Laois Foxhounds

The hunt as it is today, was formed in 1850 when the Emo Hounds amalgamated with the Ossory Hounds to form the Queen’s County Hunt, now known as the Laois Hunt.

The hunt could be said to have entered the modern era in 1964 when the present master’s uncle, Dessie Lalor, became master and huntsman. The Lalor family have become inextricably linked to the hunt ever since with David as master. The hunt is well known for its organisational ability and run the IMFHA Hound Show in Stradbally each year, as well as one the country’s most successful hunter trials plus numerous point-to-points.

Chair: Lionel Foot

Honorary secretary: Frances McEvoy

Honorary treasurer: Mary Booth

Masters: David Lalor and Marcus McLoughlin

Huntsman: Dermot Hanniffy

Whippers-in: Ray Shore and Harry Lalor

OUR riding instructions left no room for error, “turn left at the Swan and drive on until you see horse boxes parked outside a pub”.

While Clogh is in north Kilkenny, in hunting terms it is very much part of Laois. It must be one of the more picturesque villages in the midlands featuring several thatched houses and numerous inviting pubs. Brennan’s was the favoured hostelry and proprietor Martin was on hand to offer hospitality to all. There was more than one Martin Brennan present, the second (outside the counter), being differentiated as Martin “Nore” Brennan, who was instrumental in introducing hunting into the area. He stood several stallions on his farm most notably Bull Bar, a popular sport horse whom he used to hunt in the non-stud season.

Pippa Ryan, looking resplendent in her hunting gear, was on point duty outside the door lest strangers might go astray. Pippa, who hails from nearby Carlow, holds a senior role in Kildangan Stud. By degrees the pub started to fill and we were delighted to meet Ireland’s leading hunting artist, Liam Clancy, as always beautifully turned out, though sadly without his topper. Living in nearby Abbeyleix, he is a regular with the Laois though he hunts all over the country when he is on a painting commission.

Overseas visitors

Joint-masters David Lalor and Marcus McLoughlin arrived together and this was no coincidence as Marcus, who owns and runs a supermarket in Portarlington, keeps his hunter in livery with David. Visiting from California was Marol Liguori who is a regular visitor to Ireland and especially Laois. She helps David Lalor with the hunters and indeed they were turned out to perfection. The Lalor family have been intrinsically involved with the Laois since they were known as the Queen’s County Hunt and that is quite a while ago. David is also the popular and very hard working chairman of the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association. With the huge political changes facing the country, a vibrant and politically astute association was never more needed.

Mary Booth has been hunting with the Laois as long as we have been visiting and we had our first day with the Laois from a meet at Ballyroan around 1980 when Rory Dicker was master. Born in the Liberties, she married into farming and has been hunting ever since. She looks after hunt finances and collects the cap assiduously and woe betide anyone who tries to slip away without paying.

The front bench line up was completed by Frances McEvoy who has taken over the job of hunt secretary. She works as a hairdresser in one of Portlaoise’s smarter saloons but hunts every Wednesday during the season. She was on a smashing foot-perfect batty that she had brought on since he was a foal. Mounted games rider Mark Deviit was out on his bay getting him fit for their upcoming trip to Gothenberg for the international mounted games.

As always beautifully turned out on her smashing grey was Grainne Kavanagh, who practices as a veterinary surgeon in Rathdowney. The grey is her pride and joy and during the summer, she events him with considerable success. I’m told he has taken to dressage like a duck to water.

Extremely smart

As the Angelus tolled from the nearby church steeple, which had been built mainly by donations from local coal miners, our huntsman Dermot Hanniffy enlarged his pack of smashing Old English with his two whippers-in, Ray Shore and Harry Lalor, in close attendance. His better half Emily who, when not hunting, works as a pediatric nurse in Portlaoise, looked extremely smart on a nice bay. She regularly hunts side saddle but on the day was astride. She is a daughter of David Meredith who hunted for many years with the Laois. Dermot has a lifelong association with the hunt and a couple of years ago, gave up his management position in banking to follow the career he loves.

It was picture postcard stuff as they lined up for photos outside a recently thatched house just across the road from the pub. The Laois have a most dedicated supporter in Jim Fennelly, a keen photographer who is unfortunately wheelchair bound as a result of a work-related accident with the ESB. He rarely misses a day and has built up a an invaluable photo record of the hunt.

This is coal mining country, home to Ireland’s last functioning coal mine, which was run by the Wandesforde family. The mine, which operated up to the 1970s, employed over 600 people and slag heaps can still be seen in the area. The Wandesfordes were a sporting family and were one of the founders of the North Kilkenny Foxhounds.

As hounds moved off to the first draw at Martin Brennan’s, JJ McEvoy and hunt fencer Henry Kavanagh became our guides and had us in the right place all day. JJ, a retired prison officer, is dad to Frances and as we walked the country, had some marvelous (though unrepeatable) prison anecdotes.

As well as industrial scale mining, this area is littered with the remains of local mining enterprises and until relatively recently, the Brennans were harvesting coal from their farm.

Hounds then crossed the road and found in some forestry almost immediately. They hunted on with the field popping some steel forestry barriers at speed and hounds giving fantastic music. The hospitality industry was well represented with Seosamh Murphy of the Castle Arms Durrow and Alex and April Kent of the nearby Abbeyleix Manor Hotel, all mounted and going well. Both hotels regularly host meets of the hunt and these meets are looked on as the high point of the season.

They hunted on towards Breeda Heary’s farm which is surrounded by almost limitless cover. In addition, the farm has some smashing drains and banks giving the field an opportunity to show off their jumping skills. As hounds hunted enthusiastically nearby, it gave a chance for Breeda, who is not long at her present address, to offer hospitality to all and sundry, mounted and on foot.

Eventually our pilot was spotted leaving and holloaed away by Liam Clancy so drinks had to be hastily finished, sandwiches pocketed and cocktail sausages swallowed.

Old-fashioned jumping

As hounds hunted up and down the almost endless plantations near Crutt, Colum Gainey had to dismount to replace a couple of shoes off Marol’s bay and whipper-in Ray Shore’s grey and get both back in action. Colum, a well-known farrier, comes from a strong racing background and works in the Curragh.

Hounds then drew on towards Chatsworth and Paddy Hennessey’s farm where a warm welcome is assured as he is brother to hunting padre, Fr Willie Hennessey, who is a regular with the Laois, though missing on the day as he was on ecclesiastical duty.

Hounds found and with some smashing old fashioned jumping, hunted on through Michael and Marion Condren’s extensive farm, currently let to Ballacolla dairy farmer Paul Hyland.

Hounds hunted really well and the field were treated to some smashing bank jumping which claimed more than a few victims. However, the evening was drawing in and when hounds marked, our huntsman blew for home and a return to the warm hospitality of Brennan’s pub where Breeda Heary and others provided food and other goodies while other refreshments were served over the counter.