IF you want to hunt, you can hardly go further west in Ireland or indeed in Europe than the seaside town of Ballyvaughan in north Clare on the shores of Galway Bay. Getting there is never easy, it is surrounded by The Burren. This unique landscape was described by Lord Cornwallis during the Cromwellian era as, a “land where there is not enough water to drown a man, enough soil to bury him or enough timber to hang him!”

While that is as true today as it was then but what the noble Lord overlooked was the stunning scenery and above all, the welcome afforded to travellers in this western stronghold. Most of the mounted field would have had to travel over 40 miles from regular Co Clare country around Quin or Newmarket-on-Fergus and the terrain could not be more different. Monks Pub on the Quay was our venue with horses unboxed in the seasonally deserted tourist car park overlooking Galway Bay. This haven of hospitality, good food and even better company is now owned by Pat O’Donoghue, who also runs a veterinary supply business. He makes the hunt very welcome on its annual trip to The Burren usually at the end of the season.