PASSING through Gorey in Co Wexford on the way to The Island Foxhounds’ meet, I spotted Tomas Funge’s shop. It reminded me of one of the family, Paul (1944-2011) who I knew well, a larger than life character who was described as a well-known artist, cultural impresario and lecturer. Paul was also a literary figure and the driving force behind The Gorey Arts Festival that hosted many national and international A-listers. He founded a magazine named The Gorey Detail, which I always thought was a clever name for a paper!

The meet was down the road at The One for the Road Bar in Ballycanew, which is run by Alan Flood, but is owned by Ciaran ‘large bottle’ Doyle who was hunting. There was only standing room in the pub such were the numbers hunting and following that you could feel the energy of this close-knit group.

A party of 15 Belgians visitors with 12 hunting were looking the worse for wear having had a late night or should I say an early morning session. They have been visiting The Island for over 30 years and Maurice Cousins of Barnadown Equestrian Centre was managing the hirelings. They had a racing car driver over the last time who had never ridden a horse. He hunted and remarkably had a clear round!

Maurice Cousins and Morgan O’Connor were the meet managers. After a few drinks in the pub, they went up to joint-master PA Walsh and his wife Deirdre’s home for refreshments. There was a great chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ for joint-master Ted Nolan who was celebrating an important birthday but nobody knows what age he is so PA Walsh lit one token candle!

PA’s son-in-law is horse trainer Colm Murphy and Colm’s wife Louise were serving refreshments. It’s a wonderful facility and Colm keeps broodmares and young stock on the farm which also has an indoor schooling facility.

Huntsman and Masters

The hunt staff line-up has many of that former crack Killinick Harriers front row team that I saw in action many times over the years. Huntsman Paul Scallan and whippers-in Johnny Murphy and Albert Whitehead are three of the most talented horsemen that every crossed the Irish countryside. There was always competition even up front with the hunt staff in Killinick and I remember master and huntsman John Stafford, with hounds screaming away on front, trying to get to a five-bar gate before Paul Scallan who was whipping-in.

However, Paul rode for Ballydoyle and had led the whole way on Sholokhov in the Irish Derby in 2002, just edged into second place by stable companion High Chaparral and Michael Kinane, so he was more familiar with race-riding tactics. There was just centimetres between himself and Stafford as they jumped the gate upsides! I also saw Paul win the first Antler Challenge by a distance on a former point-to-pointer Los Galacticos and he was third in the Golden Button challenge.

Albert Whitehead and his father George send out a string of young horses every year as they are expert at making them, as is Johnny Murphy. Paul was on a hunter by Cruising Micky Finn and Johnny was on another of Paul’s by Sligo Candy Boy.

Looking after the fencing is Pat Whelan, field-master with the Killinicks, who is a known expert at riding while standing on the saddle! Roddy Bailey assists with hound breeding, while Richard Nolan is always available to help, especially during autumn hunting.

Mounted

Before moving off, joint master Conal Dreelan thanked PA and Deirdre Walsh for their kind hospitality. Whipper-in Johnny Murphy’s son Noah and daughter Sophie were hunting, as were joint-master Ted Nolan, his partner Fiona Gahan and their son Finnan, the latter riding Missy. Honorary Secretary Belinda Walsh, a fine horsewoman was out, as was Maria Dunne, together with Belgian visitors led by 85-year-old Roger Wouters, Jef Wuychens, Nich Vanlaer, Jelle Kumps, Alain Heselmans, Evrard Nijs, Geert Helsen, Hans Pasteela, Ludwig Craeghs, Tony Meevs, Kris Thiry and Tom Sunt.

Also hunting were Mark Keogh who hunts also with the Wards, David O’Connor, Aidan, Owen and Ellie Murphy, Paddy Foley, Aaron Lacey, Keava Lalor, Shyna Glynn, Tara Nolan, Liam Butler (on a 148 pony with a great turn of foot), Eamonn and Ritchie Fortune, Conal Whelan, Barry Murphy and Patricia Burgess Doyle.

Chairman John Gahan has had a knee replacement but he is rearing to get back in the saddle. Photographer Paddy Kinsella has been following the hunt since 1967 and he keeps the hunt Facebook site up to date with photos and videos. Bartly O’Connor was also filming with his wife Margaret and his son Myles’ girlfriend Ronja Hess from Sweden. Myles is kennel huntsman of the Duke of Buccleuch Hounds in Scotland. Also following was Alan Doyle whose dad used to fence for The Island Hunt

Hunting

After refreshments at PA Walsh’s, the huntsman with 13 ½ couple, mainly home-bred with Heytrop, Turlow and North Cotswold bloodlines, led the followers to the first draw at Dr Michael Doherty’s farm. Although there was nobody at home, it helped the followers, especially the Belgian visitors, some of whom may not have sat on a horse since they were in Wexford last year, to get their jumping eye in over some smashing double banks.

However a brace were afoot from the ditches at McGuirk’s and they settled on the one, a smashing deep red-coloured fox which we saw running left-handed through the Plantation which has a narrow river in it. He crossed the lane to John Dohery’s but decided then to swing right-handed again temporarily. The followers were by now coming up the lane so he backtracked in a loop and crossed the road up the hill into the Quarry which is a haven of gorse and ferns where scent petered out.

A short hack took them to Brackanagh Wood by the Owen na Vorragh River, well known for sea trout and salmon fishing, near Walsh Mushroom Farm. There was no waiting as the hounds found on the way in and did a complete lap of the wood before leaving in the direction of Barnadown House. The huntsman and whippers-in were in exactly the right place to view the fox as he broke cover and you could hear the echoing of hooves through the woods as the followers tried to catch up.

A series of nice drains and double banks stretched the field out as the fox decided to do a U-turn and head back to the familiar surroundings of the wood, but then decided to take the followers for a further spin as he headed for open country on the other side through Cranes. From there he crossed the Camolin to Ballycanure road and on through Morrison’s where they marked him to ground at Dermot McGuire’s farm, a well-known breeder and producer of eventers.

Match win

They had plenty more country left but they had done enough at this stage and also Rory Scallan, Barry Murphy and Eoin Murphy wanted to get their ‘glad rags’ on for the Ferns GAA Dinner Dance to celebrate their winning of the Senior Hurling County Final.

What a great end to a smashing day’s hunting, no pressure, a talented huntsman keeping hounds working beautifully, and giving a challenging lead to the followers, what more could you ask for!