A VISIT to the North Kilkennys is always a treat.

A farmers’ pack, they have remained true to their roots, having been founded by a sporting curate, one Fr Kearns, back in the day. For all their farming roots, they are very much a red coat hunt, with the founding families still very much in charge.

Highlighting that the founding families are still very much involved, Billy Healy and his cousin Brian Murphy are joint masters. The third joint master is huntsman Noel Rafter, who has carried the horn with distinction for 14 seasons. Behind every great man, there is an even greater woman (or so they say), but in this case, it is certainly true, as Tania Heffernan is very much part of the team. Tania started her career as a work jockey with the great Jim Bolger and it shows. She crosses the country like a swallow and is a real stylist in the saddle. She turns out the hunt horses to perfection and Noel’s turnout would be a standard setter in high Leicestershire. She and Noel intend to tie the knot once the season is over, with horses roughed off and I’m sure all will join with me in wishing them a great day and a very happy life together.

Welcome

As we arrived in the small village, senior master Billy Healy and hunt secretary Michael P Maher, with hunt chairman Mal Tynan not too far away, were on hand to welcome The Irish Field and escort us to the village hostelry, Conolly’s, where we met a bevy of yellow waistcoats, britches, boots and well-tied stocks, having just a little encouragement for the challenge ahead.

Conolly’s was humming with good cheer and anticipation. Former chairman, Eddie Fitzpatrick was on hand, as was Deirdre Rafter (huntsman’s sister), who works with show jumpers and was riding a real nice type, owned by James Norton, who was also out. James formerly worked in the health insurance industry and now works as adviser to many of the large private practices.

The Healy family, as always, were well-represented, with the recently married Robert, who works in Glanbia, and his sister Jennifer, who is on the scientific staff of the Irish Equine Centre, based in Johnstown, Co Kildare. Michael Rafter, father of our huntsman, is hunt treasurer and was looking after cap collection and sundry, important duties, while others relaxed.

Some more abstemious types were already mounted and ready for the fray, as was Kilkenny hunt chairman, Sean D Rafter (but then he is a barrister!), who was accompanied by young Sean William on his good pony. This was the young jockey’s ninth day already this season, a veteran at seven. His mother, Nicola, was out holding a watching brief, as was grandad, again Sean, who in a past life was a racehorse trainer and both making sure young Sean came home safe and sound. Sean snr (BL) was on a horse that was really on his toes and it took all the jockey’s mediation skills to maintain the partnership.

Seamus Kelly, Mal Tynan and James O’Neill at the North Kilkenny meet at Tullaroan \ Catherine Power

Farming community

Like all of Kilkenny, Tullaroan is steeped in hurling… Hurling is very much part of their DNA, the club having being founded in the same year as the GAA itself, 1884. In the intervening decades, they have won no less than 20 senior county championships. However, we were there to hunt with the North Kilkennys, who like the GAA club, are a hunt that emerged from the farming community.

Almost uniquely among Irish hunts, not only do they own their kennels and huntsman’s house, but they also have enough land for their hunter trial course at Ballyring, where the kennels are located near Gattabawn, which nestles in the foothills between Urlingford and Ballyragget.

All too soon, the saddling bell sounded and our huntsman was there with 13 and a half couple of smashing home-bred Old English, with occasional outcrosses to Duhallow, Waterford and Limerick. His whippers-in are the O’Neill brothers, Michael and Thomas. Despite having full-time jobs in the motor trade, they rarely miss a day hunting two days a week. A real proper hunting family, dad Tommy snr was also hunting, as was their brother James, who was area manager for the day.

Quarry

Hounds hacked on past Brittas Cottage, the former home of the renowned tenor Ronan Tynan, before going on to draw Rowans Hill, in an area known as New England. Hounds found in Michael Walsh’s and ran for Ballintarsna. Here, the line was foiled by deer, but it was the third season Pocket (by Waterford Browler), who kept the pack loyal to their quarry. They crossed some smashing country, before marking him to ground near the Pat Walsh war of independence memorial.

We were kept in touch all day by veteran hunt secretary Michael Maher, who farms near Freshford. Hounds then moved on to their next draw in Pat Brennan’s extensive sheep and cattle farm. Pat was on hand to welcome all, open gates and make sure everything went smoothly. As hounds drew, it gave us an opportunity to catch up with racing official Andrew Ring from Johnswell, who acts as stewards’ secretary and clerk of the course on racing days. Also out were Sean Doheny from Castlecomer and Seamus Walsh and Kyle Carrigan.

Billy Healy MFH waiting to move off to the first draw with the North Kilkenny Foxhounds \ Catherine Power

Hounds drew on towards some clearfell forestry, where they again found. Hounds spoke well and ran towards Tullaroan, but our pilot knew exactly where he was going and found a welcoming shore.

All the while, hounds were drawing back towards the meet and it seemed an opportune time to blow for home.

The North Kilkenny are a happy and welcoming hunt and we look forward to our return.

History

The country was first hunted by the Kilkenny Foxhounds, before being given on loan to Richard Wandesforde of Castlecomer. It was then known as the Freshford Country. At that time, the Wandsforde family owned and ran Castlecomer coal mine, which was by far the largest enterprise in North Kilkenny.

With the onset of war, the hunt’s future looked uncertain until the curate of Freshford, Fr Kearns, as sporting as he was pious, persuaded three local farming families - the Murphys, Dillons and Phelans - to take over the hunt. The rest, as they say, is history, with Billy Healy now senior joint master, a role he shares with his cousin Brian Murphy. It has remained primarily a farmers’ pack to this day.

Hunt Officers

Kennels: Ballyring, Freshford, Co Kilkenny

Chairman: Mr Mal Tynan

Master and Huntsman: Mr Noel Rafter MFH

Joint Masters: Billy Healy (2002-), Brian Murphy

Secretary: Mr Michael P Maher

Treasurer: Michael Rafter

Point-to-point secretary: Mr Robert Healy

Whippers-in: Mr Michael O’Neill (14 seasons), Mr Thomas O’Neill (16 seasons)

Some former masters:

Richard Wandesford 1937-41, J Campion 1941-47, Ml Maher 1947-50, John Murphy 1941-2000, Loughlin Bowe 1970-75, Ml Dillon 1975-98, Liam Murphy 1997-, Sean Doheny