AS villages go, Dolla is about as small as it gets! For all that, it is in the heart of North Tipperary hunt country and is right beside the late Tony Ryan’s fabulous estate, Kilboy, which has produced so many group winners including Gio Ponti, winner of the Arlington Million in 2009 and voted Champion Turf Horse in the same year.

Dolla is located between The Silvermines, a former mining village, and Nenagh which is one of Tipperary’s main market towns. The hunt has evolved out of the Thurles and Kilshane Harriers who once hunted the country but has had many permutations over the years

Dolla boasts just one pub and filling station, colourfully called The Eagles Nest, run by Martin Ryan and family (almost everyone in Tipperary is called Ryan!) and it was there we gathered for a pre-hunting drink and strategy meeting. The hunt lists two joint-masters Peter McCutcheon and re-joining the team this season, Oliver Ryan-Purcell.

Oliver, a solicitor in nearby Toomevara, is steeped in hunting. As a boy growing up in Churchtown, he had a private pack of beagles and went on not only to hunt the North Tipp for five seasons but also the family pack The Scarteen Black and Tans. Un-burdened by his black type pedigree, he brings an enthusiasm and drive to his role. On non-hunting days, he specialises in agricultural law and is recognised as the expert in all matters relating to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). He established his North Tipperary citizenship by marrying Dorothy Riggs-Miller from a family immersed in all things hunting in North Tipperary. Joint-master Peter McCutcheon was on the missing list but was represented by his wife Niamh who was there to see us off.

No hunt could have a more loyal bunch of foot followers and most of them were there, Martin McCarthy, whom I met a couple of weeks ago with the Golden Vale was on hand and making up the trio were ex-pats but now very much Tipperary men, Colin Bravery and Joe Townsend, whose last role was as master and huntsman of the Hurworth in Yorkshire.

Former master and huntsman Jeremy Cairns was out on a nice chesnut. He comes from a family steeped in hunting, his father having hunted the Wexford before dying in the saddle in the course of a day’s hunting. Happily his mother Boodie, well known in pony club circles for many years, is still very much with us. Jeremy’s wife Ciara who is hunt secretary was missing on family duty.

With few preliminaries, huntsman Denis Gilmartin, on a nice grey, took 12 and a half couple to the first draw at Mount Island. The pack are almost exclusively Old English all home - bred but having Brosna Ton Ton and Duhallow bloodlines. They are as even and workman-like pack as you could find and looked as if they could really do the business. Denis has been hunting the pack for four seasons having previously been whip and kennel huntsman to Seamus O’Dwyer with the neighbouring Suir Vale Harriers. Assisting him on the day was first whip Brian O’ Slattara.

The O’Slattaras - Brian and his brother Seamus - are very much at the heart of the hunt having started hunting back in the 1970s when Judy Deane hunted hounds. There is no fear of the family connection with the hunt dying out any time soon as there were no less than six young O’Slattaras mounted, starting with Lauren a third level student in Limerick, Emer, Briana, Dara and a very mature Hanah - aged seven - all children of first whip Brian who was up front with hounds all day.

As if all that was not enough, cousin Elise - aged three on a lead rein - followed round led by her dad Seamus who is point-to-point secretary. It would be hard to find a more gallant young jockey than Dara, aged eight and three-quarters, who got bucked off but once his pony was re-captured by his sisters got back up as if nothing had happened.

As hounds crossed the Dolla river and drew towards the hills overlooking the village, a fine dog fox was viewed away by Oliver Ryan-Purcell indicating same by his hat aloft and pointing the way. Our huntsman had hounds on in a flash and with marvellous music, we were away. The very first fence was a puissance-style hedge which was taken in style by our huntsman. He appeared to hover in midair before disappearing from view at the far side to be quickly followed by whip Brian O’Slattara on his bay cob by the Artist.

Happily the field were taken an easier route by field-master Michael O’Donohue who farms near by. He is currently an agricultural student in Gurteen College where he is studying for his Green Cert. His younger brother, Richard, was upfront with hounds all day. The first fence of the day can always benefit from a lead so I tucked in behind my travelling companion Bill Hanly who is Limerick’s leading auctioneer and estate agent on his new bay who is proving a great success. Hounds hunted down into the valley again crossing the Dolla river somewhat upstream from our previous voyage.

Here we passed another dedicated father on foot with his child on a lead rein. Hounds were really flying and the field were struggling to stay on terms. However at the far side of Barnagore in Liam Maher’s farm, our pilot found his refuge and was marked to ground.

ABSOLUTE NATURAL

The day was pushing on but our huntsman drew on towards Templederry and his persistence was rewarded as hounds found in a glen on the Dolla and we were away. I had been chatting to a young visitor from the nearby East Clare Harriers who are hunted by Shane Jones. They hunt a country at the far side of Lough Derg and I hope to have a day with them before the end of the season. She was young Rose Scanlon from Killaloe and riding side saddle beautifully turned out in a very smart habit and whose mum, Arabella, hunts with the East Clare. She explained that she had taken up side saddle only recently but was an absolute natural. As hedges came and went ,she became my pathfinder and she never got a shake nd could have been an extension of her pony.

Eventually hounds disappeared into a blackthorn thicket and marked to ground. Our huntsman, wanting to be with his hounds on foot, backed into the thicket. Wear and tear on his hunt coat must be severe. As we drew our breath and gathered our senses (such as they are), I got an opportunity to chat to computer engineer Mark O’Leary from Nenagh who had his young daughter Brona on a lead rein and must be in the running for the award as Dad of the Year. Fit as a fiddle, he had hurled at county level with the mighty county team. He hopes to get a suitable horse in the near future and to become a regular with his children in the field.

With shadows lengthening, our huntsman blew for home and little was left but a nice hack back to The Eagles Nest where hospitality awaited.

HISTORY

Reformed in the 1950s when they amalgamated with the Nenagh Harriers and took over country some of which had been formerly hunted by the Thurles and Kilshane Hounds and more recently by the Golden Vale Foxhounds,

Former masters include Tony Deane, Judy Deane, Jeremy Cairns and Oliver Ryan-Purcell.

Country: From Devil’s Bit to Silvermines and on to the shores of Lough Derg.

FACTFILE

Joint-master and huntsman: Denis Gilmartin

Joint-master and chairman: Oliver Ryan-Purcell, Peter McCutcheon

Whipper-in: Brian O’Slatarra

Honorary Secretary: Ciara Cairns

Point-to-point Secretary: Seamus O’Slatarra

Treasurer: Brian O’Slatarra