IT would be hard to find a more appropriate venue for a meet of the Laois Foxhounds than the Castle Arms, just off the square in the picturesque Laois town of Durrow. It has been the property of the Murphy family since the 1950s, when it was acquired by the returned Australian, Joe Murphy Snr.
The Laois hunt are above all a happy hunt, making one and all welcome and, so it was in the bar/restaurant of the Arms, with more than a few tables serving a hearty hunting breakfast, while the bar was three deep with hunt members, foot-followers and The Irish Field correspondents all catching up on hunting news and meeting old friends, many of whom we hadn’t seen since last season.
Almost the first person we met was the evergreen Colm Gainey, “senior” whipper-in, resplendent in his meltonian pink coat, produced for him by Vincent Neville of the Pike of Rushall.
Likewise, senior master David Lalor, at his inimitable best, was having a council of war with huntsman Michael Comerford. David was on his good home-bred grey by Garrison Royale. Michael Comerford, who previously hunted the Golden Vale FH, is a real hound man and has made a great success of the county pack.
David Lalor has Laois hunting in his DNA and has been in office since 1992 (a remarkable 33 seasons), succeeding his father Harry and uncle Dessie, who were in office back the ‘70s. David’s brother Joe (a former hunt secretary) was also there and going well. Also on hand was hunt chairman, Ray Shore, as keen a foxhunter as you are likely to find.
Always beautifully turned out, though not in his signature topper, with a smile that would light up a climate change meeting, was local sporting artist and Horse & Hound columnist Liam Clancy, tipped by many as the natural successor to Lionel Edwards.
On parental duty, he was accompanied by his daughter Fleurette on her good coloured, ready to give dad a lead. Her friend, young Olivia Bradley from Abbeyleix, whose family have strong Scarteen connections, made up the trio.
Tip-top condition
Our huntsman Michael had his 12 and a half couple of old English in tip-top condition and, with the two joint masters, David Lalor and Marcus McLoughlin, looked a picture as they made their way to the Castle Arms front car park for a photo call.
Horses and hounds had earlier unboxed in the yard of the Ashbrooke Arms at the other end of the village. This fine old property started its career as a Bianconi coaching inn, back in the day. It is now the property of Sean Murphy, a brother of Seosamh and Tomás, and run as overnight accommodation with a really decent restaurant attached.
The whippers-in were no less impressive, with Shay Barry. Making up the group was young Oisin Kelly and his father, hunt secretary, Jim Kelly from Rosenallis was also out. Also turning hounds on the day was the very capable young Jock Thompson, whose father David previously hunted the county pack.
Jock is, by all accounts, a fine polo player - following in the family tradition, as his cousin Lord Tyrone is one of England’s high goal players. Jock has been gifted with what can only be called a proper hunting seat, which can neither be learned nor taught and can only be inherited.
The line up outside the hotel could not be replicated anywhere, with no less than four dashes of scarlet. The Murphy family of the hotel were certainly not found wanting, with our host Seosamh on his good bay by Lakeshore Drive. As well as the hotel, he farms extensively and has a successful bloodstock enterprise.
His father Joe, having returned from Australia, bought what was then White’s Hotel in 1955, married a Jubilee nurse, had three sons and prospered. The third of the trio, Tomás, was in the line up, as was his daughter Eabhla, who is studying occupational therapy in faraway Aberdeen.
Our guide for the day turned out to be another Murphy, Kieran - son of Tomás, who practises as a vet in nearby Mount Mellick. A more knowledgeable and courteous guide, it would be hard to find.
Michael Comerford huntsman of the Laois Foxhounds with Oisín Kelly whip collecting hounds at Durrow \ Catherine Power
Picturesque
Photos taken, hounds retraced their steps to Ashbrook Arms, where the attendant farm is owned by Tomás Murphy, so a warm welcome was assured. Drawing along the picturesque banks of the River Erkina before it joined the Nore, it was an idyllic scene.
Hounds made the river crossing without incident and went to draw Knocktina Wood, adjacent to Canice Farrell’s stud. As hounds drew, we were able to catch up with his good wife, whom I would remember as Liz Lane when she hunted with the Limerick Harriers and the Clare Hunt.
Liz is a daughter of Paddy Lane (RIP), a former president of the IFA and, more importantly, a former whipper-in of the Limerick Harriers. Now a distinguished veterinary surgeon, whose opinion is aften quoted on veterinary matters, she was out with young Seanan on his good pony. Visiting from nearby Golden Vale was Glen Carter and Colm Cleary, who is involved in the drinks industry.
Hounds spoke, but it was the third season dog, the Old English Sparky, who had a fine dog fox afoot. Hounds had a grand dash with plenty of woodland hunting before pushing their pilot over the river and into lands of Pat Mooney, before crossing over into Jim Bergin’s before going to ground in Randal Hasting’s farm.
Meanwhile, the foot-followers had a bird’s eye view and were able to follow proceedings from the vantage point of the aptly named Tally-Ho bridge, over the cooling waters of the Nore.
Hounds collected, they pressed on across the Ballyragget Road to draw William Hasting’s and John Flynn’s hill top covert. This area was, back in the day, where they mined Durrow Clay from the aptly named Tin Weir.
Hounds went on to draw Derry Wood, which held and a smashing dash ensued, with plenty of woodland type fences to be popped. However, when they appeared to be about to run toward Durrow Castle, Reynard found a welcoming shore and was given best.
With shadows lengthening, our huntsman blew for home and made the short hack back to the Ashbrook Arms, where boxes were parked.
While hunting might have finished for the day, proper hospitality awaited at Seosamh’s, where one and all were able to enjoy proper Laois hospitality to finish the day.
History
The hunt was formed in 1850, when the Emo Hounds amalgamated with the Ossory Hounds to form the Queen’s County Hunt, now known as the Laois Hunt.
Meets: Wednesdays and Saturdays,12 noon
Some former masters: Maj. Hamilton Stubber 1919-23; Capt. EA Cosby 1933-38; D Blundell 1974-75; Des Lalor 1964-74; Rory Dicker 1978-81; Joe O’Flynn 1981-91; Harry Lalor 1982-91; Billy Phelan 1992-99.
The team
Chairman: Mr Ray Shore
Joint masters: Mr David Lalor (1992), Mr Marcus McLoughlin
Hunt secretary: Jim Kelly
Point-to-point secretary: Mr David Lalor
Hunter trials secretary: Tony MacInerney
Huntsman: Mr Michael Comerford
Whippers-in: Shay Barry, Colm Gainey, Oisin Kelly, Jock Thompson, Stephanie Carter
Kennels: Beechfield, Abbeyleix, Co Laois
Country hunted: Co Laois (all of), mixed banks, trenches, hedges with an occasional wall