PASSING through Kilcoole on my way to the Bray Harriers meet, I saw a sign for Glenroe, the location of the Irish rural TV soap series (1983-2001) on RTE, which was compulsive viewing at the time, and which many are probably too young to remember. I recall Miley’s (Tom Lally) catchphrase ‘Well Holy God’ and Dinny (Joe Lynch), ‘Boys oh Boys’, and Biddy’s (Mary McEvoy) initial observation on her future husband, ‘Looks a bit of a gom’!

The hunt had just had a mid-term hack early in the season for children at Glendalough Estate, which was an outstanding success. The meet was at Coldross Farm off Leabeg Lane in County Wicklow, an area also known as The Garden of Ireland, as the scenery is so picturesque.