THE small village of Carrig was our Saturday venue for a meet of the historic Ormond Hounds. On the day, the meet had been conveniently located at the car park of Carrig/Riverstown GAA just off the main road. Carrig is about halfway between Borrioskane and Birr. While still in the North Riding of Tipperary, it is almost in the county of Offaly.

As we arrived at the car park, a hunt group led by treasurer Ann Ryan and assisted by Shane Dynan had a small hospitality area set up for all. Ann, who is a bank accountant in the Financial District, was up half the night as pastry chef, while Shane was in charge of producing a very decent punch. Sadly, the village no longer has a functioning pub.

Almost the first person we met was Vincent Neville from the Pike of Rushall in the county of Laois. While Vincent wasn’t riding on the day, having retired his cracking coloured mare, he was there with his son Lucas who was on the cusp of his 14th birthday. The apple falls near the tree, or so they say, and young Lucas was flying all day. They had brought a spare pony with them for the huntsman’s 10-year-old son Ruben Breen, who had a cracking day on his new mount. When not hunting or driving for Coolmore/Ballydoyle, Vincent runs Hunting Attire Ireland.

The Ormond have gathered a new joint Master since last season, who is no less than Pat Hayes, the hard-working chairman of The Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association (IMFHA). From New Two Pot House near Mallow, he is a former master of the ‘dashing’ Duhallow as well as being contemporaneously master of the Iveagh in Co Tyrone. Obviously, he brings a wealth of experience to the role.

Sadly, he was not out on the day, as he is preparing for the new anti-hunting bill in the Dáil. This, in my opinion, ill-advised bill has been introduced by left wing parties and could be very damaging to the Irish horse industry. It is important that all those involved in hunting or the greater horse industry would lobby their public representative before December 17th when it is due to be voted on.

Lucas Neville takes on the gate on his lovely pony out with the Ormond Foxhounds \ Catherine Power

New huntsman

Keith Breen has taken over as huntsman this season, having turned hounds to Oliver Ryan-Purcell for the last three or four seasons.

Happily, Oliver, who has relinquished the horn and has now assumed the role of honorary master, was hunting on the day riding a horse previously hunted with the Duhallow who was really on his toes. As always, Oliver was accompanied by Dorothy, who has also relinquished her role as kennel huntsperson.

Hounds are now being looked after by in-coming huntsman Keith, ably assisted by wife Tammy (Doyle), who, when not hunting, runs the very successful Doyle Undertakers and funeral directors in Roscrea, and daughter Jodymai.

Oliver acted as white knight and rescuer three seasons ago when the hunt was in dire need of a huntsman and has shown great sport as master and amateur huntsman since. A practising solicitor who specialises in agricultural law, he is a dyed in the wool hunting man, having had a private pack of beagles while still a teenager from his then home in Churchtown, Co Cork. However, he found the rigours of hunting hounds was not compatible with the demands of running a law practice.

No day in Ormond would be complete without an input from the Kenny family of Fairyfield farm in Ballingarry. Muriel Bowen, in her book on Irish hunting, recalls the family input where his great uncle David in 1895 contributed £25 so that the hunt could continue. From father to son, the family connection has remained and John has been chairman since 1999. Sadly, he no longer sits up; however the family were more than suitably represented with his son Graham who rides really well.

Traditional

Another traditional Ormond family represented were the Cahalans who host the very successful two-day point-to-point at their extensive farm in Ballingarry. They formerly owned that prolific racehorse Gordon Lord Byron, trained locally by Tom Hogan, who won Group 1 races in Britain and Australia.

The racing connection continues with honorary hunt secretary Jessica Cahalan, who is the new operations manager of Thurles Racecourse and is planning a bumper meeting there on Saturday, December 20th. Thurles is must be one of the oldest tracks in Ireland with racing having been first recorded as far back as 1732, even before the Ormond hunt was founded. Like all hunts, fundraising is very important and they had a very successful auction recently; that and their very successful two-day point-to-point pretty well keep the hunt afloat.

Huntsman Keith Breen is nothing if not enthusiastic. He previously hunted a private pack of harriers and has hunting ingrained in his DNA. Hunting 13 couple, almost exclusively Old English, he goes to Fergus Stokes in Clonshire when he needs an outcross. His hounds were looking terrific. Handsome is as handsome does, and they certainly hunted accordingly.

Area manager and field master for the day was Shane Dynan who, when not hunting, supervises the local social employment scheme. He was busy because there seemed to be no limit on the amount of country open to them on the day.

First draw

Hounds moved off to their first draw at the other side of the village down a long lane, which is adjacent to literally thousands of acres of bog land, some of which can be crossed.

The first draw was in Cleary’s. Hounds spoke almost immediately and our pilot was viewed away by the ever-observant Shane Dynan. Almost the first obstacle was a gate off a lane way. Fortunately, it was leaning the right way and hunt staff were closely followed by 10-year-old Lauren Woods on her good grey pony and the mother and daughter partnership of Karen and Lucy Smith from Cloughjordan who gave a great display. They are from a dairy farming family and Karen told me that she was the beginner in the hunting field, having taken it up to accompany her daughter. There was great jumping all day with a few falls, but all was well.

Hounds hunted on through McDonogh’s at Sharragh where they forded the Brosna River. Also going well was Roisin Ryan from Kinnity and Paul McClone, who runs the equestrian section in nearby Gurteen College.

We were kept in touch all day by hunt chairman John Kenny and Jimmy King who, with his son, has just taken over a sporting pub in nearby Ballingarry where hounds had their opening meet. Hounds had hunted exceptionally well all day and the future looks bright in Ormond.