JUST outside the small village of Ballingarry on the Tipperary Offaly border lies Princess Farm which was the venue for the opening meet of the famed Ormond Foxhounds.

Our hosts were Danni Louinski and her daughter Ashling who became our guide for the day. Danni and her husband, Dr John, came to Ireland from Minnesota to hunt and never left. Danni and John were masters of the Ormond before the good doctor sadly passed away a couple of yeas ago.

It seems appropriate that one of the oldest hunts in the country would be among the first to open for the current season. The Ormond were founded almost 250 years ago by Lord Lismore who, before being raided to the peerage, had been known as Cornelius O’Callaghan.

An out and out sporting man, he had taken part in the first steeplechase from Buttevant to Doneraile where he narrowly beat his great rival, Edmond Blake. He had served as MP for Fethard and married Frances Ponsonby, a name still well known in Co Tipperary. Being an MP (particularly for Fethard) must have been a very profitable vocation as he was able to build Shanbally Castle near Clogheen, reputed to be the finest house in Ireland of its day.

More recently the Ormond could be said to have entered another golden era under the mastership of Donald Swan (the gallant Captain) who hunted hounds from 1973 to ’89.

But that was then and this is now. All thoughts of Covid or insurance difficulties were cast aside as horses and hounds gathered for the opening meet of the Ormond. Since arriving from the Kingdom of Kerry some 12 seasons ago, Denis Sullivan has shown consistently good sport. With 12 and a half couple of old English and well mounted on a new chesnut, the whole outfit looked the part.

Denis has really been assimilated into his new home as he is shortly due to get married to local teacher Olive Ryan, from Toomevara. She was out on a very smart coloured which she recently bought out of the Kildare country. A real all-rounder, she regularly does the milking on the family herd at home before heading off to school or hunting.

Romance must be in the air in the Ormond hunt country as recently appointed hunt secretary Valerie Fogarty just this week had got married to Tommy Phelan. The happy couple now live in nearby Clonakenny and really looked the part. They apologised for not having clipped for the day but allowances had to made as they had only got married a couple of days previously.

Our huntsman Denis was assisted on the day by his two amateur whippers-in and they wouldn’t have looked out of place at the opening meet of the Quorn at their traditional venue of Kirby Gate.

The two whippers-in were Keith Broderick who works with James Hanly in Ballyhimicin Stud and was riding a horse belonging to Frisk Jones. Meanwhile Mark Dunne from Roscrea, an engineering student in UL, was on the very workmanlike black with a white blaze, aptly named Guinness.

Port drank, cocktail sausages eaten it was time to mount up. The long Covid lay-off made the experience all the sweeter and hunt chairman John Kenny, on his trusted grey, was on hand to welcome all. The Kennys have been at the heart and soul of hunting with the Ormond for longer than records exist. Happily that link is as strong as ever as there were three generations mounted and not found wanting.

Chairman John, his son Graham and his three children – Scott aged 14, Abergale 13, and young Brook – making up the trio. They are all pupils of King’s Hospital and Scott, an all-round sportsman, plays hockey for Leinster. The Kenny children were further supported by their granny, Linda, and their mum Sandy.

There were no less than two joint-masters visiting on the day Oliver Ryan-Purcell of Scarteen and Dr Andrew Vance of Nth Tipperary. Making up their travelling party were Aaron Eliston Jones of Moneygall and Oliver’s better half Dorothy – whose smile would brighten even the darkest day!

The statutory hunt photos were taken on the lawn at Princess Farm before move off to the first draw at Cahalan’s farm nearby. The Cahalan family, like their neighbours, the Kennys, are steeped in the hunt and host the famous two-day point-to-point on their farm every year. So successful has it become that it is now the main fundraiser every season.

Morgan of course was on hand as was daughter Jessica (until recently hunt secretary) and David, on his quad, who is meet manager. A short hack led to the first draw and some welcome jumping. This part of Tipperary is mainly fly fences, many of them hunt jumps, but with going and galloping to die for. It was really top of the ground and once the field got into those really big point-to-point fields, all thoughts of Covid and other nasties were blown away as the field galloped on.

The Cahalans are a most sporting family and they were privileged to own that very special horse Gordon Lord Byron. Brilliantly trained by Tom Hogan, he took them to Hong Kong five times, Australia, Dubai, Qatar, and France. The remarkable performer, winner of three Group 1s in three different countries and on two continents, was one of the most popular flat campaigners of recent times and took connections on a rags-to-riches journey, having been purchased for just €2,000 as a foal.

During a 108-race career with lifetime winnings of more than €2.1 million, Gordon Lord Byron recorded 16 victories and still held a lofty rating of 105 even at the age of 12. Sadly the great campaigner died on the gallops last year but his place in the record books looks secure.

For all that, Cahalan’s was blank and hounds crossed the main road into Browns where the first drama of the day ensued with a fall by young Theresa Larkin resulting in a suspect broken wrist. Happily her dad Michael was on hand and Tullamore Hospital was their next port of call. Hounds drew on back into Cahalan’s farm which held a fox but he was more than reluctant to leave the hospitable covert and was left.

Jumping into Stanley’s magnificent farm at Lisbrien, there was a really decent fly fence which caused more than a few problems but father and daughter team of Richard Hayes and Natasha gave a great display. Likewise the O’Meara family team of Kevin and daughter Katlyn took it in style. Lisbrien was originally a Bunbury property whose family are closely associated with the Derby. Sir Charles Bunbury won the very first running of the world’s greatest race with Diomed in 1779, by co-incidence the very year the Ormond Hunt was founded.

It was first season hound Patriot, whose pedigree goes back to Brosna Ton-Ton, who opened on a fine dog fox in Stanley’s cover and some smashing woodland hunting followed. The field and foot followers were treated to hound music at its best but eventually scent petered out and with weather really bearing in, our huntsman blew for home. A great start – let it continue!