A CHRISTMAS lawn meet is always special but when that meet is at one of Ireland’s most historic houses, it just makes it an unmissable event. The meet of the North Kerry Harriers was at Glin Castle where the pack had made the trip from their native Kerry to neighbouring Co Limerick to be guests of the Knight of Glin’s family. The 29th and last Knight sadly passed away in 2011. The family history is the stuff of legend and folklore lost in the mists of time. The Fitzgerald family came to Ireland with Srongbow in 1180 and from this event three families of noble knights emerged: The White Knight, The Knight of Kerry and the Knight Of Glin. While the Kerry Knight is still in existence (the current holder lives in London), on the death of Desmond Fitzgerald, the 29th Knight, in 2011 the Glin title is now said to be dormant as the title could only be passed on through the principle of primogeniture.

Glin Castle estate is run as a commercial dairy farm with a herd of 200 cows. The estate is now being run by the late Knight’s daughter, Catherine and her husband, the well known actor Dominic West. He is best known as Jimmy McNulty in The Wire and went on to win the BAFTA for Best Actor at the 2012 British Academy Film and Television Awards for portraying serial killer Fred West (no relation!).

But before we could sample the delights of Glin Castle, assembly was at O’Shaughnessy Bar in the village and conveniently located at the castle gates. O’Shaughnessy’s is almost as historic as the castle itself. The present owner, Thomas O’Shaughnessy, is the sixth generation of his family to hold the licence. While, sadly, I am still in the role of non-riding captain, my grey was being hunted (and kept fit) by young Aston Carter, with Bill Hanly and Mairead English making up the Scarteen delegation. Disappointingly, regular field-master Noel Stack, who has a butchering business in Moyvane, and hunt secretary Shannon O’Mahony were both on foot as their horses were temporarily out of action. Shannon is a psychiatric nurse and in her off-time works at Castle Forbes with their world famous show jumpers.

With the arrival of hounds and huntsman David Trant, it was time to mount up. The move off was sounded on a coaching horn taken down from the top shelf in O’Shaughnessy’s for its annual performance. David is one of the founders of the hunt and is a substantial dairy farmer near Listowel. He milks over 400 cows and kennels the hounds on his farm at Behins. Coming from a coursing background, he has no interest in drag hunting and just wants to see his hounds work. He is a keen breeder and says, “if you want anything good, be it hounds or dairy cows, you must breed your own.” If he needs an outcross, he goes to the South Union in Cork or the North Kilkenny for their old English bloodlines.

Huntsman took hounds and the field with foot followers for further refreshments and photographs at the Castle where we were guests of the family. The castle and gardens just looked stunning in the unseasonal December sun with the mighty Shannon estuary glistening nearby. Catherine West was very much on hand to dispense liberal hospitality while Dominic and children were mounted and looking the part. The West children Martha-May, Dora, Senan, Francis and Cristobel all sat up for the occasion.

Dominic was riding a smashing grey provided on the day by Mike Mangan, a hunt stalwart and dairy farmer from Knocknagoshel who had sportingly stood down. However, the Mangan family were well represented by sons Mikey, who farms, and Jerry, who rides point-to-points.

PHOTOGRAPHS

While hospitality was being enjoyed, photographs were being taken with the castle as a backdrop. Soon enough it was time for hunting and our huntsman, with 12 and a half couple, went to the first draw on the estate, meeting some challenging banks on the way. Hounds drew the spinney near the village sportsfield which proved blank. As they went on to draw the viewing point covert, they met some nice walls - one or two with a good drop.

However, it was a gate which brought field-master Jeremiah O’Connor to ground as his horse clipped the top bar. Jeremiah, a keen hunting man who I met last year when he was visiting the Stonehall, is a dairy farmer from Asdee. Remounting quickly, he did not require the services of Emily Viall, a paramedic who was out. Originally from Donegal, Emily is in the HSE ambulance service and was very smartly turned out riding side saddle on the day. Another member of the fair sex out and going well was Fiona Dowling, who comes from a racing background and was a work jockey with the mighty Gordon Elliot stable before returning to Kerry. Hunt veteran and keen racing enthusiast, Des Murphy, from nearby Tarbert was also going well.

The next draw at the aptly named viewing point covert gave the field an unrivalled view over the estuary and the three counties of Limerick, Clare and their native Kerry. The estuary is over two miles wide at that point with Labasheeda on the Clare directly opposite side where I hunted two seasons.

Hounds drew on towards the Tea Rooms, just off the main Limerick road. Here a brace awaited and with marvellous music in covert, it wasn’t long before the more adventurous of the pair broke cover and was spotted slipping away by amateur whipper-in Jason Carmody from Duagh, who works as an AI technician. His fellow whipper-in on the day was Fergal Sheridan, who works as a veterinary surgeon. It looked as if Tarbert would be the next stop but unfortunately he was headed by a farm dog and took hounds in a left handed circle before rejoining his companion.

With hounds hunting in covert, our pilot broke and ran by the castle with a single hound in pursuit. This alert and industrious hound turned out to be Lady, a third season homebred bitch. After a brief interlude, she was joined by the rest of the pack and it made a magnificent sight as hounds streamed past the castle in full cry. Our pilot took hounds right round the estate before finding a welcoming shore at the back of the village.

It was a happy group that hacked back through the village to wash in the sparkling waters of the Shannon Estuary. It wasn’t quite the end of the day however as it continued in O’Shaughnessy’s, complete with local shenachi singer and general entertainer Tom Moore from Moyvane who was a star turn. Dancing, story telling, music and craic were liberally dispensed in addition to something more refreshing.

HISTORY

Formed by a group of hunting farmers from North Kerry in 2002 to promote the sport of hunting, drag and live. Members also involved in point-to-point, hunt chase, team chase and charity rides.

FACTFILE

Chairman and master: Mike O’Sullivan

Secretary: Eugene Stack

Point-to-point secretary: Annette Walsh

Hunter trials secretary: Shannon O’Mahony

Whipper-in: Jason Carmody, Fergal Sheridan

Huntsman: David Trant

Field-master: Jason Carmody, Cathal Carmody, Fergal Sheridan, Jeremiah O’Connor, Noel Stack, Denis Crowley, Mike Magan