A TRIP to the South Union we usually keep until the end of the season, when we make the trip to our southern neighbours. They hunt country south of Cork city, in that very sought after country bordering on the Great Atlantic Way, with Kinsale as its centre.

On the day, the meet was at Allen’s Bar in the small village of Riverstick, roughly halfway between Cork Airport and Kinsale. The connection with the hunt is strong, as proprietor Eamonn Kelleher hunted the pack for over 20 seasons and his granddaughter Kaylea Corkery was out on her coloured and going well.

The bar was abuzz with activity and almost our first encounter was with the ever-debonaire master of the Muskerry, Robert Harkin and his daughter Sophia, whom I remember as a small girl, when we first visited the Muskerry at their Aghabullogue meet. Robert explained the Muskerry presence as due to the fact that their own hounds were laid low with the dreaded kennel cough and their followers had been very generously invited to hunt with their neighbouring pack.

His joint master John Crean, who runs a road-making business from his base near Ovens, was also there. A great ambassador for hunting and he has a smile that would brighten a climate-change meeting. The front bench didn’t end there, honorary secretary Donie O’Riordan from Forge Hill was out, as was John Paul O’Callaghan out with his young daughter Eabha. Another visitor was the veteran Eamonn Grainger, Muskerry field master.

Enthusiastic

The South Union have a most enthusiastic amateur huntsman in young Stephen Kelleher, now in his third season. An electrician with OCH Electrical, sadly he is standing down at the end of the season, but hopefully he will again carry the horn there or elsewhere. Hunting can ill-afford to lose such talent and enthusiasm.

Turning hounds to him were a group of equally enthusiastic amateurs, led by Taylor Devine from Douglas, who is a lawyer, aided by young Rosie Hogan. Helping on the day also was the very experienced Brendan Hourihan, who is also Joint Chairman with Liam Bourke, who sadly was absent due to farming duties. The Hourihan’s are a real proper hunting family and his sister Therese was also out on her peerless chesnut cob, who is just the ultimate schoolmaster. Despite having a good bit on the clock, the cob is as fresh as the first day I saw Therese on him, back in Aghabullogue.

Another veteran partnership was Fran O’Callaghan on her legendary black cob, Clinton. Fran (Miss Muskerry) and her veteran cob hunted all over the country, they were regulars with the Co Clare, but sadly Fran had a very serious riding accident, having been grounded by a rogue bucker.

That was before covid and it is only now that she has been able to return to the fray. Like the prodigal son, she who was lost has been found! But more of this anon.

We were fortunate to have our guide for the day none less than former huntsman, Donal Lordan from Ballinspittle, who knows every blade of South Union grass. Sadly, he is out of action from a hunting injury, but hopes to be back before the end of the season. Another knowledgeable foot-follower is former paramedic, Antony Buckley, who never misses a day with the Muskerry. Also on hand was Aidan Kearney, point-to-point secretary and former KH to the pack.

Out with the South Union Foxhounds at Riverstick, Co Cork from Muskerry were Fran O’Callaghan, Abbie Rice, Robert Harkin MFH Muskerry and John Crean MFH Muskerry \ Catherine Power

Foot-followers

Hounds, 12 and a half couple of Old English, were enlarged at the nearby GAA car park and, as always, looked a picture. Being Cork, there was no shortage of knowledgeable foot-followers and there to see hounds off was Mickey Olden, chair of the local Togher Harriers, with their huntsman, Scott Callinan. A hunt is only as good as it’s support team and the pack are lucky to have Davey O’Connor, Craig Morey and Peter O’Keefe helping out on hunting days.

Making up those from the home team were Fiona Coughlan and hunt secretary, another man of law, John McCann. Also there was former point-to-point jockey Paul Crowley, brother-in-law to champion flat jockey, Wayne Lordan, originally from nearby Kinsale.

First draw was Ballymartin wood, which held a brace, but hounds soon settled on a good dog fox and marvellous woodland hunting resulted. It wasn’t without incident, as our whipper-in’s horse got stuck in a recalcitrant ditch; the horse came out without a scratch, but was retired for the day.

When Reynard had circumnavigated the wood several times, he found a welcoming shore and was given best.

Hounds drew on and again found at Coolcorrin. It was third season Limerick-bred Principle, who set the pack right and, with all hounds on, they ran towards the main Kinsale road. Here road whipper-in, Donal McCarthy, was on hand and stopped hounds before they crossed the busy main road.

There was loads of country still at their disposal and they drew on towards John Stanley’s very extensive farm, where they found and ran towards Lackenacruneen, over some smashing country. Hounds remained loyal to the line and hunted back towards the meet. It was little short of five o’clock, when Stephen blew for home and made the short hack back to the village and the welcoming hospitality.

Never say never...

Fran was philosophical and not a little poetic about her return to the hunting field… “Never say never… Myself and my faithful cob, Clinton, return to the hunt field after a hiatus of some six years - both fully recovered [from] our injuries, me with fractured vertebrae and Clinton with a tendon. Clinton (27) picks up on the excitement, as he opened his stable door this morning and was looking at me, as if to say ‘hurry up, we’re going hunting today’!

“Hunting is a way of life - the preparations for a day’s hunting begin with cleaning tack, brushing your coat and hoping the waistcoat still fits… It’s been a while!

“The thrill and the excitement hasn’t changed, hounds found almost immediately, but being a little older and wiser, we stayed at the very back of the field and they took off down the glen at speed, but Clinton and I followed on a slower pace, looking at the sun peeping through the trees - the snow drops and daffodils springing up, the harbingers of spring and tell-tale signs that yet another season is coming to an end. Happily, there is no end in sight for this duet of 22 years. The music of the hounds is what keeps the pulse racing - and to get a second chance to relive these moments is a dream come true - flashbacks of days with the Stonehall Harriers, the Blazers, the County Clare, Duhallow, the Scarteen and even VWH in England. What a wonderful and privileged way of life.”

And so say all of us.

The Team

Chairman - Liam Bourke, Brendan Hourihan

Hon Sec /Field Master - John McCann

Huntsman - Stephen Kelleher

Whippers-in - Taylor Devine, Rosie Hogan

Treasurer - Isabel Lordan

Days hunted - Saturday and Tuesday

History

The first recorded masters were father and son, both Thomas Knowles from Oatlands, Kinsale, who hunted hounds from the 1830s up until almost the turn of the century. The country is bounded by Cork City to the north, Kinsale and the sea to the south and Muskerry Hunt country on the west.

Former masters include Clayton Love (1949-59), Col Hayes (1959-71), WP Worth Newenham (1971-89) and Denis Murphy (1981-96).