History

The earliest records of the Scarteen Black and Tan hounds and the Ryan family go back to 1640 shortly after the flight of the Earls. Around 1820, Daniel O’Connell (The Liberator) disbanded his pack of Kerry Beagles and his hounds were sent to Scarteen to augment the Scarteen Pack. The Ryans of Scarteen were closely related to the O’Connells of Caherdaniel. Present master Chris Ryan, who first carried the horn back in 1986, is the eighth generation of his family to have done so.

Team

Kennels: Scarteen, Knocklong, Co Limerick

Chairman: Mr John Hourigan

Joint masters: Christopher Ryan, Shane Breen, Roger Dungworth, Mairead English, Jake Murphy, Bill Hanly, Mary Curtis

Field Master: Val O’Connell

Hon secretary and point-to-point secretary: Martin McGrath

Treasurer: Mr Richard Stapelton

Huntsman: Mr Jamie Cross

Whipper-in: Mr Frisk Jones, Mr Michael Ryan, Mr Hughie Ryan

NOW that Christmas is upon us, I thought I might take the opportunity to re-visit Scarteen for two of our most enjoyable days. Both were classics, but for totally different reasons.

First was Lattin, the Cheltenham of bank hunting. Keen bankers will have the meet pencilled in from year to year. It’s a bit of old country where there is a great welcome for the hunt year after year. Even the most modest bank of the day is of Puissance standard and, with buckets of country, it’s a red letter day even before hounds move off.

The work had been done - tea drank, farmers met, country walked - and all was set for the day. Two of our joint masters are out of action - Jake Murphy, who has had two new knees, and Mairead English, who has a horse-related ankle injury. Happily, both were out on foot and expect to be back in the saddle shortly. Sadly, Bill Hanly was missing through pressure of work, as he is one of the major players in Limerick’s property market.

A local hunt five-star breakfast kicked off the day at James and Marie Carroll’s whose three children - Jimmy, Lucy and Sarah - were all riding and going well all day.

We had but one of our joint masters out - Mary Curtis from Meath, who only joined the mastership last season. The senior master, Chris Ryan, was missing as he was on a very well-deserved holiday to visit his sister and other family in New Zealand.

For all that it was a full house and huntsman Jamie took 16 and a half couple to their first draw in Breen’s farm just by the back of the Church. While the field met the first of the really decent Lattin banks, hounds spoke and, with a holloa from former huntsman Hughie Ryan, they were away. Hughie hunted hounds with great distinction for three seasons before retiring to the back benches, but remains one of the great cross-country riders to be found anywhere.

Missing on the day was his brother Michael, who normally is one of the team up-front, but he too was enjoying a well-deserved holiday in some sunny climate. A former Olympian, he is also an outstanding cross-country rider. His eventing yard in west Cork was represented on the day by Carthach McCarthy, whose parents were also out car hunting from their base in Waterfall near Cork.

Show jumpers in the field

Hounds hunted on across the Glenbane road into Ryan’s. Hunting on the day was Paul Kennedy of Cartown House, whose late father Paul was master of the Co Limerick for many seasons. They ran for Glenbane road with the field in hot pursuit. Jumping out of Breen’s, they met a really decent Scarteen double, which has been jumped before.

Who gave a great display was Duhallow visitor Matty Jones on his good grey. He had a clear round all day and really enjoyed himself. He had come as a guest of former Scarteen MFH, who has remained a great Scarteen supporter, Mrs Kate Jarvey. She is one of the leading breeders and producers of eventers in these Islands.

Hounds hunted on parallel to the railway line towards Shronell, but with scent never more than fair, they were lucky to mark Reynard to ground near the railway. He was given best and hounds pressed on with their draw in Sean Dunne’s just off the Wash Boreen.

It couldn’t be called a fox covert proper, but it held and, with Jamie doubling the horn, hounds were away. With hounds absolutely flying as they were leaving Casey’s plantation, they met a particularly challenging trench with neither take off nor landing.

The good book talks about the 12 apostles but, in this case, there were but five who managed to cross this abyss. Of course, huntsman Jamie, ably assisted by Hughie Ryan, seemed to make little of it and after that things went downhill. Making up the five were field master Val O’Connell, whipper-in Frisk Jones and Conor Fitzgerald.

And the rest? They had an hour to relax, as hounds hunted on but not without incident. Jumping a monumental bank out of Carroll’s, our huntsman’s horse over-jumped and pulled up lame. At this stage, Jamie was already on his second horse and, as quick as a flash, Val had surrendered his chesnut and Jamie was away, hunting his quarry right into the screen at Mooresfort. Here Reynard found a welcoming shore and with hounds marking he was left.

Possibly the best draw of the day awaited in Mairead English’s farm, which has some of the best banks to be found. Hounds spoke almost immediately and a smashing dash ensued, but with failing light, scent also evaporated. At 4.30pm, Jamie reluctantly blew for home and everyone retired to Mairead’s barn for après-hunt refreshments.

Sociable outing at Friarstown Lodge

This red letter day was closely followed by a more sociable outing at our farm in Friarstown Lodge. It was our way of saying thanks to the hunt that has given us both such priceless enjoyment over the years.

It was always going to be more social than hunting and so it proved. We had two young sports people who had never hunted with Scarteen before; young Cara Foley on her pony Cody and Mia Anderton on Fizz, both from Islanmore Stud. Both young jockeys had a great day and, more importantly, a clear round.

Perhaps the highlight for us was our grandchild, young Geoffrey, who is all of two, having his first day on the 8hh Peaches. Happily, a good day was had by all and everyone seemed to go home happy.

A very happy hunting Christmas to all our hunting readers and a healthy new year.