went afoot and crossed the road to run towards Kilconierin, being joyously hollored away by The Lady Hemphill who was among the car followers. This fox ran, pushed hard by hounds, into The Dunsandle Wood, ran right through the Wood towards The Glebe and was lost in poor scenting conditions. Tom Dempsey then drew towards Craughwell and put another fox afoot on Tom Burke’s land beside the Dunkellin River. He ran into Joan Hardiman’s land and went to ground in a dump, one of many in this area of reclaimed land. This hunt had featured more hard riding with the field being given an excellent lead by field master Kevin Dempsey, on his good chestnut horse. A draw of Bill Bourn’s land proved blank so they moved on from her land but things were no better at Barry McGlynn’s or Mick Rafferty’s. Matters moved towards Moyode Castle and Tom Dempsey drew Gerry Harte’s where another fox went afoot. Hounds, again, pushed their fox hard in intermittent good voice and, after another fast hunt, this fox went to ground at the river bank. A hack to Garracloon, where Tom Dempsey and his wife Mairead run an excellent B&B at Craig Country House, saw a series of draws which produced another fox. This customer gave a fast, circular hunt which ended when he went to ground. Tom Dempsey then blew for home at 5.15pm, in still good light, whereupon we were all invited to Holly Park, the home of joint master Mike McDonagh for an excellent reception and post mortem.
The Taras This season has seen an added ability demanded of Irish hunters. To the need to gallop, jump and stay a horse must now be able to aquaplane, so wet has the going been across every Hunt country. The Ballivor, Co Meath, meet of the Tara Harriers at the Village Inn, was no exception and the hardy field of twenty included two
joint masters, David Wilkinson and Henry Corbally, while a third Henry Smith, who hunts hounds, was assisted by kennel huntsman and first whipper-in Sabine Dowdall and by Catherine Rothwell. Most impressively senior joint master George Briscoe, in office since 1942 and now in his ninety second year, was there glass in hand to see everyone off. The Taras hunt only bitches and Sabine Dowdall had brought forward 12½ couple of fit looking, active hounds for the days sport. David Wilkinson informed me that he is stepping down at the end of this season but he was able to introduce me to his successor, Imelda O’Donnell who has hunted throughout Ireland and holds the distinction of being the first lady member of the committee of the Ward Union Staghounds. A hack from the village to Ballivor River as far as The Glack, an old Mass Rock and a relic from the Penal Days, provided the first draw. Here hounds put up a hare and hunted her from the Mass Rock as far as Declan Cunningham’s farm at Derryconnor where she was lost. However, a second hare then rose and was hunted right to Ballivor Bog where a fox walked past everyone and entered the Bog in a most unconcerned way. This hare also having been lost Henry Smith drew from Derryconnor as far as PJ Cunningham’s at Clondalee but it was all blank and the heavy going was making its mark on everyone. A hack as far as Bertie Cunningham’s saw a third hare rise which, like the first two, gave a half hour hunt right around the area before being lost on the road. The Cunningham brothers are all very supportive of hunting as you can imagine is the case with anyone who allows Hunts to cross their land in such conditions. Hounds drew on as far as Killyon Manor but this series of draws proved blank so home was blown in mid afternoon to bring a cold wet day to an end. How welcome the soup and sandwiches provided by the McLaughlins at their Village Inn proved!
Sabine Douglas and Huntsman and Jt Master Henry Smith with the Tara Harriers Co Meath. Countrysports and Country Life Summer 2013
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