FOR more than 30 seasons, the Laois Foxhounds have been making their annual pilgrimage south to Pallaskenry to jump the west Limerick walls and hunt with the famed Stonehall Harriers, now hunting into their second century. At this stage, the visit is listed in the sporting almanacs and has become a real fixture.

In the intervening years, much has changed, but what has remained constant is that the expedition is still led by David Lalor MFH, who has been master since 1992, a staggering 34 seasons, and he still crosses the country with dash and colour.

Their host then and now is the distinguished physicist Dr Pat Meehan, a Laois man by birth but now living in west Limerick, where he is a pedigree Angus breeder as well as being a senior physics research fellow in his old Alma Mater, Limerick University.

His family are equally academic; his eldest daughter Sorcha is a radiologist, while her sister Cliodhna is a dentist and third sister Grainne is an architect.

A dedicated foxhunter on his trusted coloured (or as we would call it in Limerick, a batty), he rarely misses a day with Stonehall, while still having an occasional day back with Michael Comerford and the Laois Foxhounds.

Almost 30 had made the trip south, led of course by David, with Lionel Powell riding another Lalor horse. Among the group that travelled were Portlaoise solicitor Billy White and his son Andrew, father and son team Jim Kelly and Oisin from Rosenallis, Louise Thomson and Kevin Brennan, who works with the Dept of Agriculture. Also there were event rider Katie Wrest and Lindsey Graham.

This year was a first for Scarteen, but a link has been formed, as former Stonehall huntsman Jamie Cross now wears the Scarteen livery, having taken the horn this season. Also out was his better half Selina, in ‘terra familiaris’ as she grew up in Stonehall, and who is now completing her PhD in psychology and working in one of the major teaching hospitals.

Joining Jamie from Scarteen for the day was his whipper-in Frisk Jones, who was out with his better half Helen. Frisk has now been amateur whipper-in for more than 10 seasons and is recognised as one of the great cross-country riders to be found. When not hunting, he and Helen lead the team which runs the all-conquering Ballyhimikin Stud in Nenagh, who regularly top the elite yearling sales.

https://foto.ifj.ie/fotoweb/archives/5006-Irish-Horse-World/Irish%20Horse%20World/2020/St1.jpg.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5006-Irish-Horse-World%2F%3Fq%3Dhelen%2520jones

Helen Jones crossing the country with style with the Stonehall Harriers \ Catherine Power

Team Scarteen

Making up team Scarteen were young Harry Clohessy, Dermot and Camilla O’Halloran and former hunt secretary Triona Fitzpatrick, whose turnout is always copybook. Sadly, Triona’s better half and joint master Jake is recovering from knee surgery and was out on foot. A Scarteen family group out to enjoy the walls were Jude Curtin with his daughters, Sinead and Lisa, and all had a clear round

As always, the day kicked off with a hearty hunting breakfast, and the eminent physicist and his wife Ann provided everyone with enough breakfast fare to kit out an arctic expedition.

Not forgetting our host hunt, The Stonehalls, who hunt a country between the Shannon Estuary and the Adare-Limerick road. They have a new huntsman since last season on the appointment of Jamie to Scarteen.

Their new huntsman is Stephen Daly, who was very much part of team Stonehall for the last couple of seasons. An electrician by trade, he works with one of Ireland’s major electrical firms, but it leaves him free to hunt hounds on Saturdays. He has fitted in to his new role with enthusiasm, but he is only a recent equestrian, having hunted on foot up to last season. However, he is young and extremely fit and has taken to the saddle with relish. He is riding a horse provided by Paudie Hanrahan, who knows what it’s about and the pair get through the country pretty well.

Field master on the day and every day is David Moran, a consummate horseman and son of the late Michael Moran, who was something of a legend as a cross-country rider. The late Michael and his wife Jill were serious show jumpers and represented their country on several occasions. David was out with his family, Ashling and Denise, both Agricultural Science students, and Libby, who is studying Home Economics

Meanwhile, his brother Brian was a winner of the Maryland Hunt Cup in 2002 on Young Dubliner, that famous timber race run every spring by the Green Spring Valley Hunt. In 1922, Worthington Valley became the permanent home of the iconic four-mile, 22-fence race.

Hunt action

By degrees, the action moved to the Shanpallas Castle, which is located in our hosts’ farm yard. Steeped in history, it was established by the Fitzgerald family, now known as the Knight of Glin.

Making up the whips roster on the day was Mark Siney, originally from Laois but who has really settled in to Stonehall, Timmy Hanley Jnr, Tadgh Hanley and Paudie Hanrahan. Holding a watching brief was Stonehall master, John Finucane, whose family are steeped in all that is Stonehall. He hunted hounds with distinction for many seasons, having taken the horn in 1997.

First draw

Photographs taken, hounds moved on to their first draw at the Castle of Dromore, no more than 10 minutes hack from the castle. This Gothic-style ruin was built by Edward Perry, Earl of Limerick, as recently as the mid-1800s. Designed by Goodwin, the leading architect of the day, it almost broke the Perry family and was only lived in for about 20 years, before it was abandoned to the elements and had its roof removed to avoid rates.

Hounds spoke almost immediately and the field and foot-followers were treated to some marvellous woodland hunting. The castle is owned by Daragh Kelly and the family were represented on the day by young Aaron, who had done trojan work in putting up hunt jumps in the woodland surrounding the castle. Going well were hunt secretary, Ann Cregan, out with her children, Dylan and Jessica. When not hunting, Ann is one of Ireland’s leading agricultural consultants.

Reynard was halloaed away by the ever-vigilant Mark Siney. Hounds hunted on towards Bleach Lough before crossing the road back into Meehan’s.

Here they got some smashing wall jumping and going well was the veteran PJ Dore, who was out with his grandson, young Jack, who is one of the upcoming champion show jumpers. Hounds pressed on to Cartown, the home of the Kennedy family. The trip wasn’t without incident, as Peter Dundon went beagling for a field or two.

The late Paul Kennedy was for many years master and field master of the Co Limerick FH and his wife Dr Jane, one of Limerick’s leading clinicians, was just back from riding out as hounds arrived. Her son Paul, who runs a show jumping yard, was missing as he was visiting his brother John, who runs Coolmore Australia.

Our pilot was marked to ground just as hounds neared Cartown and they drew on through the many good coverts with which Cartown abounds. Hound drew on and spoke several times, but so dense are the Cartown coverts that they could not dislodge Reynard.

Eventually, our huntsman blew for home and those who had breakfasted at Meehan’s returned for supper and an impromptu horn-blowing competition. Both locals and visitors had a most enjoyable day and have already pencilled in the day for next year’s outing.