WE always look forward to our annual visit to the North Kilkennys, who hunt a country centred on Gatabawn near Urlingford in north Kilkenny. Despite being a red coat hunt, they have remained true to their farming roots, having been founded back in the day by the local curate, Fr Kearns, a man as pious as he was sporting.

When the country looked as if it would go unhunted, he persuaded three local farming families to take up the reins and run the hunt. That is some 80 years ago and, happily, the hunt continues with the same families still to the fore.