THE Tipperary Foxhounds (the Gallant Tipps) have been meeting in Fethard to open the season since Henry, Marquess of Waterford took over the pack in 1840. Cromwell described the walls of Fethard as “having a very good wall with round and square bulwarks, after the old manner of fortification”.
Time may have moved on but nothing has changed and, on Bank Holiday Monday, the Tipps met under the shadow of the famed town walls. Not since 1650 when Cromwell laid siege to the town have a finer body of horses and riders assembled between the Clashawney River and the ancient fortifications.
To add a little sustenance to the challenge ahead, “Jasper” Murphy of McCarthy’s Bar was on hand to dispense some light and not so light refreshments to those gathered to carry them through the rigours of the day ahead. Jasper is a grandson of one Dick McCarthy, a professional jockey back in the day, who rode Savernake to win the 1930 Grand National and who founded McCarthy’s Bar.
First arrival on horseback was hunt treasurer and one of Tipperary’s leading solicitors, James Reilly, with a sheaf of hunt waivers and other paper work to be signed by riders before move off. James comes from a long hunting and legal tradition, being son of Peter Reilly, who had also held office as hunt treasurer going back all the way to 1996. Peter was out on foot and holding a watching brief.
It was great to meet Tipperary’s most recently married couple, Edward and Kay O’Grady, both with beaming nuptial smiles. We can but wish both a long and happy life together.
Season rolling
A few words of welcome from hunt chairman Sean Brett started the ball rolling and, with just a quick note on the horn, huntsman Gavin Shorten started the day and the season. Now in his 10th season, he was hunting a mixed pack bred on modern lines of 16 and a half couple. Amateur whipper-in is James O’Donnell, who learned his skills back in the day when he turned hounds to Pat O’Brien. He now works on non-hunting days in Coolmore.
Field master was the inimitable Aidan Fogarty, a very useful National Hunt jockey in his day, but a keener fox hunter it would be hard to find. Riding the eight-year-old Disco, who already has three hard seasons of field mastering on his CV.
No day in Tipperary would be complete without the Ronan family, who have generational links with the hunt and were represented by former master (1996-2002) Jack Ronan wearing WWII style googles, as he is recovering from eye surgery. The family were further represented by young Kim Ronan and her partner Shane Harris, while her dad and former master Paul was out on foot. Shane, a top class polocrosse player, had the ride last year on the Edward O’Grady-trained Top Line Tommy in the Pat Smullen charity race.
Hounds hacked on to the last surviving gate of the old town walls, the North Gate, where our eagle eyed photographer was on hand to capture the image of hounds and the hunt staff framed by the historic arch.
Hounds drew the old railway line just outside town and spoke with Reynard, making a short dash towards the Cashel Road, where he found a safe and welcoming shore.
Hounds hacked back to the first “proper” draw in John Halley’s of Fethard Veterinary and master of the Co Limerick FH. Following the family tradition were David Halley (MRCVS) and brother Jack Halley, who runs the iconic Hayes’ Hotel in Liberty Square, Thurles and the birthplace of the GAA back in 1874. Both out and well mounted, they showed the way on the family farm.
Aidan Fogarty (field-master) leads the field with Jack Halley up sides at the opening meet of the Tipperary Foxhounds in Fethard \ Catherine Power
Visitors
Visiting from west Waterford was Terry Sloan, whose job takes him all over the world, but when at home he gets as many days hunting as possible. Also out on a smashing grey to die for was Mary Jane Kearney, originally from Fethard, but now living in Scarteen country. The very first day I covered the Tipps for the pages of The Irish Field, she had taken a day off school and has the hunting page of the day framed on her wall!
Best turned out on the day (and going as well as they looked) had to be the O’Reilly family - mum Deirdre, a solicitor, and children Robyn and Fern, all three on gleaming greys. However, the youngest out on the day, or any day, were the O’Donnell family with young Connie, a veteran at the age of five, and not found wanting was young Billie (3), with dad Conor in charge of the lead rein.
Another intergenerational and racing family were the Aspells, led by grandfather, Paddy and granddaughters, Lucy and Niamh. Their dad Leighton won the Grand National in 2014 on Pineau De Re, only to return to the winner’s enclosure the following year on the Trevor Hemming-owned Many Clouds, the first jockey for 40 years to make the double.
Orchestra
Hounds had barely touched down in Halley’s wood when litter sisters and Stradbally winners, Anvil and Annabel, spoke and, as the pack rallied to them, they soon had a fine brace afoot and ran for Dr Condon’s spinney, only to return almost as quickly to Halley’s well-maintained covert. Woodland hunting ensued, with the huge Bank Holiday foot following being entertained by the Tipperary orchestra.
Eventually, scent petered out and our huntsman gathered his hounds and made the short hack on to the next draw at Michael McGarry’s Rathcool Farm and Michael was there to welcome hounds. Also on hand was his daughter, Aoife McGarry, a financial trader on Wall Street, which she explained on enquiry was very little different from cattle dealing (though somewhat better paid)!
Again, we didn’t have too long to wait when a smashing brace emerged and halloaed away by field master Aidan, hounds were quickly on and ran for Moyglass, before swinging right-handed and crossing the road, running back to a disused quarry, which was not accessible to horses.
So, our huntsman again blew up his hounds and hacked on to Power’s wood, which is part of Ann’s Gift, the home of elite thoroughbreds. Sadly, while there were plenty thoroughbreds nearby, there was no fox, so he blew for home.
While the day’s hunting was over, the day itself wasn’t and, with horses put away, most of the field were back in what must be one of Ireland’s most iconic pubs, McCarthy’s Bar, where Jasper dispensed good cheer and something to go with it to see the season “properly” opened.
THE TEAM
Chairman: Sean Brett
Honorary secretary: Aisling Fitzelle
Point-to-point secretary: Caroline Ryan
Hunt Treasurer: James Reilly
Huntsman: Gavin Shorten
Field-masters: Aidan Fogarty/Nicolas Maher
Whipper-in: James O’Donnell
HISTORY
Founded around 1820, the Tipperary Foxhounds were originally known as the “The Grove Foxhounds” from where they were hunted by William Barton of wine fame. They were then taken on by Henry, Marquess of Waterford, who hunted them for several seasons. They really entered their golden era under the mastership of Evan Williams, who won the last peacetime Grand National on Royal Mail, to be followed by Michael Higgins, who showed such marvellous sport for over 20 seasons.
SOME FORMER MASTERS
Henry, Marquess of Waterford 1840-43, A Committee 1906-08, Sir Thomas Ainsworth 1928-32, Mrs Masters 1935-53, The Earl of Donoughmore 1947-53, Capt. Evan Williams 1953-71, Michael Higgins 1973-91, Tom Ronan 1991-96, Tim Hyde 1991-2002.