A DAY with the Tipps is always special but when that day happens to be their opening meet in Fethard, it takes it to a completely different dimension. Recognised by all as the world’s veritable horse capital, Fethard is a very special place indeed. It hosts the Fethard Horse Museum in the old Town Hall, a must for all horse enthusiasts, and the famous Coolmore Stud is just a stone’s throw from the town.

And so it was we found ourselves on bank holiday Monday in the small park between the Clashawley river and the historic town wall, first built in 1375, and still among the best preserved of any in these islands. It was a gala sight to see Gavin Shorten with 15 and a half couple, an all-bitch pack to boot.

It so happens that the town walls are also the back wall of the famed McCarthy’s Hotel and that very establishment provided hot port and other suitable hunting refreshments given out by no less than the proprietor himself, Vincent (Jasper) Murphy, who also doubles up as the town undertaker. He is the fifth generation of his family since Richard McCarthy opened in 1852.

Four of the six joint-masters were on hand with senior master Paul Ronan as ever looking resplendent on his good chesnut. His mastership runs to 25 seasons and he admits to having attended 55 opening meets only missing one ever due to a badly planned hospital stay.

He was accompanied by two of his children, Paul Jnr who is in the meat business with Dawn Meats, and his daughter Kim who works with POBAL, the government funded child care agency. Also on hand were Alan Murphy, on a coloured horse provided at short notice on the day by Neil Simpson as his regular horse went lame. Andre Michalski, originally from Poland but now living near Cashel, looked very smart in scarlet, as did Lt Col Tom Freyne OC of the Irish Army Equitation School who lives nearby in Fethard but is based in McKee Barracks Dublin. A former international showjumper, on non-hunting days he combines the role of chief instructor and officer commanding.

He has only recently returned from a EUTM training mission in Mali where he was based near Timbuktu. Summer temperatures were regularly over 40 degrees in the shade! While he was away, his role in McKee was taken over by his 2IC (army speak for second in command) Comdt. Sharon Crean. She is the first female officer to hold such a role. As well as her army career, Sharon was recently called to the bar and is a qualified barrister.

Kim Ronan, Niall O’Meara, and Lt.Col. Tom Freyne in action with the Tipperary Foxhounds opening meet from Rocklow \ Catherine Power

Sadly missing were Liam Kearney, who was on business in the USA and Tim Hyde Jnr, also in the USA, on bloodstock duty. Retired local padre Fr. Tom Breen was on hand to invoke God’s blessing on the hounds and the followers for the season.

Impressive sight

With a field of almost 80, it made more than an impressive sight with our huntsman, on a smashing grey sourced from Mattie Maher, master of the Golden Vale. Gavin led hounds and the field through the north gate towards the first draw. His girlfriend, event rider Becky Tandy, looked particularly smart and was beautifully turned out on a smashing bay. To give family support, his parents Cecil and Margaret had made the trip from Askeaton. A lifelong horse family, they stand a couple of half-bred stallions on their farm at Ballingirane.

His whippers-in looked no less impressive. Young William Bamforth is in first season in Tipperary having come from the Grove and Rufford in Yorkshire. Amateur Seamus Kelly from Ballingarry was showing the young debutante the ropes. Seamus, who is a lifelong sufferer from Cystic Fibrosis, puts that debilitating condition behind him on hunting days and goes really well. Hunting is his life, those who know him well say that his condition almost disappears during the hunting season and he rarely misses a day from a busy four-day week schedule.

Paul Ronan MFH with his son Paul JNR.and daughter Kim at his home in Rocklow at the opening meeting of the Tipperary Foxhounds \ Catherine Power

First draw was to the left of the Rocklow road in some low lying land on the banks of the Clashawley. Usually a sure find but on the day, Reynard was not at home and hounds drew on across the road behind Dr Carmel Condon’s. However the river crossing was not without incident as joint-master Andre Michalski got unceremoniously dumped but hunted on regardless despite his wetting. No such problems were experienced by his guest, veterinary surgeon James Sheeran from Kildare. Andre is the Polish representative on the International Federation of Racing Authorities, the body which governs world racing.

The field was treated to a feast of jumping in Halley’s over the well presented hunt jumps. The family were represented by young Josh Halley who works with Horseware. Hounds then crossed over to Rocklow, the home of Paul and Jane Ronan. This magnificent property built around 1780 was first bought by Paul’s late father Tom who was also master of the Tipps for many seasons.

Adjoining Rocklow is Annsgift, the home of MV Magnier and his wife Emily, and as they drew down the border screen, the fourth season home-bred Biscuit (by Tipperary Pontiff out of Tipperary Bumble) took interest in a particularly forbidding thicket. As she persisted, a fine dog fox emerged and took them on a guided tour of Annsgift before making a circuitous return to Rocklow where he found refuge in a shore and was given best.

Mimi O'Grady (right) and Jack Ross enjoying the opening meet of the Tipperary Foxhounds at Rocklow \ Catherine Power

Going well throughout were the Quirke family led by leading barrister Frank with no less than four of his children, all mounted and beautifully turned out. Also up front were young Mimi O’Grady, daughter of Edward who was stood down for the day, and her boyfriend Jack Ross.

Also going well were hard working hunt secretary Roseanne DeVere Hunt and hunt chair Sean Brett who lives nearby.

Roseanne follows the family tradition of auctioneering and is country manager for Sherry Fitzgerald. Riding at apprentice weights, she is fortunate to be able hunt a real good cob. She is a direct decedent of the celebrated poet Aubrey DeVere from Curragchase in Limerick, which is close by the home of huntsman Gavin Shorten.

Blew for home

Hounds hacked on to the next draw in O’Meara’s big kale field. With scent never better than patchy, hounds had to work hard but eventually Reynard was spotted slipping away by the eagle-eyed Thomond O’Mara. While it looked like being the start of something special, it never quite materialised. Hounds hunted towards Power’s Wood, which is back near Annsgift, but after a few fields scent petered out in Liam O’Connor’s very extensive farm which runs between the Cashel and Moyglass road.

With shadows lengthening, our huntsman blew for home and it was happy group that made the short hack back to Fethard. A sign of the times rather than retiring to a welcoming licenced premises, Dooks café on the corner was the venue for final refreshments before returning home.