THE Kilkenny Foxhounds are steeped in hunting history. Founded in the dying days of the 1700s, they were Ireland’s first county pack. However it was in the early years of the 1900s that they really shone with the arrival of the young American hound breeder Ikey Bell as master. It was he who broke the mould for hound breeding here by introducing the Welsh cross, revolutionising the modern foxhound.

Many of the old guard were outraged but, in time, most packs’ bloodlines became dominated by what is now called the ‘Modern Hound’. While Bell’s stay in Kilkenny was brief, he was to be followed by the McCalmonts, Dermot and Victor, father and son, who between them were masters and huntsmen for over 87 seasons with Victor’s son, Harry of Norelands Stud, adding a further 15 seasons as master.

They brought an era of extraordinary opulence and professionalism to hunting in Co Kilkenny where no expense was spared in producing the best pack of hounds in the best-run hunt country to be found in these islands.

Hounds are still fortunate enough to be kennelled at Mount Juliet, just a stone’s throw from McCalmont’s former home, now the luxurious Mount Juliet Hotel and Golf Resort. The hunt have a smashing hunting museum in their kennels with many memorabilia harking back to their golden era.

Professional pack

But that was then and the hunt is still run on the most professional lines with a great line-up of joint-masters. Despite its proximity to Kilkenny city, Chasefield take a bit of finding and were it not for Joe O’Flynn dropping a pin on to our phone, I fear we would be still wandering the lanes of South Kilkenny in quest of hounds on the day.

As it turned out, Chasefield is the property of retired jockey Brian O’Connell from Limerick where he now runs a very successful pre-training yard. He is a son of recently retired Turf Club course inspector Val O’Connell and Val of course is the hard-riding field-master of the famed Scarteen Foxhounds.

Senior-master Dermot Dwan of Kellsgange Stud was out with his wife, the eminent veterinary surgeon Catherine (MRCVS). Catherine runs the highly regarded Cheval veterinary practice in Kellsgrange. Her practice colleague Rhona McKenzie, originally from Donegal, was also out on the day. The Dwans are a real proper hunting family. Their father Jack hunted every day God gave well into his 70s while their other brother Bill, of The Castlebridge Consignment, is the joint-master of the Meaths. Castlebridge are the largest consignors of bloodstock in Europe and regularly feature in the top five of sales reports, both in terms of aggregate and individual prices.

Joe O’Flynn from Rathsallagh House Hotel has hunting in his blood as his dad, Joe Snr, was for many years master of the Laois in the Rory Dicker era. Happily, Joe senior is still going strong and takes a keen interest in all hunting affairs. With many of the masters living outside the hunt country, most of the horses are kept in livery with Noel Walsh and their turnout is a credit to both he and the Kilkenny Hunt.

More recent additions to the roster are Ben Goodbody from Tipperary and Fionnula Lennon from Co Kildare who makes the twice-weekly trip to Kilkenny. They were all out, as was hunt chairman Humphrey Murphy from Kilkenny who recently featured in a major business profile in The Irish Times. Field-master for day was Dermot Dwan who knows every blade of grass in Co Kilkenny.

Bernie Tynan, whom we last met at a meet of the Nth Kilkenny, was out as was Kate Winders from Kildare. Hunt secretary Margaret Bolger was there with her husband J.J., the long-time amateur whipper-in. A real bit of hunt history was represented by Alec Blaque, grandson of Kilmoganny Harriers founder, the legendary Charlie Blacque. With the sad demise of the Kilmoganny this season, the Kilkenny are now hunting their country and only recently had a very successful meet in Kilmoganny village itself.

Good sport

Formalities over, the field hacked on to meet hounds who had unboxed at Damma Cross, right beside their point-to-point course on Niall Green’s farm. Their point-to-point meeting is run in May. Hounds were looking really well and a credit to hunt staff. Current huntsman, Mark Casserly, who has shown such good sport, has decided to step down after six very successful seasons.

With the arrival of the field, hounds moved off pretty well instantaneously and they made the short hack to Walshe’s covert which held. A fine dog fox was holloaed away by whipper-in Gary Kelly, who is huntsman designate for the coming season. Gary, originally from Laois, has been with the Kilkenny for several seasons and knows both the hounds and the country well. We can but wish him well when he takes up office next season.

Hounds hunted on to Hoyne’s farmyard before pressing on to Purcell Hill which is topped off by a fine covert. A good deal of woodland hunting ensued with the field entertained by the Kilkenny orchestra at its best. However, eventually Reynard found suitable accommodation and was left.

Marked to ground

Hounds pressed on to the old hunt covert at Ballyfrunck. This is one of the many coverts purchased and planted by Major McCalmont and now the property of the hunt. Hounds spoke almost immediately and a brace left, but hounds were loyal to the hunted fox still in covert. This is a real thick gorse covert, making it difficult for hounds to get through but they hunted well with Reynard briefly appearing out of covert only to quickly return before he was marked to ground.

However, there was plenty of good draw ahead and they went on to Pat Murphy’s ash plantation which is one of their sure finds and it didn’t disappoint.

While hounds were drawing, it gave us an opportunity to chat with the field and successful Curragh trainer Ken Condon, a Kilkenny regular. He comes from a proper Duhallow hunting family, near Churchtown, in the heart of Vincent O’Brien country. Another Cork visitor was Brendan ‘Blarney’ Holland, master of the Avondhu in North Cork. He is a major player in the breeze-up market. Another MFH visiting was Brian Murphy, joint-master of the neighbouring Nth Kilkenny, and one of the family who founded the pack back in the day.

Hounds didn’t linger too long among the ash and hunted on to Grogan’s conifer plantation and, with some challenging country, ran on to Jim Brennan’s before finishing in Tynan’s where he again was marked to ground and given best.

However, they were not finished with Pat Murphy’s many coverts. Pat is not only one of the largest landowners but always gives the hunt a warm welcome in the area to his many coverts.

They drew another one his coverts but unfortunately on this occasion, it did not hold.

With shadows lengthening, hounds and the remaining field made the hack back to their boxes, another enjoyable and successful day’s hunting with the county pack completed.