History of the Hunt

There were numerous private packs in Westmeath since 1740, but the first subscription pack was the Westmeath Foxhounds, founded in 1854.

Officers

Chairman - Sonya O’Hara

Masters - Ann Derwin, Cyril O’Hara, Jim Derwin and Helen Moorehead

Huntsman - Niall Dunne

Whippers-In - Bryan and Shane Dunne, Graham Dempsey, Derek O’Hara

Field Masters - James Lowry and Ken Carroll

Honorary Secretary - Marion Mortell

CASTLETOWN Geoghegan is one of the best meets on the Westmeath Foxhounds hunt calendar. And what a day’s hunting we were treated to, with poor scenting at the beginning that improved as the day went on and a fantastic run at the end. In this sheep farming area, with so many foxes preying on lambs, farmers are fortunate to have such an effective pack keeping foxes controlled and on the move during this very busy lambing season. Followers met first at Ned Claffey’s Bar, where Paul Claffey was dispensing drinks, while a company known as The Saw Doctors were clearing 16 poplar trees that fell during the storm across the road. Paul is also a farmer and the hunt cross his land, but they also cross the family land of Dolores Glennon, who owns The Drake Inn, so the followers spread their custom, starting in Claffey’s and at the end in Dolores’ Drake Inn.

It was the day of the hunt ball, with music by The Elastic Band, organised by Ann McCormack. A few ladies decided to skip the day and arrange their hair appointments, but we noticed Dessie Green finishing early and we suspect he had an appointment with his barber too! Sinead Lowry was not worried about hunting scrapes, as she said, ‘It’s easy to polish a diamond’! But I was surprised that Ken Carroll, who gave us such a fine description of the colours that the ladies would be wearing last year was not able to enlighten us this year. It seems the ladies were tight-lipped this year on their hunt ball ensembles.

As the followers moved off, it was noticeable that every rider was properly turned out, a standard set by the joint masters. There were no wax jackets, multicoloured stocks or eventing covers on their hats, and horses were well-presented as well, which is a mark of respect for the tradition of the hunt and for the landowners, who are kind enough to allow riders to cross their daily place of work. This can be big country to cross, so it has attracted an increasing number of horsemen and women from adjacent hunts that like the challenge.

Honorary Secretary Marion Mortell and Joint Master Helen Moorehead at The Westmeath Foxhounds meet at Castletown Geoghegan \ Noel Mullins

Masters and Hunt Staff

There is a great tradition of horse production and talented riders associated with the hunt and Kilbeggan Racecourse, the home of the Midland National, is nearby. Joint master Ann Derwin was a proud grandmother at The Irish Field Annual Awards lunch in the K Club, as her grandsons, Francis Jnr and James, were honoured for their show jumping successes in 2024. I think all of the Derwin siblings get their horsemanship and balance from the hunting field. Joint master Helen Moorehead was hunting, but Cyril O’Hara, who owns Ennel Bloodstock, was temporarily on the sidelines with an injury.

Former master and horse trainer, Dot Love’s grandsons, Timmy and Matthew, have had their success on the track, with Matthew having a recent winner on Ballerina Boxer in Tyrella for Willie Harvey. Ciaran Murphy pre-trained the Gigginstown House young stock, and now runs a successful training stable, and Wendy O’Leary is a past master.

Trevor Badger, owner of the well-known Bridge House Stud standing the Sadler’s Wells stallion Let the Lion Roar and the Sport Horse Caricello, was hunting a horse by Caricello, showing that besides jumping Grand Prix courses, they can also hunt.

Huntsman Niall Dunne is a class act as a horseman and hound breeder. He was riding a horse purchased from Jim Derwin, who he says is, ‘a machine’, and he has to be in this country! He originally whipped in to the Westmeaths, the Limericks, then hunted the Waterford Old English pack and was invited back to hunt the Westmeaths. His wife Kitty Shanahan is an equine osteopath. She was at the meet with their children, Arthur and Jasmine. Niall has preserved the old Westmeath bloodlines from the era of John Smith and James Lowry. He has developed a hybrid hound to suit the countryside of today, crossing sturdy Old English hounds with the Modern hounds with voice, drive and accuracy that has resulted in a consistently high standard of sport. His first season hounds by Limerick Tailor and Racket he says ‘are flying it’. At the National Hound Show, he won the Unentered Doghound Class and Reserve Unentered Champion with Darter by Cattistock Driver, out of an old Westmeath dam line. He also won the Unentered Bitch Class with Riskey by Meath Rider.

Assistance

Former Westmeath huntsman, James Lowry has been a great supporter of Niall and invaluable with his assistance. He was riding a smashing grey Irish Draught by Fintan Himself. His daughter Ciara and his grandson, three-year-old Ted, were joined by Donna Cleary and her daughter, four-year-old Mazie.

Whipping-in are Niall’s father Bryan, his brother Shane, Derek O’Hara and Graham Dempsey. Niall has a great team on the ground, which makes the hunting so good, particularly Kevin McGuire, Mark Riggs, Christopher and Richard Keane and Thomas Carrigy. Marion Mortell was a busy honorary secretary, doing all the paperwork required in hunting today. Her husband Mark was joint master.

I am grateful to Darren Cronin, whose daughter Saoirse was hunting a smashing chesnut, for taking me around.

The Chairman of Eventing Ireland, Niki Potterton was hunting his wife Sarah Ennis’ former eventer, Ardeo Grand Slam, who won the Stepping Stones series as a four-year-old. Paul Keogan, former field master of the Ballymacads, was hunting, as well as David Flynn, whose grandfather Jack, a committee member, passed away at 101 years. Both field masters, Ken Carroll and James Lowry, were hunting, as well as Barry Brown, Erin Cleary, Hannah McCormack, Kieran Rossiter and Darren Conway. Visiting from the Louths were Killian Dunne and Stephen Doyle for the Hunt Ball. Michael Ruane, brother-in-law of former jockey Gerry Newman, recalled Ted Walsh winning on Barney’s Prince in Castletown. Also following was Larry Lyons, whose daughter Ciara hunted the Westmeath Harriers for 13 seasons, Cloe Roche, Thomas Campbell and his sons, Robert and Adrian. Jocelyn Hatton hunted with Joe Scally, a founder of the Streamstown Harriers in 1969 and master (1969-2000). Others were, Michael Dilger, young Eugene Burke and Caroline Pilkington, whose son Jack is training in Australia.

Hunting

Kieran Flynn and his wife and former master, Caprini and their son David’s girlfriend, Mariana Couto from Northern Portugal, were at the first stone wall as riders cantered on in Kelly’s and Finian O’Neill’s, who breeds thoroughbred horses, to get to the first covert. Hounds found immediately and this fellow ran in a loop and back to the covert and to ground.

They jumped across Kieran and Davy Flynn’s and up the road to Joe Custerly’s and hounds were flying in fine voice on another fox, as he was spotted crossing the point-to-point field by Sinead Lowry and Donna Cleary. He set his sights for Garty Bog, but decided to do a circle right-handed all the way back to the find and the same loop again, when the huntsman stopped the pack as cattle were grazing nearby, as they were about to retrace their steps again. But the best was yet to come. They jumped onto the road from the point-to-point course into Davy McCormack’s finding again and were faced with some wide drains and walls, as the fox headed towards the Water Tower in the direction of Kilbeggan Racecourse into Kieran Daly’s farm for a successful outcome.

Hounds found again in Finian O’Brien’s and he headed for Tim Carey’s Tullaghansleek Stud, where he stands the Mr Prospector/Sadlers Wells stallion Golden Lariat, sire of Irish Grand National winner, Lord Lariat. Hounds suddenly checked, but Faithguard by Waterford Samson, put them right and the huntsman never touched them from there to the end, as he headed over Donore Hill right-handed, parallel to Mick Custerly’s through Ruane’s.

They faced a huge hedge with wire that did not look jumpable, but with hounds two fields ahead, the huntsman turned his horse and took it on and landed running, as Bryan and Shane Dunne, Ken Carroll, PJ McCormack, Hannah McCormack and Erin Cleary were on his heels. There were walls as far as the eye could see, as they crossed Kieran Daly’s and left-handed in the direction of the Water Tower and back again for Castletown Village, where they marked just short of the church. What a run. The huntsman just about managed to get his breath and blow for home after a run of over one hour. The day ended at Dolores Glennon’s Drake Inn, where the followers re-energised themselves before heading to the Hunt Ball.