History

The hunt was formed in 1952 with many of the Dublin legal profession members in the early years. One of the longest serving masters was Kevin Byrne (1987-2003), who died in office. They hunt North County Dublin and Co Meath.

The team

Masters: Aileen Byrne-Williams and John O’Toole

Huntsman: Michael Lynch

Whippers-in: Dr Colin Byrne, Jack Mahon and Charlie Cromwell

Honorary secretary: Mervyn Williams

Treasurer: Aileen Byrne-Williams

THE Goldburn Beagles met at Baker’s Farm in Malahow in North County Dublin, home to the breeders of the famous steeplechaser Arkle (1957–1970). What great supporters the Bakers are of hunting, as the Fingal Harriers had passed through the farm the previous day.

David Baker, who is joint master of the Ward Union Staghounds, and his brother John were dispensing hot drinks and other refreshments to the Goldburn followers in one of the beautiful old stone buildings that have seen some great horses pass through in the history of Baker’s yard.

David’s wife Louise, who hunted with the Fingals, was back after taking the children to GAA practice. Her father, Maurice, was a breeder and owner and had racehorses in training with Kevin Prendergast, Tracey Collins, John Hayden and Liam Browne.

With Cheltenham week upon us, it is opportune to remember the mighty steeplechaser Arkle, who won an incredible three Cheltenham Gold Cups, as David and John’s grandmother Kathleen bred Arkle. He is known as the greatest steeplechaser of all time, winning 27 races from 35 starts, which included an Irish Grand National, King George V Chase, two Hennessy Gold Cups, three Cheltenham Gold Cups and a Whitbread Cup, trained nearby by Tom Dreaper and ridden mainly by Pat Taaffe. He was so superior to other horses that the rules of racing had to be changed.

Kathleen Baker decided to put her mare Bright Cherry to the stallion Archive, who was standing at Ballymacoll Stud in Dunboyne and the result was Arkle. He was reared in Malahow and enjoyed his early days in the freedom of the extensive grass paddocks. Kathleen’s daughter Alison, later a joint master of the Fingal Harriers, took over with the early handling of him, before he was purchased by Anne Dutchess of Westminster.

In memory of his dam, Bright Cherry, who won five chases and a hurdle race, the family erected an inscribed granite stone in the Quarry Field. I remember Alison’s sister June as an expert on racing bloodlines, while her brother Harry and other sister ‘Pidgie’ – with her well-known hunter Mister Hudson – hunted for many years with the Fingal Harriers.

Music

What a day’s hunting we had, despite rain, wind and some fog, but it was not cold. It was non-stop hound music from the start to when the huntsman blew for home.

The number of foot packs in Ireland outnumber the mounted packs at least two to one and it is the oldest form of hunting in Ireland, dating back to at least 1,500 BC. Today, it is not uncommon to see followers on foot that would have been hunting mounted during the week.

On the day, hunting with the Goldburn members were followers of the Meath Foxhounds, Fingal Harriers and the Ward Union, as it is an opportunity to take their family out, without the trappings of a horse or pony, getting exercise and being closer to hounds.

The Goldburns have gone from strength to strength, with 92 followers out on New Year’s Day at Gilsenan’s Bar in Drumree. I recall when I had the pleasure of hunting the Goldburn Beagles back in the 1980s meeting at Gilsenan’s and Mrs Gilsenan would usher all those wearing green hunting coats (Masters and hunt staff) into her parlour. There, she would have put on a great display of food. Woe betides any follower not wearing a green coat wandering into the parlour, as she would immediately banish them back to the bar!

The Goldburns have attracted an increasing number of GAA club junior members following, which they consider as just another form of training. Hunting on foot is also popular in Kerry and Clare and Ger Loughnane, who trained Clare to win an All-Ireland Final, had his own foot pack and still follows.

In the blood

Aileen Byrne-Williams has been joint master since 2004 and whipped-in since 1999. She has managed to keep the club afloat, even through difficult times, to the success it is today. She has been chairman of the Hunting Association of Ireland and the Irish Masters of Beagles Association and her father Kevin was master (1987-2003).

She is also a tireless promoter of hunting and all the benefits of hunting on foot. Her fellow master is John O’Toole, who is in office since 1997, hunted the pack for a number of years and still organises the hunt country.

Michael Lynch is the current huntsman and he has hunting in his blood, as his father Andy whipped-in to the Ward Union Staghounds for over 30 seasons, as well as working for trainer Noel Meade and subsequently training many winners on the track himself.

The Goldburn hounds are probably at their peak, with so many exceptional days. Whipping-in is Dr Colin Byrne, Jack Mahon and Charlie Cromwell. The foundation hounds of the pack originate from West Down Norma and Royal Rock Viking, together with some Eton College bloodlines. I remember the Royal Rock hunting for a weekend at nearby Garristown a number of years ago and they provided non-stop sport.

Cracking day

The hunt was expecting Andrew Marren, who hunts the Old Port Bassets in Canada. He was on a hunting holiday in Ireland, having hunted already with the Fingal Harriers and the Laois Foxhounds, but he did not show up. He missed a cracker of a day of real hunting in the traditional sense.

Because of the weather, a few may have turned over in their beds when the alarm went off and they heard the wind blowing, but there was still a good turnout of hardy annuals at the meet. Following were hosts David and John Baker, Lottie Baker and Alice Harford whose mother, Nuala, was a junior international show jumper and is a niece of horse trainer, Ado McGuinness.

Also braving the elements was Chloe Dempsey and world record side saddle high jump holder, Susan Oakes, who seems to hunt somewhere most days of the week. Former Meath joint master, Bill Dwan of Castlebridge Consignments and his son Michael, who is keen on the hounds, were hunting. Bill was wearing his Kilkenny hurling socks in the black and amber colours of the ‘Cats’. Also out were James and Graham Campbell, a cousin of Ward Union huntsman Darren, as well as Charlie Cromwell, a son of Joey Cromwell.

Understanding

After refreshments, it was down to business, as huntsman Michael Lynch took the pack of 12 and a half couple up past the stable yard and over the hill of grass, but it did not hold. The pack were on a mission, as they picked up a weak line and worked up to it with heads glued to the ground and they were in luck, as they crossed into Dan Carmody’s, and then the music started.

They ran a wide loop back towards Baker’s yard and crossed the lane where they checked. Michael made an inspired cast and it was perfect, as they immediately recovered the line and ran right-handed towards Brendan Sheridan’s and on over Macken’s before running in a loop again over former Fingal Harriers joint master Laurence Flynn’s farm and over Ennis’ and back towards Flynn’s again in a line for Springhill. There, they lost the line after a cracking run, with a great understanding between the huntsman and the pack.

After a quick breather, Michael then drew Baker’s gorse and found again and this brought them on a run back towards Baker’s yard before swinging left-handed in a line for Brendan Sheridan’s, where they checked but could not recover the line.

With light holding and the wind settling down, they crossed the road from the Nags Head to Springhill Road to Donnelly’s. They then drew Peter Commane’s farm. Peter has been a racehorse owner for a number of years and his filly Smaoineamh Sila by Pride of Dubai is in training with John McConnell. She has had four wins in Leopardstown and Bellewstown. Now Peter has high hopes for his new filly by Circus Maximus, who will go into training shortly.

With enough done, the huntsman blew for home after a smashing day, and the followers were appreciative of the kind hospitality of the Baker family, on the farm that the mighty Arkle spent his formative years.