THIS is the time of the year when hunts finalise their arrangements and appointments for the coming season. Tom Dempsey in the Galway Blazers, having hunted hounds for more than 20 seasons, has decided to call it a day and hand the horn over to Pat Costello who stood in for him during last season while he recovered from a fall.

Costello comes from a strong hunting tradition, his father Jimmy having hunted the Co Clare for several seasons. Meanwhile, senior master Michael Dempsey, now in his 92nd year, remains at the helm. He had carried the horn for well over 20 seasons before handing on to Tom.

Scarteen also will have a change of huntsman with the retirement of Mark Ollard who showed great sport for the last three seasons. Chris Ryan remains as senior master and hopes to hunt as often as his many other commitments allow. In-coming huntsman Raymond O’Halloran, who hunted the South Nott’s in Britain, will carry the horn for the coming season. Brought up in the heart of Scarteen country, he comes with a glowing reputation and is looked on as one of the up and coming generation of top young huntsmen.

Kildare will also have a change with the retirement of Chris Francis. Peter Cahill, who hunted the Kilkenny Foxhounds last season, steps into the role. Peter who only recently got married, grew up in a hunting background with the Coolnakilla Harriers in North Cork before spending several seasons with the Carlow Farmers.

The Kilkenny will be hunted by Mark Casserly whose previous appointment was with the Iveagh in Co. Down. The Iveagh have recruited Philip Watts who had hunted the York and Ainsty (Nth) in Britain.

CHANGES

The Island in Wexford will also see changes for the coming season with Paul Scalon’s appointment as huntsman.

Sadly there have also been changes with the Carbery in West Cork with the untimely and sudden passing of their joint-master and former huntsman, PJ O’Driscoll.

He was one of Cork’s leading solicitors and was very active in the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association.

The Carbery is probably the last of the truly private packs in Ireland having been under the control of the O’Driscoll family since 1913. Two new additions to the Carbery mastership include honorary whipper-in Mark O’Driscoll and Michael McCarthy, who has carried the horn for the last number of seasons.

Finally the Hunting Association of Ireland (HAI) will have a new chairman for the coming season. By rotation, the Irish Masters Of Beagles Association (IMBA) will hold the chair and the role will be filled by their secretary Aileen Byrne Williams of the Goldburn Beagles.