History

Founded around 1820, they were originally known as the Grove Foxhounds from where they were hunted by William Barton of wine fame. They were then taken on by Henry Marquess of Waterford, who hunted them for several seasons from what is now Rockwell College. They really entered their golden era under the mastership of Evan Williams, who won the last peacetime Grand National on Royal Mail, to be followed by Michael Higgins, who showed such marvellous sport for over 20 seasons hunting hounds four days a week and never missing a day.

Officers

Joint masters: Aidan Fogarty, Jamie Heffernan, Paul O’Dwyer

Chairman: Sean Brett

Honorary secretary: Ashling Fitzelle

Hunt treasurer: James Reilly

Huntsman: Gavin Shorten

Field master: Aidan Fogarty, Jamie Heffernan, Paul O’Dwyer

Whipper-in: James O’Donnell

BANK holiday Monday has now become a permanent feature on our hunting calendar, as by custom and tradition it has become established as the opening meet of the ‘gallant’ Tipperary Foxhounds.

This has become established since Henry DeLaPoer Beresford, third Marquess of Waterford, hacked on with his hounds from Rockwell to meet under the shadow of the medieval walls of Fethard. These walls are still intact since Oliver Cromwell (The Lord Protector) laid siege to the town in 1650. The burgesses wisely sued for peace and the walls and the town were spared.

Elite thoroughbreds are now the lifeblood of Fethard, as it is the home of the world’s leading stud, the legend that is Coolmore. The stud and its owners, the Magnier family, are great supporters of the gallant Tipps and the extensive Coolmore land is available to hounds - even Coolmore itself, which hosts a lawn meet just after Christmas.

While much remains the same since last season, the hunt has now found three new joint masters.

Three very sporting hunting men have stepped forward to take on the demanding role of MFH. These are not outsiders but stalwarts of the Premier county, led by field master and former National Hunt jockey Aidan Fogarty, with Paul O’Dwyer of Fethard and Jamie Heffernan, whose partner is Ashling Fitzelle - the hard-working hunt secretary.

Jamie has a proper blacktype pedigree, as he is son of leading flat jockey Seamie Heffernan, who has ridden more classic winners than anyone from Tipperary. Seamie started his racing career with Jim Bolger and spent many years at Ballydoyle, where he rode a cricket score of Group and classic winners. His services as a freelancer are still very much in demand. There was a great dash of colour under the sombre town walls, as the three new MFHs were all in dashing pink.

Looking spick and span in best opening meet tradition was huntsman Gavin Shorten, now in his 15th season and hunting 14 and a half couple bred on modern lines. Gavin comes from west Limerick, where his family stood a couple of sport horse stallions. Turning hounds to him was James O’Donnell, while he is amateur but professionally trained with Hugh Robards in Limerick. When not hunting, James works in Coolmore and farms nearby. Recently joined the team is Darragh Byrne, an event rider from Meath, but who now works out of his eventing yard in nearby Killenaule.

Tipperary faithful

Among the first people we met were James Reilly, who is the current hunt treasurer and his dad Peter now retired from that daunting office. Both father and son are practising solicitors and are looked on as the premier county’s leading jurists and, while James was riding, Peter on foot was holding a watching brief.

It was great to meet many of the Tipperary faithful, such as John Halley MRCVS, former master of the Co Limerick who, as I write, would be in Keeneland with team Ballydoyle looking after the peerless Benvenuto Cellini, who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf for Aidan O’Brien.

Aidan Fogarty MFH and Field master leads the field over Halley’s bank with the Tipperary Foxhounds \ Catherine Power

Team Halley were well represented with his three sons out. Jack runs Hayes’ historic Hotel in Thurles; Josh runs the farm as well as holding a trainer’s licence; and David (MRCVS) is a leading clinician in their equine veterinary hospital at home on their farm just outside town. In addition, David’s five-year-old daughter Sophie was out on her pony.

As always, the Ronan family were well represented with former MFH Jack out with his son Sean on foot leading young Charlie. Sadly, his joint-master and cousin Paul was very much missed, as he passed away since last opening meet when he gallantly sat up and hunted until three o’clock, which proved to be his last hunting day. However, his daughter Kim was out with her husband Shane Harris. Kim has now joined the top table as vice chair.

Packed field

However, we were there to hunt and, just after the appointed time with a short note on the horn, Gavin declared the day and the season open. With over 70 mounted, it made an impressive sight as they hacked out to the north Gate, where they paused for the statutory photo.

First draw was on hand just outside town on some Halley land running down to the Clashawley River, which is a tributary of the Suir. With the covert brimming with foxes, hounds opened almost immediately with the hunted fox being viewed away by the ever-vigilant Josh Halley. Our pilot ran for the Cashel Road and was marked to ground in Houlihan’s and given best.

Hounds then went on and drew the Doctor’s fort, which was blank. There is never a shortage of suitable draw from Fethard and hounds drew on through Halley’s farm with a selection of hunt jumps throughout. For all that, foxes were scarce and, before they left the holy ground, they jumped a wall with almost as many spectators as might view the RDS puissance wall.

Everyone had a clear round, but who jumped it with particular dash was the veteran Pat Fitzell, father of hunt secretary Ashling. Another performance that cannot go unheralded was put in by Tania Rafter from North Kilkenny, who is mother to joint-master Jamie Heffernan. Of course, she comes laden with blacktype having been an apprentice and a very useful jockey back in the day at Jim Bolger’s.

They then went on to draw McGarry’s opposite the sand pit, which is a sure find and didn’t disappoint. Our pilot set his mask for Ann’s Gift, running first through Rocklow, the former home of Paul Ronan. Those who have hunted Fethard will recall a really decent and challenging bank from Power’s wood into Ann’s Gift.

Well, it claimed its usual quota of fallers, but all happily were able to remount and continue. Ann’s Gift is just a fabulous property and is now the home of MV Magnier and family. Hounds hunted on through O’Dea’s and O’Donnell’s before marking in O’Donnell’s.

With the day pushing on and an awful lot of stock out, our huntsman wisely blew for home. However, the day was not quite over, as the final draw was McCarthy’s hostelry on main street, where Jasper and his staff is a sure find. If you intend to have a season or even a day with the Tipps, make sure your horse is fit!