DUHALLOW Foxhounds’ opening meet at Kilbrin provided the backdrop for a very special occasion. Dr Jack Bourke, the long-time GP and dispensary doctor in Newmarket, Co Cork, recently celebrated his 100th birthday having hunted with the Duhallow for 92 seasons.

Duhallow decided to mark the occasion by presenting the good doctor with a collage of photos recording his days in the hunting field. One showed him as a recently qualified doctor during the war hunting from a meet at Kilbrin.

The presentation was made by hunt chairman Pat Fleming from Liscarroll along with joint-masters Kate Jarvey and Peter O’Meara.

Born and reared in Ardsolous near Kanturk, Dr Bourke’s first recorded hunting day with the Duhallows was in 1927 when he was just aged eight, from a meet at Bannagh Cross, only to be followed the next week at Ballyheen Piers. Hounds would then have been hunted by Capt Sheppard of Doneraile. In later years, the doctor established a private pack of foot beagles which he kennelled near his dispensary.

Dr Jack saw practice in the UK during the war before returning as locum to Dr Hedderman in Croom, Co Limerick. He is remembered by locals going on his calls on horseback as petrol was almost unattainable in those dark days. In due course, he came back home and put up his own plate in Newmarket where his son John now carries on the practice. He married the late Daphne while in the UK. She had strong hunting connections being a niece of the famed Merle Athkinson of the Co Limerick Foxhounds.

Famed for his skill as a diagnostician, Dr Bourke practised well into his later years. He was accompanied on the day by his son John, sister Noelle Joyce, grandchildren Pia and Evane and niece Catherine O’Flynn who is hunt treasurer. Presentation over, he reluctantly went home in the afternoon after second horses.