NEWS reached the followers of the East Galway Foxhounds recently of the sad passing of Tim Gwyn-Jones, former joint-master of the pack, a victim of coronavirus. Tim was brought up in Kent in the UK and became a very astute businessman in property from an early age. Although he hunted with the Puckeridge, VWH, Quorn, Belvoir and the Bicester, it was not until he became a regular visitor to Ireland that he settled into a pastime that was to give him so much pleasure, attracted by the lack of formality in Irish hunting, and also that allowed him to make so many new friends.

Aidan ‘Suntan’ O’Connell became a lifelong friend and bought him a lot of hunters over the years from the time Tim first visited Ireland to hunt with the Scarteen and the County Limerick Hounds in 1969. He recalled after a great day with the Scarteens, and at an equally great party afterwards in The Golden Thatch Bar in Emly, when master and huntsman Thady Ryan rounded off the night with a rendering of the Percy French song ‘Whistling Phil McHugh’!

Aidan described Tim thus: “He could appear to some to be reserved when you first met him, but in reality he was a wonderful friend, a great character and a good man across country on a good horse.” Tim told Aidan that he wanted a horse that he could visit any hunt anywhere, so Aidan said, “Then you will need a horse from Duhallow country and a horse from Scarteen.” Tim replied, “Well then Aidan you better buy me one of each!” Aidan bought Tim two of the best hunters in Ireland, one named Gregory that was Duhallow field-master Maurice Coleman’s horse, and the other from the well-known horse producer Conor Hanley, named Valentine. Aidan went on to supply many more hunters through the next 30 years to Tim with one simple criterion according to Tim, “Aidan I have only one neck, buy me the best!” One of those horses that Aidan managed to buy back later is his famous dark bay hunter, Oliver.

Galway Blazers’ field-master Willie Leahy, who supplied numerous horses and some eventers to Tim, described him as a shrewd businessman, and always a very decent man to do business with. He loved his hunting and Willie mounted most of his visitors with top-quality hunter hirelings over the years. They were great days in Galway with fantastic hunting by the Galway Blazers hunting three days a week, the East Galway two days and Lady Molly O’Rourke’s Bermingham & North Galway hunting two days, and visitors coming and booking hirelings from all over the world and enjoying the Irish hospitality.

East Galway Foxhounds

Although Tim was only 33 years of age, as a result of his success in the property business in the UK, he established a base in the west of Ireland when he bought the 19th century Lough Cutra Castle in 1971 with its distinctive Gothic Towers, designed by John Nash for Colonel Charles Vereker 2nd Viscount Gort sitting on 600 acres.

In 1973, he was invited to join his friend Charlie Bishop as joint-master of the East Galway Foxhounds when they both brought financial stability to the hunt for the following eight seasons. There were some really strong riders following Michael Dempsey Snr who was hunting hounds, and whippers-in such as Shirley Ringling North, Mylie Cash, Cathal Gibbons, and Michael Dempsey Jnr who went on to hunt the pack. The followers in East Galway were less concerned about how well somebody succeeded in business as you were judged on how well you could ride cross-country, and Tim, donning the red coat, acquitted himself with distinction. He had a particular appetite for jumping wire when crossing country, and the quality of the hunters he rode at the time made it easy.

Mylie Cash recalled Tim following him over a massive drop into a waterlogged field one day. Mylie said: “To get out it was like jumping Becher’s Brook backwards.” Tim was ready to try it when he said to Mylie, “What do you think Mylie?” “Your fellow could possibly stand a chance,” said Mylie. Fortunately for them, a rare moment of hunting sanity took place as both of them were never known to take a check crossing country, but they wanted to stay in one piece to spend a few more years hunting so they found an alternative exit as it was certainly a risk too far! Tim rode in the hunt banks point-to-point races on his horses Poncho Lad, The Bailiff, and The Stranger.

Lough Cutra Castle

The team chases, sponsored by Harp Lager, were popular in Lough Cutra and the parties afterwards were even more popular. The castle was in the news in 2015 when Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, stayed there on their first official visit to Ireland, and hosted a dinner at the castle for the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina.

Tim’s son Rollo, a keen triathlete himself, and his mother Susie host an annual triathlon in the castle grounds, with the swim in the 1.5 square mile lake.

Lough Cutra, which is a favourite location for weddings and corporate occasions, has also hosted many meets of the Galway Blazers in the 1980s, hunter trials, and hunt balls, especially the Blazers’ 150th Anniversary Hunt Ball.

Eventing and racing

Former Irish international event rider and master of the Galway Blazers, Joe McGowan, talked about his long association with Tim Gwyn Jones in his book Clearing the Hurdles as he was the principal sponsor of Joe’s eventing horses, Private Deal, Stage Payment and Arbitration, and the racehorse Artistic Lad that Joe won two bumpers on in Mallow and Down Royal.

Joe recalled: “I met Tim in 1972 and we remained lifelong friends since then. He was a meticulous person, who read relevant papers carefully, and had amazing powers of retention. He had a remarkable instinct for property, and was a man of means. He gave the best parties and enjoyed skiing.” Joe is also godfather to Tim’s son Dominic.

Legacy

Tim instilled a passion in his sons Henry, Rollo and Dominic, in the outdoor life, and the balance between work and pastimes. They continue the family’s tradition of hunting, with Dominic also a keen point-to-point rider and winner of the 2015 prestigious Golden Button cross-country race. His wife Louisa has evented at three-star level, and they both hunt regularly in Ireland keeping up contact in East Galway.

Henry lives on Ballynatray Estate, on the Blackwater River in Cork, and runs it as a sporting estate with shoots, weddings and corporate events.

Tim will be sadly missed particularly by his many friends in East Galway, his former wife Susie, and his sons Dominic, Henry and Rollo, their extended families and a wide circle of friends.