Name of Huntsman and where from: Liam Murphy, Portmarnock, Co Dublin.
Name of Pack: Stonehall Harriers.
Kennels based at: Bansha, Askeaton, Co Limerick.
What type of hounds and how many?
We have 20 couple of Old English Foxhounds with a few harriers for the deep scenting ability and for those bad scenting days.
Huntsman experience?
I grew up hunting with the Brosna Foxhounds.
I hunted the Farney Harriers then moved up to Donegal to hunt the Donegal Harriers for one season and now I am currently enjoying my fourth season with the Stonehall Harriers.
Biggest influence to date?
Derek McMahon, huntsman of the Brosna Foxhounds, has always given me great support in helping me breed a pack of hounds and was always willing to share advice and guidance with me throughout my career of breeding hounds.
Daily role of a huntsman
On a non-hunting day, I start by feeding the hunt horse, then I go feed the hounds followed by washing down the kennels.
I also change their straw beds. I then bring the pack out for light exercise in the adjoining fields to the kennels. Upon returning to the yard, I exercise the hunt horse.
Pre-hunt day prep and the importance of good relations with landowners
The hunt prep is usually completed during different stages of the week where I meet necessary landowners and walk the country to check where the stock is grazing.
Being a farmer’s pack has many advantages as it means the land we hunt on is owned mostly by members of the club, meaning they are very accommodating to opening their land up and having the land ready before a phone call is even made.
Again, the members are so helpful in chipping in to help with the repairing and closing of hunt gaps without being asked.
How do you choose the various meets?
Our hunt committee would normally draw up a hunt card in early autumn after meeting with local packs to ensure we don’t clash on any meets.
What in your view is the best thing about hunting and being a huntsman? Like most Huntsmen, I love watching the young hounds learn their trade.
It is also so interesting noticing the characteristics the hound carries through that is similar to their previous relatives that I would have hunted and bred also.
I love meeting our supporters, be it on foot or in the saddle as we are all there for the same reason – a love of hunting.
I feel very strongly about encouraging the younger members of the hunt and like to give them every opportunity to experience all that is great about hunting. It is easier for the children to be involved with the horse side of hunting but it is also very important to teach them about the hound side of things as that can sometimes be overlooked.