WHEN Mickey Flanagan went to God on January 3rd 2019, it had been 30 years since he had crossed Tipperary as first whipper-in to the Tipperary Foxhounds. He was known the length and breadth of the Tipperary country for his 40 years and more service to the hunt. He served four masters, all of whom hunted their own hounds. His career in hunt service began as a teenager in kennels during the mastership of the legendary Mrs. Masters who had kept hunting going throughout World War II. His appointment as whipper-in was noted in 1951.

He continued and prospered under Captain Evan Williams (1953-72), A.G. Ryan (1972-73) and Michael R.C. Higgens (1973-91). He knew the Tipperary country like the back of his hand. Hounds in his care always looked well and performed better. During his long service, he had occasion to hunt hounds only rarely but still managed to show some very good sport when he did carry the horn. One day under Evan William’s mastership, hounds hunted from Kiltinane Barracks to Kilnockin Hill – a distance of some five miles (closer to seven as hounds ran). During Michael Higgen’s mastership, he had no opportunity to show his ability for his master, not missing a day in nearly 20 years.