THE LIMERICK HARRIERS

Kennels: Grange, Co. Limerick

Chairman: John McNamara

Joint-masters: John McNamara, Mchael Mullane, Pat Bermingham, Sean O’Donovan

Secretary: Marie Wheeler

Point-to-point and hunter trial secretary: Marie Wheeler

Huntsman: Padraic Behan

Whippers-in: Garry McCarthy, Gerry Murphy, Dessie Lenihan Christopher McNamara

Country hunted: Banks and ditches

HISTORY

The hunt was formed in 1894 and it was reported that a deer was hunted through the city, across the river Shannon.

Meets: Sat. & Wed 11am.

Visitors: welcome by arrangement.

LAST Saturday saw the Limerick Harriers meet just outside the village of Caherconlish which, by coincidence, happens to be my old home town. Perhaps to use the term “town” might be misleading as it is little more than a village but one that has grown considerably in recent years due to its proximity to Limerick city.

The meet at an old creamery is well off the beaten path but boasted neither pub, shop nor any place where refreshments of any kind might be provided. For all that as we arrived, it was a hive of activity with horses being un-boxed, jockeys getting legged up and occasional medicinal drink enjoyed.

On gates and dressed accordingly was young Conor Hannon. He is the third generation of his family to have hunted. His grandfather John O’Gorman and I would have hunted with the Harriers and Counties for many years as did his mum Audrey (now Hannon). Family continuity is what hunting is all about!

Huntsman Padraic Beahan was there in good time with 13 and a half couple looking really well and a credit to their kennel huntsman Brian O’Leary, who also hunts the neighbouring Fedamore Harries, a foot pack. The usual whippers-in, all amateur, were on hand. Dessie Lenihan, who is in the construction business, and his wife Danielle also run a very successful hunter yard producing some top class performers.

Danielle is the daughter of senior master John McNamara who was only out on foot as he had to leave to attend a hunting wedding. Making up the team were Christopher McNamara, Myles Harney from Dromin and Gerry Murphy who was out with his wife Rebecca, currently DC of Limerick Pony Club.

Danielle McNamara shows how it's done while out with the Limerick Harriers. Photo Catherine Power

Garry McCarthy has a change of role this season as he is looking after fencing and was festooned with the tools of his trade such as hammers, wire strainers etc. However he was ably represented by his daughter Ida on her good cob. Also on hand was John McCormack, who was out with his wife Angela, both of whom have just moved back to their old family home in Ashroe.

Field-master and senior master on the day was Pat Bermingham from Ballsimon on his good grey. Fully recovered from a serious head injury a couple of seasons ago, he is going better than ever. Before the first draw they were joined by Mike Mullane from Bruree who was out with his wife Linda and daughter Sophie.

Almost the first people we met were a visiting group from the Muskerry and South Union in Cork. They were led by the distinguished veterinary surgeon John Hyde (a man of uncertain years) from Tower Equine Hospital in Glanmire.

Having qualified around 1970, he has obviously built up a huge fund of veterinary knowledge and on non-hunting days (which doesn’t leave many), his opinion is much sought after. He was riding a lightweight bay who was really on his toes and had come his way through the practice at very handy money.

His daughter Corrine, on a quality bay that she was bringing on, was there to keep an eye on him or perhaps the other way round. Corrine runs a livery yard which is associated with the vet hospital. They come from a family steeped in hunting having once had the Sean Peel hunt in West Cork.

The Cork delegation were further made up of John Paul O’Callaghan from Macroom who, until last season, was first whip to Ken Grandon in Muskerry. Aidan O’Donovan, young Jack Lucey and Joan Tyner from Kinsale completed the travelling party. Joan, a daughter of Robert Tyner, has just been chosen to join the elite National Stud training course. The Irish National Stud has announced an intake of 30 students for its 2019 thoroughbred breeding course, with students from 12 countries.

There was also a travelling party from the Pendle Forest and Craven Hunt from Skipton, North Yorkshire, to celebrate a special birthday. Skipton is known as the “Gateway to the Dales” and has become a major tourist centre. They were led by their master Tim Smith looking very smart in Wellington scarlet.

John Hyde out with the Limerick Harriers (Photo: Catherine Power)

They were staying in Ireland’s leading hunting hotel, The Dunraven Arms in Adare, where they were expertly looked after by Louis and Hugh Murphy. Yorkshire could genuinely be looked on as the centre of hunting as it boasts more than 20 packs within it’s boundaries.

The first draw was right beside the meet in Larry Browne’s farm and on through Kennedy’s before finding in Tierney’s. This is hill country and hounds were away like a flash led by the third season Bruno, a harrier bred by the huntsman since he took over the horn four seasons ago. From the get-go, hounds absolutely flew and the field were struggling to stay in contact. They ran through our own outside farm into Mulcaire’s and headed south for Ballyhodane, an area noted for the challenge of its banks.

Hounds ran through Kevin Ryan’s where things got interesting. They were faced with a stupendous high single, straight and narrow on top.

As one of the visitors, Virginia Galloway, an estate agent, described it: “A grand day enjoyed by all, a few falls but remounted (lovely Irish lads got us back on!) bottomless ditches and vertical banks but the excellent hirelings we were riding knew their job! The Limerick Harriers made us warmly welcome and it was fascinating to see another Harrier pack at work.”

While most of the visitors managed to get over, three did not which sadly included this correspondent!

Here huntsman Padraig takes up the story: “You had to have a run at it to get a bit of momentum or horses just couldn’t get to the top. I was on my good bay and he attacked it but out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jerry Murphy and young Christopher McNamara come a cropper.” The bank caused mayhem but eventually a less suicidal spot was found but even that proved challenging for some.

All the while hounds, unaware of the drama, were hunting on towards Dunvullen where they marked their pathfinder to ground. Later when the dust had settled and stragglers reunited, Corrine Hyde who has hunted with 10 packs so far this year claimed it was their best day by far.

It took some time before the field were reunited with hounds and huntsman went on to draw Ballybricken covert but not before taking on Gus Ryan’s ditch. The Ryan family, who farm extensively and also have major business interests in the area, always make the hunt more than welcome.

A great display was given by two young show jumpers, Niall Doherty, all of 13, and even younger Kian Dore visiting from Stonehall. They will shortly be starting the six events of the Spring Tour leading to the RDS qualifiers.

There was no fox in residence in Ballybricken and huntsman with a much diminished field went back to draw Grady’s Hills which they had just touched early in the day. Hounds found but our pilot didn’t have to travel very far before he found a welcoming crag where he took refuge and was left.

Happily Limerick’s most hospitable hunting pub was almost at the gate of the farm and locals and visitors alike were well looked after by Jimmy and Dolie Condon whose family have been running Molly’s bar since the 1800s.