WITH the season winding down, your correspondents have been on the move. But on Saturday, we didn’t move very far, as our local pack, the Co Limericks, were meeting at nearby Lough Gur. It was to be their penultimate meet to finish a very successful season.

However, it was not without incident and our huntsman Fergus Stokes was nursing an eye injury. He was out, but on foot, complete with sunglasses for the day and he had handed the horn to first whipper-in David Beecher. Six foot tall in his socks, David cuts an impressive figure, a stylish rider, a consummate hound man and a gentleman both on and off a horse.

Practice and custom

The day has now become a fixture on the calendar, as they finish the season in Lough Gur and, by practice and custom, kick off the day with food and refreshments from Deirdre Hogan, who has been hunt secretary now for almost 25 seasons. She was ably assisted by a group of helpers, including her good friend Anne Marie Walsh from Athlacca.

With the retirement of Liz Barry of Manister House Stud, the hunt has just acquired a new chairperson. She has been replaced by Belinda Johnston, who has been a tireless worker for the hunt over the years.

With David carrying the horn, amateur whippers-in Damien Stokes (Fergus’ brother) and farrier Timmy O’Connell were pressed into service. Timmy (the farrier to the stars) has probably shod more Cheltenham winners than any farrier in history. Surely an exaggeration…

Yet he shoes all the Martinstown horses in the off-season and, as JP has had more festival winners than any recorded owner, it follows that Timmy’s record stands. As always, he was out with his better half Adrienne and they make a formidable couple across country, both with the Scarteen and the Limerick. He wasn’t the only farrier out, as Rory Brennan (a Limerick regular) was also out. Hunt treasurer Mathew Lloyd of Kilballyowen was out on his new grey, having a less exciting day than on his previous hunter.

Among the joint masters, we had Niall Foley, son of legendary James Foley, amateur whipper-in to Hugh Robards in the halcyon days. Sadly on foot was Emma Thompson, who has been sidelined with a “minor” collarbone and shoulder fracture. Emma, with a blacktype pedigree, is daughter of Lady Melissa Brooke, who was master for over 20 seasons. She is also cousin to Lord Waterford, master of the family pack.

Another eminent foot-follower was Dr Jane English (Kennedy), whose late husband Paul, was a former master. Happily, the tradition carries on, as their son Paulie, a well-known show jumper, was out and is establishing a jumping yard at their family farm in Cartown.

Co Limerick Ladies: Adrienne O’Connell, Ann Marie Walsh and hunt secretary Deirdre Hogan turn out for the meet at Lough Gur, hosted by Deirdre Hogan \ Catherine Power

Welcome

A few short words of welcome from the incoming chair saw David take his 12 and a half couple of Old English to their first draw at McCormack’s hill, just adjacent to Deirdre’s.

Limerick always attracts an elite group of foot-followers from far and wide and Saturday was no exception. Former whipper-in of the Duhallow, Arthur Comyn was holding a watching brief (he is a solicitor), as was Brian McDonagh and his brother Aidan of the Cork City Mink Hounds, whose season is due to open in a couple of weeks. Also from Cork came Brendan Healy of the Aghabullogue, as did Irene O’Meara of Duhallow with her ADC Geraldine Fitzgerald of Lough Gur.

Definitely the youngest rider of the day was young Lucy Bevan, all of three and three-quarters, with dad Geoff on the lead rein, with pony gallantly cantering on at every opportunity.

Enthusiasm

Niall Foley MFH and field master, with landowner Helen Hartigan at the Co Limerick Foxhounds meet at Lough Gur \ Catherine Power

But hounds soon found on the hill and, with their expected enthusiasm, pressed their pilot across the road and a good circle on the hill of Lough Gur resulted in a nice dash.

Having marked to ground, they pressed on to Olivia Hoare’s farm by Lough Gur. David drew on and soon had a fox afoot, who ran towards the Hamlet, crossing Jimmy and Caroline Martin’s new farm, before running on towards the Camoge river.

They then drew Barry’s old farm, with extensive plantations which were bound to hold and it didn’t disappoint. Reynard was spotted slipping away and hollered accordingly by area manager Ollie Hartigan, who was out with his wife Helen (a serious cross-country rider) and daughter Clara.

Hounds ran through Tom Ryan’s and into our home farm with plenty of jumping. Giving a great display over a couple of logs was young Ruadhan O’Carroll from Bruff on his good pony. His mum Aoife had him on tracker all day. More juniors not found wanting were Seánna Kelly, Clodagh Reale from Hospital and Clare Harty. As usual, the Buckley family were crossing country in style, mum Emma with Ben and Martha. Another jockey going well was Sean Begley of Kilmallock.

The next draw was across the main road in Flavin’s, where hounds spoke almost immediately. Reynard set his mask again for Barry’s plantation, where he lingered, with loads of woodland hunting and the Limerick orchestra in full voice. But it was the third season home-bred Truthful (by Limerick Racket out of Limerick Saline), that persuaded our pilot to make for open country and again ran through Ryan’s and back into Power’s, where he found welcome in a previously unknown shore.

With the evening and the season winding down and horses having plenty done, David blew for home, so the day and the season were over… but not quite... With hounds boxed up, those left ended up in our kitchen for a hunt tea - though, sadly, much tea was not taken.

It was a fitting end to a great season with hunts recalled, fences jumped and looking forward to the season to come. Our photographer, Catherine and I, would like thank the Co Limerick Foxhounds for all the sport and enjoyment during the season.

Long may it continue… Tally-ho!

The team

Co Limerick Foxhounds

Kennels: Clonshire, Adare

Chairman: Miss Belinda Johnston

Masters: Mr John Halley MRCVS, Mrs Emma Thompson, Mr Niall Foley, Mr Tom Schreck

Hon and point-to-point secretary: Ms Deirdre Hogan

Huntsman: Mr Fergus Stokes

Whipper-in: Mr David Beecher

Field master: Niall l Foley MFH

Country hunted: Co Limerick, the biggest and best of banks country, from around Dromin and Athlacca; and walls in the Wednesday country around Askeaton

History

In or around 1828 or 1830, Mr Croker of Ballinagarde started a scratch pack of foxhounds with Geo Fosberry as Master. Mr Fosberry held office till his death about 1845, when a committee of three took over.

Some Former masters

John Gubbins 1881-86, Nigel Baring (Barings bank) 1908-22, Lady Helen McCalmont 1933-36, Lord Daresbury 1946-90, The Earl of Harrington 1972-93, Al Schreck 1990-97, Lady Melissa Brooke 1977-97, Paul Kennedy 2005-2009, Kate Jarvey 1999-2001, Ml & Olivia Hoare 1997-2003.

Meets: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday.