IF you want to hunt, you can hardly go further west in Ireland or indeed in Europe than the seaside town of Ballyvaughan in north Clare on the shores of Galway Bay. Getting there is never easy, it is surrounded by The Burren. This unique landscape was described by Lord Cornwallis during the Cromwellian era as, a “land where there is not enough water to drown a man, enough soil to bury him or enough timber to hang him!”

While that is as true today as it was then but what the noble Lord overlooked was the stunning scenery and above all, the welcome afforded to travellers in this western stronghold. Most of the mounted field would have had to travel over 40 miles from regular Co Clare country around Quin or Newmarket-on-Fergus and the terrain could not be more different. Monks Pub on the Quay was our venue with horses unboxed in the seasonally deserted tourist car park overlooking Galway Bay. This haven of hospitality, good food and even better company is now owned by Pat O’Donoghue, who also runs a veterinary supply business. He makes the hunt very welcome on its annual trip to The Burren usually at the end of the season.

Despite its remoteness, there are a few stalwart hunting enthusiasts based nearby, particularly Damien Fahy whose wife Carol was on duty as a road marshal all day and son Trevor, with Neil Vaughan, were almost everywhere on their quad, opening and closing gates, putting wire back up and generally making sure everything went smoothly. Theirs wasn’t the only local involvement as the local doctor, the inimitable Dr John O’Dea, a veteran of the hunting field, and dispensary doctor to Ballyvaughan was hunting. He comes from a medical tradition as his father was in practice in the nearby west Clare town of Lisdoonvarna. It is said that the good doctor dispenses medicine and good sound common sense in equal measure, resulting in one of the healthiest populations to be found anywhere.

Hunt staff were first to arrive with husband and wife team at the helm, Declan Moran who has been hunting with the Clare since he was in short trousers, carries the horn. Assisting him as whipper-in is his wife Gillian, originally from Scarteen, who is generally acknowledged as one of the finest cross-country riders, either astride or side saddle to be found. Declan’s Dad, Sean, made up the party on his foot-perfect grey who knows every wall in Clare just as well as his jockey. Accompanying them was Niall O’Connell from Dromquin who runs a transport business and rarely misses a day. Patrick Considine, who was in office as whipper-in last season, has gone on to hunt the neighbouring East Clare Harriers.

As the pub began to fill, there were curious glances from the small number of foreign visitors enjoying the early spring in The Burren. Early arrivals included Brian McCarthy from Quin who was accompanied by his neighbour young Rachel Cushion, a fourth year veterinary student in distant Poland. Husband and wife team Derek Burke and Pauline were on hand and Derek is incoming hunt chairman as well being treasurer. The field-master, looking very dashing in John Peel green, was Ennis solicitor Darragh Hasset. He comes from a family steeped in horses, hunting, racing and veterinary but he has taken the legal route. He was accompanied by his brother-in-law Tony Corbett.

BEAUTIFUL SCENE

It is rare for the great outdoors to look more attractive than the embrace of a welcoming pub but Ballyvaughan was the exception to the rule. The scene on the quays was nothing short of breathtaking with Galway Bay, as calm as a ducks pond, with Galway and Salthill glistening in the distance. As if all that was not enough, the whiff of salt air was enough to make a land-lubber dizzy.

It was a field of 30 or so that made the short hack out the Galway road to the first draw at Kiologhill. With ideal going and weather to match, the field had a ball as they schooled over the pristine walls of North Clare. While they have a wall builder, he was almost redundant on day so deftly did the horses and jockeys jump without hardly rustling a stone.

From west Clare came travelling companions Karina Mescal and Louise Fitzpatrick who had a clear round all day. Hounds then crossed over to Bishops Quarter with its beach which seems to go almost all the way to the county boundary.

The Atlantic looked so inviting that hunt staff hounds and the field went in, some of them almost over the saddles. Young Anna Coffey on her good coloured cob cleverly took her feet out of the pedals, balanced delicately on the saddle and managed not to get wet. On foot were her dad and mum Joe and Martina who would normally be up front as Joe acts as amateur whipper-in.

He is recovering from a fall and hopes to get out before the end of season. Martina, in sympathy with her better half, had sportingly stood down with him.

Two real water babies were travelling companions Niall Hughes and Niall O’Dwyer both from Doolin in west Clare. Their horses were on the brink of swimming with the water lapping the seat of their saddles. Going one better was young Oisin DeBarra from Clonlara who was out with his mum Grainne. Young Oisin was so taken by the water that he slipped off his horse and swam alongside him before getting back in the plate!

GREAT JUMPING

Declan then took hounds on to draw some covert at Loughrask at the back of the thatched cottages. While there was some great jumping, Reynard was nowhere to be found. They then hacked up through village and drew on towards Aliwee caves but again, sadly Reynard was missing. At this stage as hounds were getting deeper into The Burren, local or at least knowledgeable guides proved essential. Here former hunt chairman John Horan came into his own with his favourite Jack Russell, Jacksie, to hand. If there was any gap in his topographical knowledge, it was made up by Pat Lynch who is recovering from a crushing fall at Ballinasloe fair.With the shadows drawing in, Declan blew for home.

As this is the last hunting account for the current season, we would like to thank all who made us so welcome. Above all, we would like to thank our readers who make it all possible.