Dickie Power

THERE can be few meets as accessible as last Wednesday’s gathering of the Laois Foxhounds. The Green Road is a very sporting pub at a cross road just off the Limerick/Dublin motorway at Borris in Ossory. If it was a couple days later, our landlord Liam Brennan would surely have been missing as he would have been in Clonmel for the National Coursing meet as he is a major player in Irish coursing.

Happily, he was on hand to dispense refreshments and good cheer to over 50 riders as they awaited the saddling bell and move off for the first draw nearby. Huntsman David Thompson, as ever, was on hand with 12 and a half couple of Old English, every one as keen as mustard and raring to go. Sadly David has just announced his retirement at the end of the season as he is going to concentrate on his other love, polo.

He breaks and produces polo ponies every summer many of whom go on to star in high goal teams all over the world. He now intends to concentrate on polo the whole year round. Starting with small thoroughbreds, it takes approximately three seasons to produce match-ready polo ponies, many of whom end up playing in polo in Spain. He will be sadly missed as huntsman.

Quoting David Lalor, “he had it all both as a horseman and a houndman. He brought an excitement and urgency to a day’s hunting. But above all, he is a people person and has a knack for dealing with difficult situations, surely a huge asset for a huntsman.”

David Thompson, speaking of his imminent retirement, explained his greatest regret will be missing his hounds, most of whom he had bred. His knowledge and experience will remain at the disposal of the committee and new huntsman to whom he wishes the very best.

The committee didn’t have too far to look when they sought a replacement. Amateur whip Dermot Hanniffy, who man and boy has been involved with the hunt and is now moving from being an enthusiastic amateur to professional huntsman. He has previously worked in finance so it will be something of a change to move into the Laois kennels and its charming old world house Beechfield near Abbeyleix and take care of a pack of hounds on a day-to-day basis. His wife Emily, a side-saddle devotee, was also out but riding astride on the day.

The two joint-masters were looking a picture in their pink coats. David Lalor, following in the family tradition, has been master for 24 seasons and counting. His partner Grainne Kavanagh, a practicing veterinary surgeon, was also out on a smashing grey by Diamond Rock out of a Kildalton Gold mare who really knew the business. Marcus McLoughlin joined the mastership about five seasons ago and has really taken to it like a duck to water. He runs a very successful Supervalu in nearby Portarlington.

Missing due to work commitments was amateur whip Ray Shore but very much on duty was incoming huntsman Dermot Hanniffy and young Harry Lalor who has acquired a pink coat since my last visit. A son of Joe Lalor and a nephew of David’s, he farms near Ballacolla in partnership with his father who was also out and going well. Young Jock Thompson was acting as third whip and was never far off the action. A transition year student in Kilkenny College, he is taking a year out to learn all there is to know about hunting though I suspect he has very little left to learn. He plays polo during the summer and I am told is the making of a first class polo player.

All too soon, hospitality had to be put aside as our huntsman and hunt staff took hounds to the first draw nearby in Con Wall’s farm leading on to Donald Sinnott’s where there was a bank that caused absolute mayhem. It wasn’t that it was so big but was trappy in the extreme. Hunt staff, huntsman and his two whips were among the first to bite the dust, young Harry being the most dramatic of the three.

Kilkenny visitor Nicky Teehan took a classical tumble appearing to hang in mid-air before being unceremoniously dumped in the mud. His travelling companion Grainne Dunn, an accountant, however had no such fate jumping it in style. Sharing the gold for best performance must be Grainne Kavanagh on her grey and hunt treasurer, Mary Booth, who soared over it on her bay.

MUSIC TO THE EAR

Hounds crossed over the motorway and drew Erris. Without much delay, hounds spoke and as a fine dog fox broke from a blackthorn thicket, a fifth season, the aptly named dog Power by Waterford Alley was hot on his heels. Hounds ran hard for Shanaboe with some Tipperary-style banks. Fr Willie Hennessy, who rarely misses a day, was very much to the fore. As well as hunting with the county pack, he also hunts with the neighbouring North Kilkenny.

Well up front was Laois hairdresser young Frances McEvoy on her good batty. When changing jobs recently, she only took on her new salon appointment on condition she could hunt twice a week!

In fact, the fair sex were well represented and it was nice to see old friends Marguerite Sheeran of Comfy Bed fame and her cousin Andrea Purcell. These hunting cousins are of the famous cattle family, the Purcells Brothers. Andrea is daughter of auctioneer Joe Purcell while Marguerite is daughter of the founder of the Golden Vale, Michael, a legend in the cattle world. The family connection with cattle and the meat trade is being carried on by her brother John, supremo of all matters connected with organic farming through his business Good Herdsman.

Hounds ran almost to Robert Roe’s farm where our pilot was marked to ground just short of the railway line. Robert’s son, Peter, is the very successful manager of Fairyhouse racecourse.

Hounds hacked back again over the M7 to draw a covert right beside the ancient and historic graveyard of Skeirk. They didn’t have too long to linger when a fine fox appeared and in a quite leisurely fashion, made his way back towards Castlequarter. He obviously knew where he was going as he was marked to ground in a small covert quite close to the meet.

Bitterly cold at this stage, the situation was relieved by the arrival of a refreshment party consisting of former hunt chairman William Roe with his wife Susanne. He told me that his late father was the last person christened in the now ruined chapel of Skeirke. More importantly, they didn’t come empty-handed as some warming cheer was dispensed to riders. Assisting was hunt chairman Lionel Foot who always acts as host at hunt functions with Bunny Percival also giving a hand.

Suitably refreshed, hounds pressed on the final draw towards Kilesmeasa. Hounds spoke almost immediately but it proved to be a stale line and with light fading, our huntsman blew for home. Nothing remained but a short hack back to the Green Road where warmth, refreshment and good cheer awaited. J.J. McEvoy, father of Frances and hunt fencer, Henry Kavanagh, (the fittest man in Laois) ensured that our photographer was up with the action all day.

HISTORY

Formal hunting has taken place in Co Laois since 1750. The hunt as it is today, was formed in 1850 when the Emo Hounds amalgamated with the Ossory Hounds to form the Queen’s County Hunt now known as the Laois Hunt. The hounds have been kenneled at Beechfield, Abbeyleix since 1952 .

The hunt could be said to have entered the modern era in 1964 when the present master’s uncle, Dessie Lalor, became master and huntsman. The Lalor family have become inextricably linked to the hunt ever since, with David as master and his brother Joe as secretary. The hunt is well known for its organisational ability and run the IMFHA Hound Show in Stradbally each year, as well as one the country’s most successful hunter trials, plus numerous point-to-points.

FACTFILE

Chairman: Lionel Foot

Honorary secretaries: Joe Lalor and Mary Kennedy

Honorary treasurer: Mary Booth

Masters: David Lalor and Marcus McLoughlin

Huntsman: David Thompson