day, which came as light started to fade, there were many broad smiles at having seen things through to the end. We only needed scent to make this a completely good day.
Louth Foxhounds The Louth Foxhounds’ meet at Tallanstown, just down from their Lisrenny kennels, on the last Saturday in December took place on a bright, sunny but cool day. Huntsman Alan Reilly had on a 14½ couple mixed pack with whippers-in Oisin Duffy, Chris Rodgers and professional Cahal Tuite to assist him while the fifty plus mounted field included joint masters Dr Ralph Hoey, Edmund Mahony, Gerry Boylan and Joe Callan.
John Savage and I had the supreme good fortune to be able to follow Michael McKeever, who hunted these hounds until 2006 having been with the Hunt since 1956. One of nature’s gentlemen Michael and two of his grandsons were among the car followers enabling us to keep up with events. The first draw, on Gerard Sweeney’s land, was blank so matters moved on to Black Thorns covert which produced our first pilot. He gave a hunt to Springhill over some soft and watery going. This good hunt ended with hounds losing their fox in patchy scent. Alan Reilly then drew Dornan’s just off the main N2 Dublin to Londonderry Road and then moved on to Kevin Lynch’s. Here, a second fox gave a hunt, in continuing patchy scent, into Yew
Tree’s, over Nicholstown Road and on towards Wild Goose Lodge crossing the road ahead of us before going unsighted to us and being lost in now poor scenting conditions. The next draw, at Bothwell’s, was followed by one at McCartney’s before home was blown, in fading light, to leave the depleted field with a good hack back to the meet.
North Down Foxhounds A wet New Year’s reduced the North Down Foxhounds’ mounted field at their meet at the Old Inn Crawfordsburn to thirty, though it did not seem to reduce the number of well wishers there to see them off. Hotelier Danny Rice, his sons and staff, put on an excellent hunt breakfast and a stirrup cup before huntsman Tom Haddock took a 15½ couple mixed pack through the village, assisted by whippers-in Charlie McPoland, Barry Jones and Stephen Weston. Joint masters Raymond Mitchell and Lesley Webb carefully briefed everyone about the wet and very soft going before the off. A series of draws across David Jackson’s and McCann’s, then down as far as Johnston’s, proved blank so Tom Haddock moved on to Henderson’s then Hughes’s. He fared no better here, with wind and rain proving seemingly insurmountable barriers. Ian McFarland and then also his brother Alan had no one at home and the day finished at John Ritchie’s with no one at home there either. The Hunt and the police then rejoined forces to get everyone back across the main Bangor to Belfast Road to the meet where Danny Rice had an excellent stew awaiting everyone. Seldom has it been so welcome!
Tynan and Armagh Hunt
East Down Foxhounds Huntsman Declan Feeney with his son Conor at their opening meeting at Ballynoe, Downpatrick.
A meet of the Tynan and Armagh Hunt is usually a convivial affair and the meet hosted by whipper-in Andy Philips and his wife Denise, at their home near Richhill, was even more convivial than usual with having fun being the order of the day.
Countrysports and Country Life Spring 2014
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