Name: Dermot Hanniffy.

Native of: I was born in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, but I have lived in Laois most of my life.

Name of Pack: The Laois Foxhounds.

Kennels based at: Abbeyleix, Co Laois.

What’s your Huntsman experience and where did you gain your knowledge?I became the glorified ‘gate-opener’ in my early teens helping the Laois huntsman on my day’s out hunting. I was then promoted to amateur whipper-in about 30 seasons ago.

I have also tried to visit as many different packs and when working in both Tipperary and Wexford, I joined different hunts in each county.

Where did your interest in hunting stem from? The passion for hunting is in my blood as all my family hunt. I had some cracking days out as a youngster which got me bitten by the hunting bug.

Your biggest influence to date: I can’t say one huntsman in particular but a combination of all I’ve witnessed hunting which helps me to try and adapt the best way to hunt the varied country we have in Co Laois.

Describe the daily role of a Huntsman (on non-hunting days): Usually my day begins at 6.30am. I provide and maintain my own hunt horses so they are fed first. Then it’s time to head to the hound lodges. My sister kindly volunteers most days and we exercise the hounds together.

After hunting, the day’s hounds must be checked for any injuries – I check their feet for thorns and any cuts. I will then check the horses for similar and clean out the stables.

On days after hunting, I usually go back to the previous day’s meet to double-check on fencing. We have a very good fencer on hunting days but sometimes messages are not always passed along.

I then try to meet with landowners for the following day’s hunting and will spend a second day walking country to where fencing has been changed or where stock is. After the country is walked, I head back to feed the hounds and/or puppies. We buy in flesh so half a day each week is spent collecting and organising this feed for the hounds.

Lastly, the evenings are spent sorting kit and cleaning hunt horses for the following day’s meet.

What days do you hunt? We hunt on a Wednesday and a Saturday during the main season. I hunt three days a week when autumn hunting or even more days when help allows.

Importance of good relations with landowners: It is impossible to hunt without a good relation with our landowners. Many people who follow the hunt do not realise the amount of country that is necessary to allow for a day’s sport. There are many farmers who have no personal interest in hunting that still accommodate us by moving stock, which as a huntsman I am most grateful for.

How do you choose the various meets? Others choose the meets and then I am informed. Generally, we have traditional dates for meets but variations are made depending on ground conditions and stock.

I choose the autumn hunting meets myself (with great help from my terrier men and whips), to allow for my priority to be able to see the hounds and see who is working etc.

What do you feel is the importance of local network of puppy walkers? Unfortunately, we only have a few hunt members who are in the position to walk puppies, but their help is most appreciated. A lack of walkers causes more work for the huntsman and can cause difficulties for new entry.

The more a pup gets to experience when in their youth makes the handling and exercising much easier when the pup is introduced back into full kennel routine.

What is your favourite hunting memory? My favourite hunting memory has to be proposing to my wife on the hunting field while hunting with the Quorn in England.

What, in your view, is the best thing about hunting and being a huntsman?Watching hounds I have bred suddenly lead the pack and you know all the hard work has paid off!