LAST Saturday saw us make a return to the Laois Foxhounds having seen them only recently on their annual trip south to the Stonehall Harriers. Many of the same people were there, with numerous others thrown in, especially huntsman Michael Comerford and the famed Old English Laois Foxhounds.

It is now many seasons past - when Rory Dicker carried the horn - since I had my first days with Laois and Dicker between ’78 and ’81. While many things have changed in the intervening seasons, what has remained constant is the welcome and the sheer enjoyment of hunting with the Laois in the very centre of Ireland. Another constant is senior master David Lalor, who has been in office almost since Laois was known as Queen’s County. For all that, well mounted he still crosses the country with dash and style. He is following in a family tradition; both his dad Harry (1964-74) and uncle Des (1982-91) were former masters. His joint master Marcus McLaughlin was missing due to pressure of business, but chairman Ray Shore was out, properly mounted and going well.