The Kill Harriers

The Kill Harriers were founded in 1977 by Mike Power with hounds donated by Mick Connors of Pallas Stud, Woodstown. Mike Power’s niece, Annie Power is current joint-master. Before Jimmy Keane took the horn three seasons ago, they had been hunted by Gene Power, followed by Michael Flynn.

Kennels: Mayfield, Portlaw, Co Waterford

Joint-masters: Annie Power and Jimmy Keane

Chair and field-master: Martin Curran

Honorary secretary: Fidelma Curran

Huntsman: Jimmy Keane

Whippers-in: James Nolan: Michael Kelly

LAST Sunday saw us back in Waterford, not with the Waterford Foxhounds, but their near neighbours, the Kill Harriers.

It had all come about as a result of a chance meeting with James Kennedy, former chairman of the Waterfords and formerly interim CEO of Horse Sport Ireland, who introduced me to Jimmy Keane, master and huntsman of the Kill Harriers.

The invitation became irresistible when we heard that it was very much a Power hunt, having being founded by Mike (Big Mike) and that the current master is Annie Power, who lent her name to the brilliant race mare.

And so we found ourselves passing by Dunhill Castle, built in 1641 by one John Power, Lord of Dunhill and Kilmeaden. Sadly he met a sticky end at the hands of Cromwell but we hoped to fare better on our trip.

The meet was being held at the dairy farm of Antony Raher. Finding such places in strange country can be tricky but we were lucky enough to tuck in behind James Allen and his jeep and box.

When we arrived, we found a most hospitable welcome with hot whiskeys and other such improving drinks being liberally dispensed from a horsebox gallantly manned by Francis Shanahan, formerly the voice of farming on RTÉ.

Assisting her was Peg Curran, mother of Captain Geoff Curran of the Army Equitation School who has represented Ireland with distinction in both showjumping and eventing, but even more importantly, Peg is the mother of hunt chairman Martin Curran and hunt secretary Fidelma Curran. Fidelma is a bank official dealing with agricultural lending with Bank of Ireland and events extensively during the summer. As if all that was not enough, Martin’s daughter Hannah, all of 12, was leading the field on her cracking pony.

“While all this was going on, our photographer turned to me and observed, It could be a good scenting day.” Catherine had barely spoken the words when we heard hounds hunting enthusiastically in the gorse hills across the road.

Eventually our huntsman Jimmy Keane and staff arrived with a somewhat depleted pack and horses all lathered up. Just as he was unboxing Galway Dragon, a third season hound who had been given to Jimmy by Galway huntsman Anthony Costello, he threw his tongue and with the pack rallying to him, they were away and giving tongue as if there was no tomorrow.

A passing fox had just crossed the road as hounds made the short hack from the box to the yard. He managed to gather at least a working number which increased as the day progressed.

Great character

Jimmy Keane would warrant an article just to himself. He started his hunting career back in the 1960s with Major Philip Profumo, then master of the Blazers with John Houston and Lady Hemphill as joint-masters.

In due course, he returned to Waterford to take up office with Major Hugh Dawney in Whitfield. The Major ran a serious polo yard and Jimmy became a three-goal player and played at the highest level in such places as Cirencester and Guards.

In the meantime, he would spend his summers making, breaking and schooling polo ponies, many of whom were small thoroughbreds, not suitable for racing. He then went on to hunt the Kilmoganny for a couple of seasons. At 74, he must be the most senior and most dashing huntsman in these islands!

Jimmy’s grandson in the UK is now an up and coming polo player with a three-goal handicap and another grandson, Stephen, is a work jockey with Joseph O’Brien. His whippers-in were Michael Kelly from Portlaw who also works with trainer Joseph O’Brien, and young James Nolan who runs an extensive beef farm with his dad, John, nearby in Whitfield where the family also run a nursery.

The Nolans are great hunt supports but sadly John was on foot as he had horse trouble. However on the bright side, he became our guide for the day and was able to keep us in touch as well as knowing every farm as if it were his own. This season the hunt has joined forces with the nearby Dungarvan Harriers and hunt their country on alternate weeks. Hunting from the Dungarvans were Lar and Ed Fennel while John was on foot having experienced back trouble.

Stiff walls

Hospitality done, they moved off for the first draw again in Raher’s land across the road. They had barely touched down when foxes started to appear like jacks-in-the-box. It was with some difficulty that hounds were persuaded to concentrate on a fine dog fox who appeared to be anxious to travel.

They disappeared into the valley where they met a few good stiff walls. Our huntsman, on his good coloured that he got from Paul Kennedy in Stonehall, gave a great display as they pressed on to the canal before running onto Kavanagh’s farm at Orchardstown. The Kavanaghs have a team of Shire horses and carriages they use for ceremonial occasions and weddings in the Waterford area. They then pressed on to Mick Power’s covert before marking Reynard near the old graveyard.

They went on to Whitfield where they found near John Power’s stud farm. He was for many years master of the Waterford and ran EirFab Engineering. They did a nice circle before straightening for Nolan’s farm.

Here things got interesting as they had to drop down over a really stiff wall of at least four feet off the road. Gallantly giving a lead was young Hannah Curran on her ongoing pony. There was a gate nearby which quite properly was completely ignored.

There was only one casualty, young Sarah Toomey from Dungarvan whose cob pecked on landing. No such problem for the Power sisters, young Eimear and Patty, a veterinary student. Likewise Samantha Beresford and young Charlie gave a smashing pop.

Claire Connors, whose family were instrumental in setting up the pack, on her confidential roan, popped down like a cat. Claire lives in Stradbally (by the sea) where the county pack were meeting as they had not hunted due to weather the previous day.

They pressed on over some smashing country through Nolans where they had a go at the hunter trial fences as they passed. They ran on to Nellie Hayes’s covert where they marked to ground and rightly gave him best.

All in their stride

The day was all but over but not quite yet. As they returned across country in Raher’s farm, some gallant jockeys gave a great display over a really good stiff wall which must be at at least 1.10m or perhaps 1.20m.

Young James Nolan set it up on his home-bred bay cob. He was closely followed by Karl Callaghan on a gorgeous grey with Stephen Power from Portlaw and Kalum Bradley, both on foot, perfect battys taking it in their stride! It was a justifiably happy group that we met boxing as we reluctantly left to return home to Limerick. If invited, we’ll be back!