SINCE last season, there has been something of a changing of the guard at Duhallow with senior master Kate Jarvey stepping down from office though not from the hunt. Other retirees include joint-master Liz Ahearne and long-time stalwart and chairman, Pat Fleming, who has been in office for 28 seasons since 1996 and has set the standard by which hunt chairmen might be judged. However, he has been ably replaced by Patrick Coleman, who has Duhallow in his DNA. Joining the mastership is Joe De Courcy, who has just published a hunting book, Hounds are Running.

What has not changed is the standard of the young entry, all Old English, on show and with a proper Duhallow welcome and hospitality to match, makes the Puppy Show at The Kennels, Rossnanarney, Liscarroll, Co Cork, an unmissable event in the calendar.