ALTHOUGH the life of that well known master of hounds, the late Thady Ryan, is well chronicled in two interesting books, The Ryan Family and the Scarteen Hounds by Michael MacEwan, and Thady’s own book My Privileged Life, I had the opportunity to meet up with him following a meet on Knocklong Hill. He was such pleasant company that time passed very quickly when discussing hounds and hunting. Thady had a passion for the chase, a close knit family, and his admiration for the farming community was boundless, the outdoor life and his spirituality.

The Kerry Beagle