THE long dreary days of summer have happily passed by and November brings us back into the hunting season and all the good things that entails – to be able to watch hounds work, to cross the glorious Irish countryside and perhaps above all, to renew acquaintances with so many great hunting friends.

The season has to start with an opening and what could be better than the famed Kilkenny Foxhounds at Mount Juliet? The fact that the Kilkenny have two new masters, a new huntsman and whipper-in makes it extra special. Mark Casserly, who previously hunted the Inveigh in the far flung Co Down, has migrated south to Mount Juliet. He started his hunting career in the royal county as whipper-in to his kinsmen, Johnny and Kenny Henry with the Meath. He went on to hunt the Killutagh before coming south to what is possibly Ireland’s most famous pack.

When it comes to hunting, Mount Juliet has a distinguished lineage. Originally built on the banks of the Nore by the Earls of Carrick, it came into the possession of the McCalmont family just as the State was being formed in 1921. This was to begin eight decades of hunting and racing, the like of which has no parallel in Ireland. The hunt was run in the grand manner hunting most of Co Kilkenny and for many seasons, hunting the Co Wexford as well. First Dermot and later his son Victor both carried the horn and were dyed in the wool foxhunters. All the while they were world class breeders on the turf producing among others The Tetrarch (The Spotted Wonder). The Newmarket-based National Horseracing Museum called The Tetrarch a “phenomenon” and reported that he was voted Britain’s two-year-old of his century. At stud he was a shy breeder producing no more than 150 foals but among them was The Tetrateema who was almost as successful as his sire.

It was a festive occasion with breakfast being served in the very up-market golf club house where we were well looked after by the masters, speaking of which there two new recruits joining incumbents Paul Holden and John McEnry who have held office for several seasons. Paul runs a very extensive plant leasing business from his base in Mullinavat. His livery is to be seen on municipal vehicles all over the country. His daughter Ellmarie has really hit the high spots in the world of training with almost €130,000 in prize money so far this season. The other long standing joint-master is John McEnery with his son Christopher of the Rossenarra Stud near Kells where they stand Windsor Knot. Joining the mastership this season are Charlie Moore, former master of the Kildare, and Dermot Dwan is also part of the team. There is loads of hunting blacktype in the Dwan pedigree. He is the son of the late (and great) hunting stalwart, Jack Dwan. There is no fear of the Dwan line dying out, as his brother John who was also out, is hunt chairman. Dermot’s wife Catherine, a practising veterinary surgeon, who is also hunt secretary, was also riding. Another brother is leading bloodstock consignor Bill (a keen hunting man) of Castlebridge Consignment who regularly tops the elite sales of two-year-olds. Senior master Paul Holden could only attend on foot as he was on wedding duty later in the afternoon.

Sisters Rose and Claire Farrell were out enjoying the Mount Juliet meet of the Kilkenny Foxhounds (Photo: Catherine Power)

For all that, it was nothing less than spectacular to see hounds, hunt staff and the field of more than 40 line up outside the famed Mount Juliet House with butlers on hand to disperse hot ports and other suitable refreshments, likely to stiffen the resolve of even the most nervous foxhunter.

Among the very many of the up-market guests to see hounds off were Jonathan Irwin, former chairman of Goffs and more latterly of the very worthy Jack and Jill Foundation. Also on hand and enjoying the spectacle was celebrity chef Nevin Maguire and family.

Visiting from Kildare were former masters Andrew and Averill Perrin. Incoming master Charlie Moore was abroad but was represented by his wife Siobhan. From Scarteen, came young Dave Russell having his first day with the Kilkenny as guest of his uncle and joint-master John McEnery. His dad Tom is JP McManus’s stud manager at Martinstown.

Port drunk, cake eaten, a few brief words of welcome from John McEnery saw hounds move off, crossing the Nore which runs right in front of Mount Juliet house. Huntsman had 12 and a half couple on the day. Kilkenny breeding very much follows in the tradition of former master, the great hound breeder Ikey Bell who introduced the Welsh cross into modern hound breeding. While the majority of the pack were Old English, there were a good smattering of Welsh rough-haired in the pack.

Crossing the river took hounds into Ballylinch Stud, for generations part of Mount Juliet but now owned by Irish American John Malone, who also owns Castlemartin in Kildare and Humewood Castle in Wicklow, in addition to a stable of five-star hotels. The stud is in good hands with John O’Connor who has managed the property with great success since 1988 and has remained on as general manager. John Malone has extensive bloodstock interests in the USA with Brideswood Farm in Florida which recently paid $1.3m for a filly by leading American sire Tapit. Now resident in the land of his forebearers, John Malone lives in Humewood. He is the biggest private land owner in the USA with holdings of over two million acres!

As hounds drew Joe Connell’s stubble, our eagle-eyed whipper-in spotted a fox slipping away and running towards the Waterford railway line which runs right adjacent to the picturesque town of Thomastown.

Foot followers were afforded a smashing viewing opportunity from the railway bridge over the Nore which dates back to 1877. Scent was never better than passable but hounds worked very hard and stayed with their fox as he took refuge in the railway embankment which has thick cover. Just as it looked as if huntsman might have to give him best, KK dog Cubist (by the famed Brosna TonTon), showing all the scenting ability of his sire, took interest in a particularly forbidding thicket and sure enough, out popped the hunted fox and ran under the railway line with the Nore on his right.

Some tricky jumping ensued particularly a testing wall with a good drop onto a farm passageway. This caused more than a few problems but the Farrell sisters from Gowran did not feature on the problem page. Claire and her even younger sister Rose gave a peach of a jump over it. Claire is studying radiography in Dublin and both are daughters of Charlie Farrell who produces top quality hay and straw for the bloodstock industry. Also making it look easy were Susan Morris with her son Richard. Coming from a great hunting family, Susan’s late husband Michael Morris was for many seasons master of the Waterford.

However, with the next train imminent, the huntsman had no choice but to lift his hounds and hack through town to next draw at Noel Walsh’s livery yard. This runs by a heavily wooded valley which runs along by the Nore. Here hounds spoke almost immediately with more than a brace afoot. The field and foot followers alike were treated to the Kilkenny orchestra as hounds hunted up and down the valley but sadly with little prospect of persuading their fox to leave the hospitality of the river valley which must rank as a five-star resort in fox terms.

Eventually huntsman took his hounds on to draw near historic Jerpoint Abbey which lies between Thomastown and Stoneyford. This is really decent wall country which take a bit of jumping. Hounds found in the glen adjacent to the abbey and this monastic fox took them for a short but adventurous tour. Walls came thick and fast and Kildare visitor Joe O’Flynn Jnr of Rathsallagh House found that the Kilkenny walls were less forgiving than those in his native Wicklow!

With shadows lengthening, huntsman eventually had to blow for home and the field had a good pipe-opener to set them up for the season.

KILKENNY FOXHOUNDS

kilkenny foxhounds

Chairman: John Dwan

Joint-masters: John McEnery, Paul Holden, Charlie Moore, Dermot Dwan

Hon. Secretary: Catherine Dwan MRCVS

Huntsman: Mark Casserley

Whipper-in: George Barrett

Country hunted: Varied, banks, drains and stone wall.

Meets: Tuesday and Saturday, 11am.

HISTORY

The hunt formed in 1797 by Sir John Power of Kilfane.

The kennels have been at Mount Juliet since 1921 when Dermot McCalmont took over the hounds from Isaac Bell.