Santa Claus

NONE other than Santa Claus will be in attendance at tomorrow’s (Sunday) Ballymacad Children’s Chrismas Meet and Show event. It will be held at Sallymount House, Fore, Co Westmeath, at 1pm. Santa will be there at 2.30pm to meet all the boys and girls and this event is aimed at lead rein and beginners.

Deer stalking course

COUNTRYSIDE Alliance Ireland are hosting a Deer Stalking Course Level 1 from March 3rd - 5th 2017 at Ballmena and the practical sessions will be held on Blakiston Houston Estates at Altarichard.

The intensive course costs £290 and leads to a DMQ Deer Stalking Certificate 1 qualification.

Aimed at those with a professional interest, it could also make an unusual but very welcome Christmas present for the right person!

Sore heads

BY all accounts, the joint Christmas party held by the North Galway Hunt Club and the South Mayo Harriers last Saturday night in the Westport Woods Hotel, was a great fun night out, albeit with plenty of sore heads the next morning. The party was held after the hunt which also left from the hotel.

Hunting popularity

WITH no fewer than 120 registered hunts in Ireland between foxhounds, harriers and staghounds, to say nothing of the private foot packs, hunting in Ireland has never been more popular.

At the helm is chairman of the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association, David Lalor, who has been garnering national headlines recently underlining the popularity of the rural way of life in Ireland. Well said David!