I HAVE very happy memories from my last visit to the Muskerry at Cloughduv a couple of seasons ago and was looking forward to a return visit. This small west Cork village is engrained in the Muskerry DNA. It was here they were first founded by the Tonson-Ryes in nearby Ryecourt, right beside the village. The property is still in the family and the present incumbent is Rosaleen Tonson-Rye, still very much involved in the bloodstock world. The link with the family continues through the hunt livery, a particular shade of blue collar, which was chosen by the first master’s wife as the colour of her favourite dress. The hounds were kennelled in Ryecourt up to 20 years ago when they moved to Mrs Coakley’s farm at Lough Ane in Blarney.

As it was hunt ball day, move off was going to be prompt and with Cloughduv being located in the heart of west Cork, not far from Macroom, it meant an early departure if we wanted to enjoy some of the pre-hunt hospitality at the meet’s sole hostelry The Spreading Chestnut. Declan of the Spreading Chestnut had breakfast on hand for all, both on foot and mounted.

These pre-hunting get togethers are a great time to catch up on hunt news since our last visit. Sadly two of the most dashing lady riders in Muskerry (or anywhere else) were missing due to injury. Denise O’Riordan, an environmentalist, is recovering from a bad fall last season and Miss Muskerry herself, Fran O’Callaghan, having spent six weeks in hospital, is still out from a bad schooling fall early in the season. Also missing but for different reasons was joint-master John Crean who was at a premier league match in the UK with his family, featuring Arsenal who won by a margin of two goals. Hunt chairman, Brendan Browne was, as usual, looking forward to a good day’s hunting.

But the fair sex were ably represented by Chantal Lynch who, last season, was known as Chantal Kiely before she married joint-master Killian Lynch, an auctioneer in nearby Macroom. In fact, romance had blossomed in the hunting field as my first day ever with the Muskerry was Chantal’s first ever day’s hunting from a meet at Kilumney. Since that fateful day, her love for hunting and Killian have grown in unison. Chantal is just not a pretty face, she is also a very skilled and highly qualified medical research chemist with the Johnson and Johnson corporation.

No day in Muskerry would be complete without senior-master Robert Harkin, who runs an auctioneering business in Blarney. He was out with his teenage daughter, Sophia, on the ever faithful Paddy and both father and daughter rarely miss a day. While Robert now has three joint-masters to help spread the burden of running the hunt, for several seasons he ran the hunt solo in the midst of the recession, no mean feat!

Following the tradition of great amateur huntsmen, Ken Harkin makes up the list of masters. He was also out with his young daughter, Faye, a second year student in Middleton College. Despite being one of the few amateurs to hunt a foxhound pack in Ireland, he brings a dedication and professionalism to his role. He started his sporting career as a professional racing driver in Germany where he drove in Formula Three with considerable success. Eventually he returned to run the family garage business in Cork where they hold the Toyota franchise. On one fateful day, on a borrowed horse, he decided to go hunting and he was hooked. He is fortunate to have Alan Garrigan, who learned his trade with the Beaufort, as his kennel huntsman. Between them, they are keen hound breeders specialising in Old English and their bloodlines are sought both here and across the water.

It made a smashing sight to see Ken and his whipper-in, John Paul O’Callaghan, lead their 12 and a half couple to the first draw in Creedon’s near the village. We were fortunate to have knowledgeable and well-informed guides with Alex Harkin, Denny Cahill, Alan Kavanagh and Liam Keating who knew where the fox was going to be before he himself had made up his mind. Visiting from the United on foot was Cork show chairman and leading light, Gerard Murphy, who farms near Glanmire.

When in west Cork, forestry is never too far away and all too soon, our pilot ran into some farm forestry. He knew where he was going and went to ground in a huge heap of boulders and had to be left. They went on to draw Corkery’s bog nearby and it wasn’t long before the Muskerry orchestra struck up with some marvellous woodland hunting. As the field watched from a grassy knoll, Charlie attempted to slip away unseen, but he hadn’t figured on the eagle-eyed Jim Willis from Aherla who viewed him away. Jim, now hunt president, has been hunting with Muskerry for longer than anyone can remember and like the Rock of Cashel, he was always there!

Our pilot set his mask for a great sporting property at Templemartin, the home of the Carbery hunter trials course and the property of the O’Driscoll family. The O’Driscolls, as well as being Cork’s leading legal family, have the last private pack in Ireland, The Carbery, based in Bandon. Holding a watching brief was senior Carbery master Edward O’Driscoll MFH who knows that part of the country like the back of his hand.

The hunter trial courses encompasses some forestry and our pilot ran in and with scenting conditions being never better than moderate, hounds went silent. But litter brothers Lunar and Ludlow, out of Limerick Lavella by Muskerry Shamrock, were not to be denied. They showed interest in a particularly thorny thicket and had their quarry afoot. This couple, now in their fifth season with the pack, more than fulfil the huntsman’s criteria for the ideal hound - brain, nose, drive and hardiness.

The field were treated to two fine loops with good jumping. Our field-master Donie O’Riordan was never under pressure controlling the field as the pace was fast and furious. Never far from the action was Donie’s son Daniel, who is going to follow his dad into the crash repair business. Neither were brothers young Danny and Jack Lucy on their good ponies found wanting. Visiting from the Avondhu and going well was Brendan Holland who runs a stud farm near Fermoy.

Recording the day for posterity on her headcam was Ashley Lambe who rides out at Motherway’s racing yard near Midleton. Her dad, Noel, hunted the Riverstown Foot Beagles and often carries the Muskerry horn mid week when they hunt on foot.

Eventually our pilot tired of Templemartin and ran into country unfamiliar to all but Jim Willis. They ran almost to the ambush site at Beal na Blath where Michael Collins was ambushed and killed during the civil war. However he swung right-handed and was marked to ground near the now closed Old Muskerry Bar.

Time was pushing on and horses had plenty done, so our huntsman blew for home. Hunt ball duty beckoned at the Oriel House Hotel, Ballincollig, where a great night was had by all.

FACTFILE

Chairman: Brendan Browne

President: Jim Willis

Master & huntsman: Ken Grandon

Joint-masters: John Crean, Killian Lynch, Robert Harkin

Whippers-in: Killian Lynch, John Paul Callaghan

Kennel huntsman: Allan Garrigan

Honorary secretary: Donie O’Riordan

Meets: Wednesday and Saturday 11.30am

HISTORY

Reputedly the oldest pack in Ireland, though neighbouring Duhallow might dispute this claim. They go right back to the Tonson-Rye family of Rye Court in 1742. Around 1800, the hounds passed to the Hawkes family who retained the mastership for many years with Samuel Hawkes hunting until he was almost 90. In the 1900s, the Mahoneys of Blarney came to the fore with Jack Mahony being master for many years before passing over to Noel Tanner. Joint-master Robert Harkin has been in office since 2003.