The small village of Ballycommon is just off the motorway and nowadays almost a suburb of the county town of Nenagh. The village was absolutely buzzing as we arrived on St Stephen’s Day with horses, horseboxes and foot followers aplenty.

The North Tipperary would normally have a field of thirty plus but on the day that was in it there were closer to seventy mounted with a multiple of that on foot. Almost the first person we met, Dr Andrew Vance, former master of the North Tipperary who comes with a black type pedigree being the son of the legendary Billy Vance, long time master and huntsman of the Fermanagh Harriers. Andrew’s mother was also on hand and holding a watching brief. Andrew, owner of as estate in nearby Monygall, is a GP in the UK in the greater Manchester area.

Hunt parking was across the road from the Thatch pub which in reality is a gastro pub and a very good one at that. The pub was buzzing with hunt followers, many already in their hunting gear. Longtime supporter Colin Bravery hasn’t missed a post-Christmas meet since the 1970s and was certainly on hand.

Colin came to Ireland for a hunting weekend many years ago and wisely never went back. Another ex-pat who has found the hospitality of North Tippperary irresistible is Joe Townsend, former master and huntsman of the Hurworth in North Yorkshire. Brought up in the village of Heythrop from a non-hunting family, as a lad he got a scholarship to Gordonstoun where he was a classmate of the now King Charles. The hunting world honoured him a couple of years ago as he was nominated as judge of the Old English classes in Peterborough, a role he shared with Will Brier, formerly of the Co Limerick Foxhounds and now master and huntsman of the Beaufort

Scarlet fever

Joe as a lad learned his trade from the legendary Captain Ronnie Wallace of the Heythrop, known in the hunting world as “GOD”. Under his tutelage Joe’s hunting skills blossomed and on leaving school there was but one career for him, hunt service. On his retirement from the Hurworth and recovering from a chronic case of hunting scarlet fever and with Tony Blair in the offing, he came to North Tipperary where he has become a father figure to the hunt.

Master and huntsman Denis O’Sullivan started his hunting career in the Kingdom (of Kerry) where his father was founding chairman of the North Kerry Harriers. Despite an academic career being on offer he chose the better part to become huntsman of the Ormond Foxhounds in Offaly. On the retirement of Denis Gilmartin he was offered the position and made the inter-county shift from Offaly to North Tipperary.

There is a strong team up front with whippers-in Brian O’Slattara, Ellie Spain, Paul Seymour with Owen Seymour acting as field master. The Seymour’s are large dairy farmers in the area as well as being involved in the building trade.

Saddling bell

It was great to meet David Wilkinson at the meet on his trusty electric bike. A former master of the Tara Harriers he now lives nearby in Dromineer having retired from farming in the Royal County. While he doesn’t follow on horseback any longer, his interest is as keen as ever. Another long time supporter there to see hounds off was Niamh McCutcheon, wife of former North Tipp MFH and bloodstock breeder Peter McCutcheon whose daughter Evanna is a very well known and well respected horse trainer. But as the saddling bell sounded, our huntsman Denis with a short but sweet note on the hunting horn, declared the day started.

He took his twelve and a half couple of Old English to the first draw nearby in Albert Purcell’s farm and hounds didn’t linger too long before the third season dog Sender (by Brockelby Gusset) threw his tongue and with the pack rallying to him they soon had Reynard afoot. With the North Tipperary orchestra in full voice they hunted on but not for long as Reynard, who knew the country better than anyone, found a welcoming shore and was left.

Hounds then moved on to more Purcell land – this time a couple of stubble fields near the village. It was like a four by four convention with at least twenty jeeps on the stubble. While hounds were drawing, the field had an opportunity to school over some inviting hedges which divided the fields.

Spectacular dismount

First among the volunteers were the Clonakenny couple, Declan and Dymphna Carroll, from where we have hunted with the neighbouring Golden Vale Foxhounds. If a lead is needed over a big one, rest assured it will be Declan or Dymphna who are never found wanting. Declan when not hunting is on the ground staff of Thurles Racecourse which has been revived under the management of Jessice Cahalan, a stalwart of the neighbouring Ormond. Also out and going well were Ava Gaynor, who leaped into the new year from her grey in a spectacular dismount. Abaigail McGrath was also going well on her good coloured cob.

Former secretary Kiera Kearns and young Charlie were also playing a blinder. But perhaps the most stylish and on-going to jump was hunt secretary, Rachel O’Donovan of the Irish Farmers Journal, riding a very stylish grey. Not found wanting were Fergus O’Shea and family. Fergus is farm manager in Riggs-Miller’s farm at Tullyheady just on the Limerick side of Nenegh which hosts the Huntsman’s challenge just before Christmas. He was out with his daughter Charlie, an accountant, and his son Josh riding retired racehorse Carefully Selected who when trained by Willie Mullins won the Thyestes Chase (9/2 fav) in 2023 ridden by Paul Townend. He has brilliantly made the change from racing to hunting and has settled very well. However his life isn’t all hunting as the family make regular forays to the UK and the world of team chasing be it the Melton Ride or the Golden Button where Carefully Selected has to dig deep to stay up with the pace. On their last outing they were accompanied by Owen Seymour, Jeremy Cairns and Kiera Cairns in the team. These events are run at a scorching speed over big jumping and three miles and it takes a top class TB to be competitive.

Our pilot was obviously having a few days off for the holiday season and after a few fields found a welcoming refuge and was given best. Keeping us in touch all day was Val Cope. He seems to know the country like the back of his hand and has an instinctive knowledge of where hounds are likely to re-appear. Hounds drew on and there was some really challenging jumping with more than a few empty saddles. However, with the day winding down a refuelling stop at the Thatch seemed in order. Like the proper centre of hospitality that it is, the management had a smashing hunting supper for all those who took part.