PORTER’S Saddlery, Dungarvan, was our venue with the Kilkenny Foxhounds last Friday. Saturday would be their normal day but, to avoid a clash with racing at Gowran Park, they wisely brought their meet forward to Friday, hunting it as a bye-day.

Google had to be consulted as to the location, because I associated Dungarvan with the popular seaside town in Waterford. However, our venue was in the heart of Kilkenny, approximately half an hour from the city and not far from Gowran.

It was one of our longer journeys, requiring an early morning start, but then a day with the Kilkennys is always special. We felt like Marjorie Quarton, who titled her book on the old horse fairs ‘Breakfast the Night Before’.

They have a new huntsman this season, Jamie Walsh, who has been hunting in England for the last 10 years. For all that he is true black and amber, having been brought up in nearby Thomastown, where his family farm and run that well-known hostelry, The Salmon Leap.

The Walshes are Thomastown born and bred, and the pub lease goes back to 1701, long before the McCalmonts set foot in Mount Juliet. I first met Jamie when, as a lad, he was amateur whipper-in to Charlie Gundry for a joint meet at Goresbridge with the Scarteen Hounds. I recall it was a cracking day and young Jamie was not found wanting. Nothing has changed, other than he has now become a top-class professional huntsman. He still brings the same good humour and enthusiasm to his role, and obviously enjoys and feels very privileged to be hunting the county pack. Turning hounds to him this season is young Edward Clewes, who first hunted with the Atherstone, before moving on as whipper-in to the Flint and Denbeigh. Sadly, the Atherstone are now defunct with their country being hunted by the Quorn and others. Hounds were hunted last season by the veteran Neill Simpson, who had come out of hunting retirement to keep the show on the road. By general agreement, he did a great job with many red letter days. Turning hounds to him was Simon Probin, who had formerly hunted the Tipperary Foxhounds with distinction. Simon was hunting at Porter’s with his better half, Brigid Neill.

A proper saddlery

Porter’s is a proper saddlery. Not only will they sell you proper reins, but when your horse stands on them and breaks them, they will repair them and make them as good as new. Saddlers who do repairs are becoming an endangered species. It was a jolly occasion in Porter’s kitchen, with all kinds of good things on offer from hosts Simon and Ann, only enhanced by the very distinctive environment.

Almost all the joint masters were there, the only absentee being Lt Col Tom Freyne of McKee Barracks and the army equitation school. He was on commentary duty for Al Shaqab in Doha, Qatar.

New to the ranks this year is Curragh trainer, Ken Condon. Originally from Duhallow, he enjoys considerable success from his yard at Osborne Lodge. His fellow joint-masters are Ben Goodbody from Tipperary and engineer George Frisby, a former master of the Kilmogannys. Senior master, who rarely misses a day, is Joe O’Flynn. Joe is a natural diplomat and he fills the role of the eminence grise of hunting in Kilkenny. Always beautifully turned out and well-mounted, he is the man to follow if you are up to it when hounds really run. The Kilkennys were the first county pack in Ireland, founded back in 1797 by Sir John Power of Ballyhale. Sadly, I can’t establish any family relationship with the distinguished foxhunting Baronet.

https://foto.ifj.ie/fotoweb/archives/5006-Irish-Horse-World/Irish%20Horse%20World/2020/C1%20(5).jpg.info#c=%2Ffotoweb%2Farchives%2F5006-Irish-Horse-World%2F%3Fq%3Dsean%2520rafter

Sean Rafter crossing the country with style \ Catherine Power

The field

There were two visitors from the Laois who, of course, don’t hunt on Fridays. They were Louise Thompson and Andrew White, both of whom were out at our day from Scotchrath, where we were the guests of the very sporting Lionel Foot and family.

The equine veterinary profession were well represented by former secretary of the Equine Veterinary Association Catherine Dwan, and by Fethard Equine’s David Halley. The apple falls near the tree, and David has obviously inherited the hunting and veterinary genes from his dad, John, who was MFH of the Limerick Foxhounds for many seasons. I distinctly remember taking a challenging lead from him one red letter day from a meet at Croom. The Halleys operate Ireland’s leading equine veterinary hospital from their farm outside Fethard, where all the specialists who would be found in a human teaching hospital are on the staff.

On foot, we had former honorary secretary and distinguished author Caroline Corballis, whose book Foxhunting in County Kilkenny is the standard by which all other hunt histories must be judged. Not only is it the definitive history of hunting, but it also is an excellent social history of Kilkenny. Also out was former chair, Judith Brown. Current chairman, the eminent jurist and distinguished barrister, Sean Rafter, was out, with his wife Nicola on foot. Sean, as always beautifully mounted, was looking the part. Since taking the chair, he has done tremendous work modernising the administration of the pack.

Johnny Dicker, on the quad, was acting as hunt countryman. He must know every blade of grass in Kilkenny as master and huntsman of the Rockview Harriers, who hunt on foot and recently featured in the pages of Horse and Hound, as recalled by Liam Clancy. Hunting-wise, Johnny would have a very good page indeed, being a son of Rory and Mary Dicker. Rory, a former master of the Laois and Kilmoganny, founded the Rockview Harriers, which he kennelled at his home in Stonyford.

Great sport

All too soon, the saddling bell was sounded and, with the statutory photos taken in Porter’s yard, hounds moved off to their first draw just at the other side of the small village of Dungarvan.

With our daughter Joan as our chauffeur, we were fortunate to have former field master Nicholas Lambert as our very able guide. Tommy Bolger and Niall Brennan were area managers, and they had their work well done, as there was a great welcome for the hunt everywhere they went.

They drew some stubble belonging to John Farrell, where they got a pipe opener. It was all our field master David Dempsey could do to keep order. They got some grand hedge jumping on the stubble, with the field led by ever-debonaire Joe O’Flynn, and Louise Thompson and Emma Carton hot on his heels.

Hounds then drew around Tullahern round tower, where our guide Nicholas was temporarily put in charge of one of the hunt horses. He sat up and cantered on in style. Much admired by Ken Condon, Nicholas will probably be riding the first lot on the Curragh next week!

As they were drawing Eamonn Lanan’s, they encountered some seasonal flooding. Crossing it, Brigid Neill took up swimming and was totally drenched.

Hounds drew on towards Vincent Lalor’s outfarm, where they found and hunted on to Sugarstown, before crossing the Dublin road. But shadows were lengthening and, with evening well-advanced and horses having plenty done, our huntsman blew the sweetest note of the day, the slow and lingering ‘Going Home’.

It was a most enjoyable day for all and obviously the new huntsman has found his feet well and is showing great sport. Long may it continue!