North Kilkenny Foxhounds

The country was first hunted by the Kilkenny Foxhounds before being given on loan to Richard Wandesforde of Castlecomer. It was then known as the Freshford Country. At that time, the Wandsforde’s family owned and ran Castlecomer coal mine which was by far the largest enterprise in North Kilkenny.

With the onset of war, the hunt’s future looked uncertain until the curate of Freshford, Fr Kearns, as sporting as he was pious, persuaded three local farming families – The Murphys, Dillons and Phelans – to take over the hunt. The rest, as they say, is history with Liam Murphy, son of the founding master, now senior joint-master a role he shares with his cousin Billy Healy. The mastership is completed by Sean Doheny of Ballinakill and Brian Coady. It has remained primarily a farmers’ pack to this day.

Kennels: Ballyring, Freshford, Co. Kilkenny.

Chair: Eddie Fitzpatrick

Master and Huntsman: Noel Rafter

Joint-masters: Billy Healy, Brian Coady, Sean Doheny, Liam Murphy

Secretary: Michael P. Maher

Point-to-point secretary: Billy Healy

Whippers-in: Michael and Thomas O’Neill

THE small village of Tullaroan still hadn’t quite come down to earth since their recent thrilling win in the All-Ireland hurling final. Hurling is very much part of their DNA, the club having being founded in the same year as the GAA itself,1884. In the intervening decades they have won no less than 20 senior county championships. However, we were there to hunt with the North Kilkennys who, like the GAA club, are a hunt that emerged from a farming community.

North Kilkenny has remained true to its roots as a farmers’ pack. It was founded by a couple of farming families, most of whom are still very involved in the running of the hunt. For all that, everything is run on very professional lines with the hunt staff beautifully turned out, rivalling the best.

Much of this must be attributed to Tanya Heffernan who turns out the hunt horses immaculately and thrown in for good measure, she also ensures master and huntsman Noel Rafter is turned out to a top standard. Since last season Noel has very deservedly joined the mastership.

Tanya started her career as a work rider and sometimes jockey with the great Jim Bolger stable. Riding a green novice, uncharacteristically for her, she was taking something of a back seat. Neither of her two boys were out, Paddy is abroad with the army while his brother Jamie is a work jockey with his dad Seamie Heffernan in Ballydoyle with Aidan O’Brien. Now 48, Seamie is riding better than ever and only last year he rode Anthony Van Dyck to win the Derby at Epsom for O’Brien.

Almost uniquely among Irish hunts, not only do they own their kennels and huntsman’s house, but they also have enough land for their hunter trial course at Ballyring where the kennels are located near Gattabawn, nestled in the foothills between Urlingford and Ballyragget.

Sporting mad

There was a brief pre-hunting get together in Connolly’s bar where senior master Billy Healy had a council of war with Noel Rafter who has now been hunting hounds for well over 10 seasons. During the summer, he works with local silage contractors which gives him a unique affinity with the local farmers and landowners. Billy was accompanied by his family – Jennifer, who studies bioveterinary science in Athlone, and Robert, who works with Glanbia. All round sportsmen, during the summer they play polo with the Bunclody Polo Club. Billy has North Kilkenny DNA in his blood as he comes from one of the founding families. Likewise, the huntsman’s sister Deirdre Rafter was out on Billy Healy’s majestic grey. She works in horses with Kilkenny international show jumper Susan Fitzpatrick.

There are no less than two hunting pubs in the village, the aforementioned Connolly’s and around the corner, Delaney’s which is run by local Fianna Fail councillor and farmer Milo Delaney. Father of the hunt, John Costello, had opted for Delaney’s. He is always beautifully turned out on his quality chesnut. A former master of the Kilmoganny, he succeeded Charlie Blaque as huntsman back in the day. He was, as always, accompanied by his sister Ann Callinan who has marvellous tales of hunting with Victor McCalmont and the Kilkenny Foxhounds when long hacks and even longer hunts were the order of the day. The Murphy clan were well represented with family team of Philip Murphy from Troyswood with young Tom and Jane. Also the Walsh family were represented by Michael and Martin.

It was obvious that our huntsman Noel Rafter and his amateur whips, the O’Neill brothers – Thomas and Michael – were more than anxious to be off but they were persuaded to stand for a photo in the village square. Amateurs in name only, these two sporting brothers bring both enthusiasm and dedication to their role – as well they might going on pedigree. Disappointingly, their dad Tommie was on foot as he was nursing rib injuries from a recent fall but confident of being back in the saddle before the end of the season.

As always hunt chairman Val Tynan was out on his good bay. He works as a fabricator with a specialised steel company. He took over the chairmanship only this season from Eddie Fitzpatrick from Ratheilty. Our EU commissioner ‘Big’ Phil Hogan comes from Ratheilty and is from a family of lifelong North Kilkenny supporters. Since last season, he has risen even further through the ranks and will now be chief EU negotiator with Boris and Donal. They don’t know what they are letting themselves in for!

Hounds moved off to their first draw near the village in Doheny’s progressive dairy farm, complete with a brand new road underpass. They then crossed the Urlingford road to draw on through Walsh’s. It was at this stage, young Lisa Kennedy from Ballyuskill caught up as her hat had gone missing and she had to wait until a replacement could be found.

Grand dash

In the meantime, hounds had found and had a grand dash over some smashing country towards New England. Having marked their fox near the war of independence memorial at Knocknagree, hounds drew on through Jim Dillon’s farm. He is a nephew of former huntsman Michael Dillon.

As they drew, it gave an opportunity to meet many old North Kilkenny friends such as hunt secretary Michael P. Maher who farms near Freshford. On enquiry as to his middle initial, he explained it stood for Pius and I’m sure he lives up to his name. In case we needed medical attention, we were joined by theatre nurse Ailish Houlihan returning from duty in St Luke’s. The last time we met we both hunting from a meet at Freshford. A busy man on the day was area manager Kevin Butler from Tullaroan who obviously had his work well done as there was loads of country available.

Hounds got a nice dash in Crowley’s stubble before going on to draw Pat Brennan’s farm and nearby Jim Brenan’s. Jim hunted all over Ireland with his daughter Niamh who is an outstanding young rider. Jim has taken time out and was abroad but his farm held a fine dog fox who hunted from covert to covert. However, Brennan’s hospitality was too much and he was reluctant to leave. Eventually well after 5pm, our huntsman called up hounds and blew for home.

‘Thank you’

This was our last hunting coverage for the season and we would like to thank all those who made us so welcome everywhere we went. We covered several packs we hadn’t been with before and next season (DV), we would like to do some more.

All in all, and despite many challenges, we are happy to report hunting is alive and well all over the country and with hard work and enthusiasm, the future looks secure.