Noel Mullins
ASHFORD Castle, a five-star hotel, is a country sports enthusiast’s dream location, and when a popular country sport like hunting takes place on such a historic country estate, then it is truly a privilege to follow hounds.
It all came together recently when the North Galway Foxhounds visited Ashford Castle on its 400 acre estate looking out on Inish Corrib View Island one of the 365 islands on Lough Corrib. Both have a rich history, as the hunt has succeeded The Bermingham and North Galway Foxhounds founded by Lady Molly Cusack-Smith and her husband Sir Dermot. The castle dates back to 1228, but much of the present structure was developed by Lord Ardalaun of the Guinness brewing family as a sporting estate, better known for its fishing, and woodcock shoots. The equestrian centre is managed by Tim Chesham providing visitors with horse riding, cross-country, and carriage drives. Visitors in the past staying in the castle included Queen Mary, Oscar Wilde, US President Ronald Regan, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, Prince Edward, John Wayne, John Lennon, George Harrison and others.
It must be a first in hunting livery as the North Galways are sporting the colours of the Galway GAA footballers of maroon with a white collar. Not sure if it would work in Kilkenny with the black and amber but who knows! It is apparently popular with the farming community as gaelic football is the most popular sport in north Galway, with St. Jarlath’s College in Tuam a nursery for county players over the years.
The hunt has invested in new kennels and huntsman Pat Kearns is assisted by his daughter Regina with the hounds in kennels and on the hunting field. A fine rider, she is a past winner of the Millstreet Derby riding Free Lilly in her last year jumping ponies in 2011.
Ashford Castle general manager Niall Rochford, who was awarded The Irish Times sponsored Hospitality Manager of the Year in 2013, entertained the visitors to mulled wine to get them started. Rochford’s two sons, James and Niall, were hunting. One of his managers, Michael Duggan, showed ponies at the Dublin Horse Show and I met his brother Tom, formerly of the Army Equitation School, a few years ago in upstate New York hunting with the Millbrook Hunt.
The youngest person to see the hunt off was nine-week old Nair Howley and her parents Macdarra and Tracy. It was a nostalgic visit for Cornelia Van Veen as her father William planted many of the trees in Ashford. Others at the meet were Noleen Shevlin Potter, Stephanie Reid, Gilbert and Lydia Gingell, Emer Curley of the Roscommon Harriers and Pat Dillon who hires horses to visitors.
Mounted were Benny Lee, Eugene Kenny, Evan Flynn, Michael Morrin, Des Joyce and his daughter Deidre. Visitors hunting were Lindsey Finch, Paul Lawless and Danielle Gingell. Other visitors were from the South Mayo Harriers, Clodagh Coakley, Mary Gibbons, David Joyce and Ashley Cullen who was having her first hunt on a horse supplied by Michael Lennon of the Westport Woods Hotel.
Ready for the off also were Brona Mooney, Owen Hanlon, P.J. Noonan, Oileann Ridge, Eleri Hope, and Lynne Ryan. Led on lead reins were nine- year-old Millie Clesham, nine-year-old Niall Rochford, and seven-year-old Cadhla Cunningham, five-year-old Jason Carr looked very content as field master Jackie Lee put him up on his smashing grey hunter.
The plan was to hunt the woods around the estate which has wonderful trail-rides and bridle paths, some stretching down to the shores of Lough Corrib. It was a leisurely day for those with little or no hunting experience, who just wanted to enjoy riding on a wonderful estate. The first draw at the back of the farmyard was one of the locations of the 1951 John Ford classic film, The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. Hounds spoke close to the School of Falconry, but with decaying vegetation, holding the line proved difficult.
The Broad Avenue lined by Monterey Pines planted by Lord Ardilaun, a keen gardener in 1840, is spectacular, and one could easily forget the purpose of the day in such a unique setting.
Kinlough Woods is in the Guinness Book of Records for the largest bag of woodcock taken in one day. Last year Ashford Castle celebrated its 75th anniversary as a hotel by recreating the famous Woodcock Shoot of 1905 which featured the then Prince of Wales who went on to become King George V. Assisting in marking the occasion was his great, great, grandson Peter Phillips and his father Capt. Mark Phillips, the former husband of Princess Anne. Later they dined on the same menu that the guests dined on over 100 years ago.
And Kinlough Woods which produced sport 100 years ago did so again on this occasion as hounds had a fox quickly away who gave the followers a fast spin through the woods, jinking right-handed in a small circle, and then left before he straightened up running all the way to the furthest point of the lake shore, and finding a nice snug spot in a stick pile.
Strandhill Wood, which runs along the hotel golf course designed by Eddie Hackett, was blank. But the followers were happy, and why not in the magnificent setting and with the thought of more good Ashford Castle hospitality waiting, so there were no delays hacking back! Many of the followers availed of a special overnight rate, with the option of having hunting livery valeted ready for the next day.
On the subject of valeting, I am reminded of an occasion when Aidan ‘Suntan’ O’Connell was staying in the Savoy Hotel in London when he wanted his red hunting tails valeted after a day with the Quorn Hounds. The valet not being familiar with hunting matters looked at Aidan’s red tails and asked, “Does Sir play in a band”!
FACTFILE
Chairman: Richard Reddington
Masters: Lar Sheeran, Tony Gannon and Padraig Kenny
Huntsman: Pat Kearns
Whips: Gabriel Slattery and Chris Corcoran
Field Master: Jackie Lee
HISTORY
The North Galway Hunt was founded in 1985. They hunt the same country as the disbanded Bermingham & North Galway Hunt originally founded by Sir Dermot and Lady Molly Cusack-Smith in 1946.