IT is many years since I hunted from the west Limerick meet of Garryfine and I was anxious to renew my acquaintance with the famed banks. Just a crossroads not too far from Bruree, it was a hive of activity on Saturday, as boxes assembled and found suitable parking. Sadly, Garryfine defies the spirit of Christmas, as it has neither shop nor pub, so refreshments were at a minimum, but it didn’t take from the anticipation of a good day’s hunting in really challenging country.

As we arrived, retired master Pat Bermingham, who is recovering from a farm-related eye injury, was collecting cap and horses were being un-boxed and mounted. However, one good eye was quite sufficient for him to ensure that all mounted followers were contributing their fair share towards the running of the hunt.

Never ones to hang around as the clock struck 11am, huntsman Padraic Beahan (known to his friends as Paudge), now in his ninth season carrying the horn, was on his horse and ready to roll. His better half, Adriana, was on family duty with their two children, but her horse was barely fit to pull out in any case, as they had a stormer of a day just the previous Wednesday from Bulgaden.

This also had some bearing on the turnout, as many horses and jockeys needed to recharge the batteries before facing another day of big jumping. The pack looked a picture, a credit to Kennel huntsman Brian O’Leary, who also hunts the Fedamore Harriers on foot.

The masters and whippers-in made an impressive photo before move off. Senior master, “small” John McNamara, was on foot, as he is recovering from a very nasty hunting accident early in the season, but the family were represented by his son, Christopher, on their good coloured.

Fantastic form

Christopher McNamara, Sean and Megan O’Donovan MH, Katie Clohessy and Sarah McCarthy ready to move off \ Catherine Power

Huntsman Padraic had his 12 and a half couple, roughly equally divided between Old English and traditional Black and Tan, in fantastic form and have been enjoying particularly good hunting this season. Joint-masters, Michael Mullane, out with his wife, Linda, Sean O’Donovan and Gary McCarthy were all out, as were field master Sean Smith, in addition to whippers-in Dessie Lenihan and Gerry Murphy and event rider Dominic Furnell. The latter, who has got round five-star Badminton, has just returned from a successful ride in the Ledbury Golden Button cross-country race in the UK. Sean was accompanied by his daughter, young Megan on her good grey.

Visiting from Scarteen were the veteran Billy Halligan, with Dermot O’Halloran, Danny Hayes and Michael Butler, who were out and relishing the experience of unknown banks.

Looking a picture was Jo Turvey on her very stylish grey mare, with both horse and rider turned out to perfection. Area managers for the day were Dessie Lenihan and Michael Mullane, who had done their work well, as there was loads of country open on the day.

Sticklers for time, barely after the appointed hour of 11 o’clock, huntsman Padraig took his 12 and a half couple to their first draw on the hill of Garryfine.

Hounds found and, after some marvellous woodland hunting, our pilot eventually decided to take to the country. There was a brace in covert, but third season home-bred bitch Rosie remained loyal to the hunted fox and led the pack as they broke for the lowlands, with Charleville and the Duhallow country not too far distant.

Our guides became the young Murphy sisters, daughters of whipper-in Gerry. Both girls only recently returned from event yards abroad, Lorna from Lucinda Fredericks in Wiltshire and Caoimhe, who took a year out from her job as a pharmaceutical engineer to work in an event yard in New South Wales, Australia.

Herculean effort

Almost the first fence of the day was a typical Garryfine yawner, but with the additional problem of a strand of wire at the far side. First on hand was whipper-in Gerry Muphy, who peeled off his horse and, with an Olympic-style long jump, got to the other side, opened the wire and repeated the herculean effort on the way back and was back on his horse just as the huntsman arrived.

With Dominic Furnell showing the way, this semi-canal took a bit of jumping; Mike Clohessy from Friarstown, who runs a leading dairy farm with robotic milkers, was out with his daughter, Katie, and both made little of it. Another good performance came from beginner, young Megan Conway, who jumped like a veteran. Probably the most stylish performance came from young Ava Sheedy from Bulgaden, where her father farms extensively. This trench was no respecter of rank and Joint Master Gary McCarthy from Fedamore came a cropper, but happily ended at the far side and was back on his horse and gone. Good fencing is crucial to hunting and the hunt are fortunate to have Gary Ahearne, who crosses the country at ease, laden down with the paraphernalia of his role and has everything back in tip-top condition once the field have moved on.

They hunted on through some really challenging country into John Riordan’s farm, before moving on towards Fort Middle, where every bank is close to puissance standard, but eventually Reynard was marked to ground and left.

They then hacked on for the next draw in the aptly named Foxhall and, while hounds spoke several times, Reynard had long since gone.

They drew on almost to the village of Colman’s Well, before swinging left-handed back towards Fort Middle, where they found in a very large modern plantation. After some extensive woodland hunting, hounds broke and hunted back towards Garryfine, before marking to ground almost back at the meet. With shadows lengthening and Christmas just round the corner, our huntsman blew for home.

However, the day was not quite over, as once boxed up, both riders and foot-followers returned to Dessie and Danielle Linehan’s home and horse yard nearby. Danielle, probably the most stylish and competent lady rider in the hunting field, was not riding on the day as she has just recently added to her family. However, Christmas hospitality was aplenty, ably dispensed by Danielle and her team of helpers, led by her mother, Norrie, so no-one was left without a full plate and a glass to match.

Fact file

Kennels: Grange, Co. Limerick.

Chairman: John McNamara.

Vice Chairman: Pat Bermingham

Joint-Masters: John McNamara, Michael Mullane, Gary McCarthy, Sean O’Donovan.

Hon. Secretary: Marie Wheeler.

Point-to-Point and hunter trial secretary: Marie Wheeler.

Huntsman: Padraic Behan.

Whippers-in: Gerry Murphy, Dessie Lenihan, Dominic Furnell.

Field master: Sean Smith.

Country hunted: Co Limerick, west of the Limerick/Kilmallock road.

Brief history: The hunt was formed in 1894 and it was reported that a deer was hunted through the city, across the River Shannon.

Meets: Sat and Wed 11am.

Visitors: welcome by arrangement.

Some previous masters: Malcolm Shaw, Alf McDonogh, Desmond Hodgins MRCVS, John Power, Norman Wheeler, Gerry Gleeson, Michael Buckley.