THIS meet had been pencilled into our hunting diary since Christmas as a ‘must attend’ and with good reason. It was Denis Gilmartin’s retirement day as master and Huntsman of the North Tipperary Foxhounds.

He has carried the horn with distinction for the last 11 seasons and has shown consistently good sport. His hunt country is bounded on one side by Lough Derg and running west to Toomevara and Silvermines in the east. The hunt livery is a very distinctive Burgundy red and as well as looking really smart, stands out against the heather and forestry with which their country abounds.

Reidy’s pub and restaurant was buzzing as we arrived with many retirees coming to pay homage to Denis on his final day. Former hunt chairman Peter McCutcheon and his wife Niamh were there as was the irrepressible Arabella Scanlon from Killaloe. Colin Bravery, another regular who arrived from Suffolk 30 years ago on a holiday and never left, was there to wish Denis all the best.

Big support

There were a large group of current and retired huntsmen on hand who had come to support their colleague. Peter Cahill, who hunted the Kilkenny and the Carlow Farmers before finishing as the highly regarded huntsman of the Kildares, was there along with Liam McAlinden and Eoghan McCabe, former and current huntsmen of the East Galway while Alan Reilly, who hunted the Louth and United, was there to show support.

North Tipperary huntsman designate for the coming season is Denis O’Sullivan, who hunted the nearby Ormond, came to lend support and see what a hard act he now has to follow.

Better known to his friends as Dinny, there was a huge wave of support for Denis Gilmartin on his last day with his beloved hounds. Denis started his hunting career with the neighbouring Suir Vale Harriers before moving on to the county pack. Family members, including his sister Ellen Purcell and nephew young Bobby Gilmartin, also turned up.

Before hounds could move off, a presentation of a painting by Sarah Langham of Laughton was made to Denis by hunt chairman Eoin Seymour, from Dromineer, who was field-master for the day.

In addition to the painting, Denis was presented with a pair of mounted photographs, one by Trish O’Shea, and another a jumping shot by Catherine Power, hunting photographer with The Irish Field.

Denis was hunting 14 and a half couple of Old English with a good dash of Limerick and Brosna bloodlines.

Assisting him were his two amateur whipper-ins, James O’Meara from Toomevara, who works as a Department of Agriculture official, and Brian O’Slatarra who, along with his brother Séamus, runs one of Ireland’s most successful Agritech companies, based in Nenagh, from where they export all over the world. The O’Slatarra family have been main players in the hunt from way back and they were both out with their families, Séamus with young Elise and Brian with Aila on her nice dun pony.

Sociability couldn’t last long and with a well mounted field of 40 or so, hounds moved off for the short hack down the Portroe road for the first draw at John Sullivan’s plantation.

Enthusiastic field

As hounds were drawing, it gave some of the younger members of the field time to have a quick school over some inviting banks and walls. Meanwhile, we were able to catch up with well known producer of top class hunters, Fergus O’Shea, who was out with his son Josh. Another familiar face was Amy Sterling from Luska, on the shores of Lough Derg, where they run a progressive sheep farm.

Amy is back in the saddle after a hip replacement and was going really well. Another veteran supporter out and going well was Declan O’Carroll and his wife Dymphna from Clonakeeny.

Irish Farmers Journal journalist Rachel Donovan was out on a smashing grey cob who could really do the business. Rachel is one of the rising stars of the Journal and her byline features regularly in the news pages of the biggest-selling farming paper in these islands.

They then went on to draw some further plantations, known locally as Mrs Kenny’s covert. This didn’t disappoint and a fine dog fox was ‘holloed away by Joe Townsend, who formerly hunted the Hurworth in Nth. Yorkshire. Joe is now resident in North Tipperary and brings a wealth of knowledge to hunting with the local pack.

With mostly woodland hunting, they hunted on almost to Coffee’s Hill and on to Sullivan’s before swinging back in a good left-handed loop again to the hill where he was marked to ground.

At this stage, foot followers were based in Jeremy Cairns’s yard which holds commanding views over most of North Tipperary. Jeremy was out with young Charlie, both going well. Jeremy’s wife Ciara, a serving Garda, is the hard-working hunt secretary. Rory McDonnell, who runs a local riding school, had a group of young hunting recruits out, who all appeared to enjoy themselves enormously…the stars of the future?

While hounds were drawing again, a group of young riders started jumping for fun over the many banks walls and the occasional gate which Jeremy has on his farm. The Spain girls from Nenagh, all beautifully turned out, led the fray. There was Ellie, Laura and Clodagh, whose uncle is Pat Coffee over whose land they had been hunting.

As Denis eventually blew for home for the last time, young Ava Gaynor capped off a smashing day by doing a ‘Frankie Dettori’-style flying dismount off her horse (see page 79).

All in all, a successful end to a successful day and mastership for Denis. I’m sure all readers will join me in wishing Denis a happy retirement from hunting.

North Tipperary Foxhounds

Chairman - Eoin Seymour

Joint-Masters - Denis Gilmartin, Dr Andrew Vance

Huntsman - Denis Gilmartin

Whippers-in - Brian O’Slatarra, James O’Meara

Honorary Secretary - Ciara Cairns

History

They were founded around 1950, taking over country once hunted by the Thurles and Kilshane Harriers. Some former Masters include AF Williams (1960-62), Arthur Dalgety (1965-67), Lt Col Deane (1968-74), Mrs Deane (1975-80), Jeremy Cairns (1981-2006) and Oliver Ryan-Purcell (2006-2011).