I HEARD on the news that there is a shortage of Guinness in Britain… Well, there is no shortage in Fox’s Bar in Skryne and Declan and Irma know how to pour a creamy pint that you could trot a mouse on, as witnessed at the Tara Harriers meet there on the hunt’s 275th Anniversary.

There was a great buzz in the bar, a packed house of mounted and car followers. Another group in high spirits were up the road for the annual historic event that has gone on since the dawn of time in Newgrange, the site of the 5,200-year-old passage grave, older than the Pyramids of Egypt. They were waiting for the sun to come up to light the narrow chamber marking the Winter Solstice on the shortest day of the year, when the sun is at its lowest.

Horseboxes were passing by the pub to and from Skryne Gallops, popular with trainers where many champions prepare on Jessica and Colin Magnier’s gallops. Jessica is a former Tara master (1999-2002) and Colin won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Danno Heaslip’s For Auction, and finished twice runner-up in the Aintree Grand National with the great steeplechaser Greasepaint, who was broken by my neighbour, Larry ‘Gusty’ McGuinness.

Tara Harriers master Larry Cunningham at the meet from Fox's Bar in Skryne \ Noel Mullins

First season

Joint master John Moran is manager of Bective Stud, a breeding and pre-training facility on the banks of the River Boyne, which he manages for his uncle Noel and aunt Valerie Moran.

They have a major presence in National Hunt racing, with horses such as Group 1 winners Zanahiyr and their home-bred The Yellow Clay, as well as Found a Fifty. The horses are trained by Gordon Elliot in Ireland and Olly Murphy in Britain and the Moran’s also sponsor the Meath senior and underage GAA teams.

This is John’s first season hunting the Tara Harriers and he is already earning a great reputation, opening up new country in the Longwood area and with cracking meets at Hill of Down, Dancing Tree, Castlerickard and Nobber.

John’s fellow joint master, Henry Smith, owner of Corballis Farm Trekking and Therapeutic Riding Centre, hunted the pack for 22 seasons and has been master for 42 seasons. Lorraine McDowell is master for 32 seasons, and Bryan Maher, Larry Cunningham and Eugene O’Reilly make up the team.

Kennel huntsman and professional whipper-in Sabine Dowdall took over from her father and former huntsman, Terry, 23 seasons ago. Her grandfather Christy, in the days before hunt transport, cycled to meets with hounds for miles in all weathers. Sabine has consistently produced a top-class pack, and competes at the National Hound Show in Stradbally each year.

The management team also includes honorary secretary Cepta Finnegan and the honorary treasurer David Patton, who do such sterling work. They host two point-to-points at Tattersalls, a hunter trials, a Ladies’ Day Meet on January 18th at the Old Rectory Kilmessan, a Children’s Meet and recently, a raffle for a smashing Ifor Williams trailer.

Joint master Bryan Maher is on the mend after an unfortunate fall, which led to him fracturing his leg at the opening meet. He was rescued by Hallie Crowe from Riverstown Farm show jumpers and nursed back with tender care by his wife Ann, who is a nurse, who has warned him not to give up hunting. So happy with his progress, she is encouraging him to put in his entry for Strictly Come Dancing. Expect a few shapes from Bryan at the forthcoming hunt ball!

Celebration

It’s an exciting time to be a member of The Tara Harriers, who celebrate their 275th Anniversary this year, almost three centuries old, with a celebratory Hunt Ball at Killeen Castle on February 15th and the appointment of a new huntsman.

They have gone from strength to strength, with one aim to run the hunt professionally with proper dress standards and hunter turnout, well managed finances and creating a fun atmosphere for its followers, and respect for the land owners, the land and wildlife. Members receive a monthly newsletter and social media is managed by Stephen Dillon. Recently a video of master Larry Cunningham tying a hunt stock properly received 175,000 views.

Their hunt chase team of John Moran MH, Eddie and Brendan Leonard, sons of that legendary horseman Hugh Leonard, and Fionn Campbell have won the North Tipperary Challenge for the last two years and hope to do the hat-trick this coming year.

Jake Cromwell, John O'Dwyer and Ciaran O'Dwyer out with the Tara Harriers at Fox's Bar in Skryne \ Noel Mullins

One of the first people I met was Liam Keogh, an exceptional horseman who whipped-in to the Taras for 20-plus seasons, and rode in many hunt team chases. He won 37 point-to-points, three on Master Sweet and six on Ribbon of Darkness, aptly named as he only had one eye!

Liam was recently made an honorary life member of the Taras for his lifelong contribution to the hunt. He was with his daughter Suzann and his two grandchildren, Ciaran and Culainn, who are very proud of him, as Liam won three show jumping classes recently at Emerald Equestrian Centre. His daughter Suzann was riding Katie Hegarty’s hunter, as she is a nurse and was on night duty.

Followers

There was a great following with John Moran’s sister, Lauren and baby Noah, as well as his father Sean and mother Cathy, sister of Meath footballer Tommy Dowd, and John’s partner Tori. Hunting also was young Jake Cromwell, son of horse trainer Gavin, John and Ciara O’Dwyer, Robert Guihen, John Hyland, Chloe Armstrong, farrier Ben McAteer, hunt treasurer David Patton, Stephen Dillon, his wife Katie and son Noah.

Also out was Jean Briscoe, wife of legendary master George Briscoe, who was master for over 70 seasons, John and Lisa McDowell, Jack Martin - whose father Pat trains racehorses - was riding a hunter for Stephen Dillon and was second in a bumper in Navan recently, Sarah McCabe, Sally Ann Cooney, Barry O’Brien, Gerry Tully, Niall and Rachel Rooney, Hayley O’Reilly and children Arthur and Harriet, Robin Hill, Ann Colfer, former master Abby Cosgrove, former eventer Gervaise Maher, Camille Beirne, Nigel Crowe and Marie McAuley from Balrath.

Strong ditches

As the 12 ½ couple of hounds, with 3 ½ couple of first season hounds, came down the ramp one could not help but notice their well-muscled strong backs, including their Stradbally Hound Show Brood Bitch Champion Pepper and she has a litter on the ground by Meath Bison. Kennel huntsman Sabine Dowdall, who was area manager, with master Larry Cunningham does not like her hounds light, but well-conditioned as they have a busy season ahead.

The first draw was across the Duleek Road into Candle Hill across Paddy Conway’s, who also deals in horses, where they found and got a circular run over Curran’s, where the first ditch caused a share of problems, and into Ward chairman Christy Reynolds’ farm, checking at the Borrowwaddy Road.

Horse trainer Gavin Cromwell, who hunted for many years with the Taras, then welcomed them for a canter over his gallops and to the fore was his son Jake on his good pony. Gavin had a good stiff ditch for the followers to jump onto the road.

The huntsman had the pack onto a fox quickly in The Jungle and he gave them a good spin in a loop over Walsh’s and more yawners of ditches to negotiate in Carolin’s to the back of the mushroom farm. From there, he ran left-handed by McAuley’s, who are well-known animal meal suppliers, where he headed back and to ground in The Jungle.

All this time, the wind was very strong, which made it difficult for the pack, but they stuck to their task as the huntsman drew Johnny Finnegan’s Plantings and found another fox, who ran the Delvin River bank, checking just short of Balrath Wood.

Evan’s was blank, but they found again at Mal Hickey’s and the strong wind came into play again, with hounds finding it hard to hold the line as they crossed the ditches in Michael Hoey’s. This customer called it a day, as he found a snug spot behind The Piggery, where the huntsman blew for home after a smashing day, which Brendan Leonard described as more than challenging.

Hospitality was awaiting back at Fox’s Bar, together with a roaring open fire and the 275th Anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Tara Harriers in full swing.