AN opening meet is always special. It is a hunt’s way of declaring the season open and, more importantly, a declaration that the hunt is in good heart. For me, a Limerick opening meet is always extra special, as it was with the “Counties” I had my first proper day’s hunting.

And so, it was in Bruff on Saturday where the hunt gathered on the Mall with the picturesque Morning Star River as a bookend.

Huntsman Fergus Stokes, now in his 14th season in Limerick, was there with his hounds - 17 and a half couple of Old English so evenly matched they could all have been litter siblings. All in all, they must be the finest pack of Old English in these Islands. Fergus was riding King, a seasoned hunter who had originally been produced by Benny Walsh in Wexford.

For his whipper-in, Peter Kiely, this season was his introduction and first Limerick opening meet. Despite his youth (just finished his Leaving Certificate), he comes with a veteran CV having acted as amateur whipper-in with Duhallow since he was in short trousers. In the bloodstock world, it would be said he had a very good page, being the son of Duhallow stalwarts Roger and Carloline Kiely, both of whom were there to support young Peter. Roger has been Duhallow field master for many seasons and the man to follow if you feel up to it.

Also from Duhallow but now more of a Limerick follower is Dr Fiona O’Meara, an animal nutritionist but more importantly Fergus’ girlfriend. As well the Duhallow visitors, there were two American MFH’s in the field - Jeff leHew MFH of the very fashionable Blue Ridge Hunt and Nina McKee of the neighbouring Old Dominion Hunt, both in Virginia.

With no hostelry nearby, hospitality was amply provided by vice chairman Adrienne O’Connell out with her husband Timmy, as keen a hunting couple as you will find. They are regulars with both the Co Limerick and nearby Scarteen. When not hunting, Timmy is a leading farrier, where he and his brother Pat shoe for most of the leading owners in both Limerick and Clare including at Martinstown Stud.

The apple falls near the tree (or so they say) and they are following in the footsteps of their dad Cal O’Connell, who was an outstanding farrier. Happily Cal is still very much with us.

California to Limerick

We had but one master mounted - Tom Schrek who only joined the mastership last season. Tom came from the Los Altos Hunt in California but is no stranger to Limerick, as his father Vincent Schrek was joint master with Lord Harrington back in 1990.

Another joint master out but not riding was Niall Foley from Midelton, whose dad James was the legendary amateur whipper-in back in the era of Hugh Robards.

No day in Limerick would be complete without Hon Sec Deirdre Hogan, who lives nearby at Lough Gur, on her trusty hunter. While masters come and go, Dee on her faithful Rocky remains the driving force of the hunt and has been in office for longer than many of the younger members have been in this world.

Another regular that cannot be overlooked is John Gleeson, who was already on his third day of hunting this week. Fieldmaster for the day was the huntsman’s brother Damien Stokes form Tullylease in Duhallow country. The Stokes’ are a Tullylease farming family, where they also own the village’s only pub.

Grace Power and Martha Buckley on two beautiful greys at the opening meet of the Limerick Foxhounds in Bruff \ Catherine Power

Sausages eaten and a quick note on the horn from Fergus to declare the day and the season open. First a quick photocall in Power’s field and, with young Grace Power of Bruree on her good pony, it was a family affair.

Photos taken, hounds hacked on to Kilballyowen some two miles away - now the home of hunt treasurer Mathew Lloyd and his wife Elisa, neither of whom were riding. If there was ever a farm or estate suited to hunting, KBO certainly fits the bill. Its sporting connection doesn’t end with hunting, the estate also hosts Bruff Rugby and, while hounds were drawing, a practice match was taking place. Not intensively farmed with loads of covert and some of the best banks to be found, it must be a huntsman’s dream.

Take off

And so it proved, as hounds had barely touched down when the fourth season Parson opened up and, with the pack rallying to him and Fergus sounding the gone away, they were off. Reynard must have been born and bred in KBO because he toured the estate at speed barely if ever crossing the bounds banks. After a circuit and a half, he ended back in the house covert, where both the mounted field and foot followers alike were treated to the Co Limerick orchestra in full voice.

As well as musical entertainment, it gave horses and riders who wouldn’t have been overfit so early in the season a welcome breather. However, like all good things, it didn’t last and a holloa from young Conor Fitzgerald set the ball rolling once more.

Going well was Kieran Cusack, always well mounted and going accordingly. Kieran is a major player in the construction industry. Also going well, as always, were the Buckley family, who were reared to the sound of kennels - mother Emma with young Ben, Harry and Martha making up a great family team.

Another family were the McNamara’s from Croom; young Jack and his dad, former huntsman, Aengus whose cousin Andrew McNamara is one of the more articulate racing pundits on Irish racing TV. It was great to see Aengus’s dad “Big” John McNamara, a former master of the Limerick Harriers, out car hunting with his friend Peter Power.

Also going well was Seanna O’Connor-Kelly, daughter of Sean Kelly who runs Seakel Communications, one of the mid-west major security firms. The road followers were equally distinguished, we had former chair Mrs Liz Barry, present chair Mrs Belinda Johnston and, last but certainly not least, Lady Silla Harrington whose husband, the late Lord Harrington, was master for over 20 seasons.

Eventually hounds straightened out and ran for Ballygrennan Castle. Running into country that had not been canvassed, Fergus managed to lift hounds and hack back to KBO. Despite the evening moving on, Fergus took hounds on to draw Ollie and Helen Hartigan’s, both of whom were out, but it nevertheless proved blank. Hounds then drew on through Seamus Murnane’s and Deirdre’s, but sadly neither held.

With shadows lengthening, eventually even Fergus had to give it best. Hounds hunted well all day and horses and riders went home with plenty done; their appetite whetted for the season ahead.