David Trant

Whipper-in: Fergal Sheridan, Rachel Martin

Field-masters: Jeremiah O’Connor, Noel Stack, Mike Mangan

IT has become something of a Christmas tradition for us to visit The North Kerry Harriers at their invitation meet at Glin Castle in those days between Christmas and the new year (December 29th). This year, the keen and hard working hunt secretary Shannon O’Mahony was in overdrive. My computer and phone were in danger of collapse such was the volume of texts, emails and WhatsApp messages describing the glory of Glin Castle and especially the side saddle day the hunt had organised.

Sure enough on arrival, the large square was jam-packed with horse boxes and trailers of all classes and descriptions. The picturesque village is just on the Kerry border and about an hour’s drive from Limerick. As always the focal point is O’Shaughnessy’s Pub, strategically located near the main gate to the castle and its demesne. Better known locally as “The Captains,” a name that harks back to a previous seafaring owner. Tradition has it that when the captain came ashore, he set up a huge salmon exporting business from Glin to the Billingsgate fish market. In those halcyon days, salmon could be taken by ton from the estuary which can be seen from the front door of the pub.

The Captain’s was buzzing with jockeys of all descriptions, including a bunch of very elegant side saddle ladies. All the regulars were on hand, huntsman and master David Trant having a final council of war with his whipper-in, Fergal Sheridan, a veterinary surgeon in the local DVO. He started his hunting career in his native Cavan with the Ballymacad before venturing to north Kerry. He assured me that the national herd was being well cared for, even on hunting days! His fellow whipper-in is young Rachel Martin from Ballylongford who is studying for her Leaving Cert this year, a more knowledgeable or enthusiastic hunt official it would be hard to find. She hopes to be doing veterinary by this time next year. At the meet she turned out in side saddle but once hounds moved off, she reverted to astride. From Dingle came Brendan O’Connor with a load of ponies for his three children - Tom, Denis and Eibhilin - with young Daniel King thrown in for good measure, all keen young riders. Brendan told me that it was more than a two-hour drive from Dingle to the meet at Glin Castle.

Hunt chairman Mike O’Sullivan looked very smart in his green livery. His son Denis has now been hunting the Ormond Foxhounds for more than 10 seasons. The joint-field masters were Noel Stack and Mike Mangan, whose son Jerry is a point-to-point jockey. Potters Corner, recent winner of the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow, was produced by the family.

The whole side saddle day was the brain child of hunt secretary Shannon O’Mahony, a pyschiatric nurse in Listowel. As well as her nursing and hunting duties, she is currently studying for her masters. She looked especially smart in her side saddle habit, riding a very attractive coloured cob, owned by Jeremiah O’Connor. Further side saddle riders were Soracha Meehan, a final year radiographer from Pallaskenry, who was out with her mum Anne. Rose Concannon from Kerry was joined by Emma Geary and Alice Copithorne from Kinsale.

Sharon Burke was out, just recovered from a serious pelvic injury. From Clare came Susanne Arthur, on a fine grey, who was accompanied by her dad Jim, both of whom I meet regularly with the Co Clares. Also from the Banner county were Soracha Redmond from Ennis and Grainne Davoren, who was adjudged the leading lady rider and was presented with a smashing hamper for her efforts.

Another member of the caring profession is Emily Vial, beautifully turned out in a blue habit. She informed me ruefully that she had only an hour’s sleep as she had been working as a paramedic the previous night. Originally from Donegal, she has remained loyal to the accent but in every other way is fully assimilated into the kingdom.

As the angelus bell tolled the hour, hounds were enlarged and jockeys (all 60 of them) mounted. Proceedings were started off by our huntsman sounding the move off on a coaching horn, borrowed for the occasion from the bar, while hounds and the field were led on a tour of the village with many locals standing at their doors and applauding as hounds passed.

Our next stop was the castle itself where hunt staff and field were refreshed with hot port and such like, provided by castle manager Clare Whyte from Clonmel. The castle was the ancestral home of the Knights of Glin, a title that goes back to the arrival of the Normans around 1169 when Strongbow landed in Bannow Bay. The late and last knight was Desmond Fitzgerald, the 29th holder of the office. His daughter Catherine and her husband Dominick West now own the estate. The castle can be rented for special occasions and regularly hosts weddings and suchlike. A recent resident was the American singer Taylor Swift who stayed for a couple of weeks with her entourage.

As well as the 60 or so mounted, there was a huge turnout of foot followers, many who had made the trip specially to see hounds, the side saddles and especially the castle in a way that would not normally be available to tourists.

Of course, there was a photocall outside the castle of hounds and the visiting side saddle ladies, joined by huntsman David Trant on a smashing grey with his two daughters, Eabha (12) and Molly (10), both girls go to school locally at Dromclough National School. David and his brother run a very substantial pure bred dairy herd at their farm near Listowel where hounds are also kennelled.

Formalities over, David, with nine and a half couple of home-bred hounds, moved off to the first draw which was literally in sight of the castle. The estate, which is run as a commercial dairy farm, has loads of covert, mostly old woodland of native species.

While the first covert was blank, as hounds drew on, a whimper was heard which quickly turned into a crescendo. The estate is well served with hunt jumps and natural fences. Under the direction of our guide Peter O’Mahony (Shannon’s dad), we were always well up with the action, assisted by Katie Zubyeto, whose husband is Polish.

With hounds running, the field came at a good lick over a series of hunt jumps. The side saddle girls were not found wanting but palm must go the veteran Anne O’Grady on a four-year-old who came down the line of fences at hurdle race speed. Speaking of pedigrees, Anne has a very good page being the niece of no less than Martin and Tim Molony, all-time greats as National Hunt jockeys.

The field had marvellous fun all day with loads of jumping and scenery to die for. To complete a perfect day, they went to wash in the endless estuary and with water just up to their saddles, both horses and riders came out spotless.

But the day was not quite over, food and a sing song, with resident sheanachai Tom Moore from Moyvane, came next with tales of fine maidens and feats of valour.

Sounds like an account of the day!