HUNTING farmer Andy Dunne and his wife Bernie welcomed the Louth Foxhounds for a lawn meet at their well-maintained farm, which has natural spinneys and coverts that are a haven for wildlife.

Andy hunted with the pack for many years. One barn had a display of food and liquid refreshments, which was really appreciated by the followers. Their son Killian has hunted from a young age and, despite busy studying finance at University, he was out on the day. The hunt country is mainly old pasture and tillage, bounded by ditches and hedges.

Joint masters, Gerry Boylan and Kieran Ryan, were on hand, but Edmond Mahony, Joe Callan and Eamonn McGinn were unable to be out on the day. The Louth hounds are pure Old English breeding, with that distinctive black, brown and white pattern. They have been selectively bred by their huntsman, Lloyd Parr and their owner, Mrs Sarah Angel.

They are a pleasure to watch for their drive, voice and accuracy as we were to find out later, and they can win on the flags too, as we have seen with their annual silverware haul from the National Hound Show at Stradbally Hall and the Hunting Association of Northern Ireland Show.

Former legendary Louth huntsman, Michael McKeever, who was in hunt service with the Louths for over 50 seasons, has been very complimentary of the fine job the huntsman is doing.

Whippers-in out on the day were Christopher Rogers and Tommy Parr, the latter was sporting a new red hunting coat, but was missing a button halfway through the day, after an argument with a ditch!

Chairperson Sandra Cumiskey was busy with the increasing hunt paperwork, but she still found time to get her horse ready for hunting. The family have an interest in racing, having bred Dean’s Hill, who ran in Dundalk Racecourse recently.

Barrister Johnnie McCoy, a long-time follower of the Louths and a colourful commentator at their point-to-point races, was witnessing waivers, which have become an important part of hunt insurance. And I was impressed by the hunt having a QR Code on their hunt card for its Plain Sailing Account payment.

Ivan Ryan is a regular now hunting with the Louths, as his father Kieran was a long-time honorary whipper-in to the Ward Union Staghounds and is joint master of the Louths. A fine horseman, Ivan recently won a point-to-point at the Blazers meeting in Loughrea and another win at Fairyhouse on the track and he has established himself as a leading show rider, having won in Balmoral, Flavours of Fingal and many other shows, including the Dublin Horse Show. His brother James rides on the flat and has recently been crowned Champion Apprentice on the Flat.

Former jockey Linzi Sullivan in action while hunting with the Louth Foxhounds at Grangebellew, Co Louth \ Noel Mullins

Overseas visits

I met Annie McGinn, who I remember from when a group of us, led by Drogheda auctioneer Fintan Sullivan, visited the Puckeridge Hunt in England. Annie has since been hunting with the Massbach and Fox River Hunt in Barrington Hills, Illinois, where Tony Leahy from Oldcastle is master and huntsman.

Tony is also a master of the Spring Creek Bassetts and developed the MFHA Professional Development Programme for hunt staff. Tony’s kennel huntsman is former junior international show jumper, Mark Murphy, who hunted for many years with the Louths. Also hunting was trainer John Larkin and his wife Amanda. I hunted with John when he hunted the Oriel Harriers and he is also a former whipper-in to the Louths.

Marnie Crearer was out on another youngster that will be for sale soon, as she is a great rider to give a young horse experience. Former jockey, Linzi Sullivan, was hunting with her daughter Ellie Mae on a smashing sturdy coloured pony named Rosie.

Also, hunting was Leon Cassidy and his daughter Emma, who was out for the first time. Rowena Boyd, whose husband Andrew is joint-master of the Meath Foxhounds, was out with their daughter Sophie. Donna Corcoran told me that she has followed the Louths on foot for 10 years, but decided to get a horse and follow on horseback for her first hunt.

Show jumper Lee Grifferty, who jumps at 1.40m level was out, as well as Eugene Connolly, Charlotte Moffett on her mother Olivia’s horse, Meggie Kiernan, Miriam Walsh who rides on the track and works for Harry Rogers, honorary treasurer Aileen Gallagher and her son Roan, John Duffy, Annie McDonagh, Toni Blake, Amy Kiernan, Marylin May and Katie Goodman.

Hunting also were visitors Tatianna Ormiston and Sarah Brown, who hunt with the Meath and the Ballymacad Foxhounds. Also following by car were Emma Fogarty, Amy Corrigan, William Cornett and Paula Finnegan.

Yellowstone

It was great to see the huntsman with 21½ couple of fit, well-conditioned and enthusiastic hounds enter the Long Plantation in Butterley’s, where there is usually a fox lying up, but since last season, part of it has been cleared for house-building and maybe they were disturbed.

As the huntsman rode on across country to draw a covert on the hill in Levenges, the followers were faced with an awkward wide drain and there were plenty of empty saddles. A couple of ponies were being a bit difficult, so former jockey Linzi Sullivan gave them a bit of a school before putting the children back on board.

Then a voice called out to Linzi, ‘You are nearly ready for a part in Yellowstone now!’ As the huntsman doubled back, the followers had to jump it back again, which caused more problems. Linzi told young Emma Cassidy to come on and let her daddy Leon catch up!

The huntsman drew Moonbeagh Covert in hunt host Andy Dunne’s farm and, what a sound, with the pack in full voice. For a time, we patiently listened to in-covert hunting and watched both ends to see where the fox would break cover. But he wisely chose a tight line left-handed, only noticed by John McKenny, who follows every day and is a great help to the huntsman.

John waited until the fox was well away, before he signalled to the huntsman. What happened next, I have only seen a few times as only a small number of huntsmen have the skill to do it, but it is the mark of a huntsman at the top of his profession. Huntsman Lloyd Parr got into a position and hollered the hounds out of covert, even though they were still hunting in what was by then probably a stale line, having been crossed so many times.

As hounds came towards him, he stopped them just with his voice, which they did instantly, demonstrating a great trust between the pack and their huntsman. As the last of the pack streamed out of the covert, he ensured they were all on before he jumped into the field the fox had crossed and laid them on the line and they screamed away towards Barmeath Castle boundary wall.

Symphony

Some hounds crossed by a pond, where a Mallard duck was relaxing, but he soon took flight! It was worth my while travelling to see that great display alone. What followed was a symphony of voices high pitch, low pitch and bass. This pack can really make sweet music, as they hunted the fox in the woods of Barmeath Castle, marking him to ground eventually near the gate lodge. The owner, Lord Bru Bellew, who was an honorary whipper-in to the pack for many years, was keeping up on a quad with Ronnie Nagy.

They found again in Barmeath Woods, which took them on a line back to Moonbeagh Covert, where they eventually marked him to ground. Drawing some coverts away from Barmeath, they found again as he ran a few wide circles and then crossed the road near Dysert Church, but the hunt staff stopped the pack, as they did not want to go into the country not warned.

It was a really smashing day following the Louths wonderful Old English pack in beautiful surroundings and I thought that, just like the theme from the TV series Yellowstone, that hunting too is all about ‘family, the countryside and tradition’.