Hunt history

The Meaths trace their roots back to Mr Nicholson’s Clongill Hunt in 1723, before Mr Pollock and Mr Gerrard formed a pack that became the Meath Hunt about 1813.

Hunt details

Chairman: Pat Dillon

Masters: Dr Cathal Cassidy and Niall O’Regan

Huntsman: Kenny Henry

Whipper-In: Barry Finnegan

Field Master: Norman Williamson

Honorary secretary: Karl Smyth

Honorary treasurer: Lisa Sheridan

EVERY time I look across the picturesque Boyne Valley, I think of that great huntsman and author Willie Poole, who I had the pleasure of meeting some years ago. He remarked, “There is no landscape that can’t be enhanced by a pack of hounds’, and sure enough that picture came to life when I spent a day following the Meath Foxhounds high up on the Hill of Skryne. If you don’t know where it is, just look at the Guinness TV advertisement and you will see the snow-covered O’Connell’s Bar and, appropriately, a fox makes an appearance in the same advert.

There are two comfortable pubs on the hill, Mrs O’s (as it is known) and Declan and Irma Fox’s Bar. Declan hunts with the Ward Union Hunt and, on the walls of both pubs, there are images of hunting and horse racing. Standing at the crossroads any day of the week, you will see a succession of horseboxes from all the well-known local trainers going to Jessica Magnier’s gallops - especially before a big race meeting.

The Henry family have had a long association with the Meath Hunt, with Johnny Henry joining the hunt as a 14-year-old and serving a remarkable 50 seasons as whipper-in and huntsman. His son John took over from him and, for the last number of years, has shared the role with his brother Kenny, who is the sole huntsman at the moment. John, who previously hunted the pack, is still a vital member of the team, having driven the hunt lorry with horses and hounds to the meet, and he also has a close association with the farming community. I have an image of Kenny’s days at school when the teachers asked him what he would like to work at when he leaves school. I would say they were under no illusion as he would say repeatedly, a huntsman, and there was no way of changing his mind.

Masters and Hunt Staff

The masters are Dr Cathal Cassidy, who is a former master of the South Tyrone and also hunted in New Zealand when he was on a posting there. Niall O’Regan was one of the people who initiated the novel idea of the Meath Hunt Derby, which was such a success on a permanent course at the Kennels. He also rescued the silver cup that a former master and huntsman John Watson (1891-1908) presented for the 1892 Puppy Show, when he discovered it for sale in an auction house. In the meantime, he had it restored and it is now presented to the winner of the Open Competition of the Hunt Derby. They are hosting a Gentleman’s Day on Saturday, February 7th, in Kilbride and two Children’s meets, plus a Ladies’ Day on Tuesday, February 17th in Carnaross. They also ran with a novel idea of a Hunting Afternoon last October.

The field master is Norman Williamson, who consigns horses for sale from his Oak Tree Farm. What better rider could you get to lead the field, as he rode more than 1,200 winners over fences, including 30 Grade 1s, and is one of the select few to ride the winner of the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup in the same year? His son Josh is clocking up the winners riding out of Gordon Elliott’s yard and his daughter Carla has had outstanding success, being crowned 2025 Junior National Champion (EI 110) and earning a number of European Championship medals.

The hunt’s professional whipper-in is Barry Finnegan, a fine horseman who goes about his business in a quiet way and is always in the right place, riding wide or bringing on any backmarkers. Hunt staff are immaculately turned out as indeed are their horses and hounds, looking a picture of fitness as they have the best of preparation during Autumn hunting and are well-muscled with fine coats.

Emily MacMahon with Meath joint masters Niall O'Regan and Dr Cathal Cassidy at the Meath Foxhounds meet at Skryne \ Noel Mullins

Followers

There was a huge number of young followers hunting, all on immaculately turned out ponies, too many to name. Hunting also were Thomas and James Tuite, who are key members of the Meath team, and also Tamara Kenny and Ethel Garrigan and her daughter Hollie. Ethel’s late father Aidan was honorary whipper-in of the Meaths for many years. He is still remembered with affection as a great man across country on his exceptional hunters, Pebbles and Lambert, with fellow whipper-in Michael ‘Speedy’ O’Rourke during the time when Johnny Henry, the present huntsman’s father, hunted the Meaths.

Emily MacMahon was on a smashing hunter; she is a bloodstock adviser, has ridden more than 35 point-to-point winners, is a pinhooker and prepares horses for sales. She has also won the Showing Pathways Series Final for Racehorse to Riding Horse with Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River. Her father was Lt Col Ronnie MacMahon, whose home Lambardstown was the birthplace of what we know now as the Future Event Horse Series. He was a former rider and Commanding Officer of the Army Equitation School, who rode in the 1972 Olympics in Munich and the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. He was second in Badminton and fourth in the World Championships on San Carlos, owned by Sir John Galvin - whose son Sean was master of the Meaths 1981-93. Ronnie was also a founding member of Riding for the Disabled.

One regular missing was Nikki Potterton, chairman of Eventing Ireland, who is temporarily sidelined having had hip surgery. Also following were Adrian Sheridan, Gracie May Cary, Lisa Sheridan, Marita Dunne and her daughters Hayden and Rosita, who was second in the Starter Stakes at the Dublin Horse Show on her 12.2hh pony O’Gara. Although only 11 years old, this is her seventh season hunting and, on the day, she was riding her four-year-old pony Hugo. Following the action too were Billy Bligh, whose daughter Sarah was not hunting on the day, Mick Cromwell, Brian McGovern, Kenneth O’Regan, Alan Reilly who previously hunted the Louth Hounds, Brian Casserly, Tossie O’Brien and Tony Coyle, who is always in the right place when tracking hounds with his daughter Katie.

Hunting

The Meaths have had some great days, particularly in Garadice and The Snail Box. The huntsman had 17 ½ couple of Modern hounds hunting and it was a slow start as the huntsman drew multiple coverts and they were all blank, but he kept the followers crossing country. You have to admire a huntsman for perseverance and never giving up, as at 1.30pm there was the welcome sound of hounds speaking as they found near Rathfeigh Church. We could hear their voices as they ran the length of Rathfeigh Valley. Scent was patchy, but the lead hounds stuck to the task until our pilot reached the high ground. We had a better sighting, as he passed by a wire fence, of a real dark fox who was in no hurry as he knew hounds had to work hard to keep in contact.

There was a magnificent chorus as more of the pack joined in and we could see that he circled right away from the road. He must have changed his mind as he turned left-handed and crossed the Rathfeigh Road and in a line towards The Snail Box Bar and Restaurant - a popular venue for hunt and racing followers in the area. Then he turned left-handed and in a line towards the Ashbourne Road. With the pack by now hunting hard, we could hear the huntsman blow the horn to stop them and the pack momentarily lifted their heads and checked. Tony Coyle and his daughter Katie were already, as usual, in the right place ahead of the pack and the huntsman did a quick count with all hounds on, he blew for home after a cracking run. It was a great example of a huntsman drawing on all his experience and his hunting skills, persevering when conditions were difficult, trusting his hounds and getting a successful result, and going home with a happy group of followers.