THE heavy showers in no way deterred an enthusiastic mounted field last Saturday at picturesque Lough Gur where the Co Limerick Foxhounds had their first day of autumn hunting.

Horses and hounds were unboxed at hunt secretary Deirdre Hogan’s farm. With almost 20 mounted it was very much like old times and it was great to see so many familiar faces like our farrier Timmy O’Connell and his wife Adrienne. Mother and daughter combination Jennifer and Grace Power from Bruree were out, with dad Mark holding a watching brief, all undeterred by the weather.

Another family combination were Ollie Hartigan and his daughter Clara who had made the short hack to enjoy the morning.

With 21 and a half couple of fabulous old English hounds, Fergus Stokes and his hounds looked a picture. In the absence of his regular whipper-in, Fergus was assisted by young Conor Fitzgerald from Patrickswell.

Between Covid-19 and insurance, it is almost two years since horses and hounds were reunited in the Co Limerick Foxhounds hunting field but with the seasons meet card already drawn up, everything is set fair for a great season.

Hounds drew the hills behind Deirdre Hogan’s farm and into Seamus Murnane’s who was not mounted due to farming duties. Joint master Emma Thompson was having her first morning on horseback as were hunt secretary Deirdre Hogan and hunt treasurer Mathew Lloyd who remained somewhat at arm’s length as his horse was extra fresh.

Full flight

For all that, the hills failed to produce a fox and hounds hacked on to their next draw on the historic hills overlooking the lake. Here their host was former master Oliva Hoare, who was there to welcome hounds on her newly renovated property, The Farm by Lough Gur.

On the well covered hills overlooking the lake, hounds soon spoke and some woodland hunting ensued with Reynard occasionally appearing only to retreat back into the heavy cover. The Limerick orchestra was in full flight and combined with the sound of the hunting horn it made for a magical experience.

Eventually Reynard decided to take hounds and the field on a short guided tour and foot followers were entranced to see hounds streaming up Knock Fennel followed by Fergus and those brave (or foolhardy enough) to attempt these perilous slopes. It was only a brief sojourn however with our pilot wisely deciding to return home to covert.

With scent petering out along with the long awaited sunshine, Fergus wisely blew for home. This sunshine allowed our photographer an opportunity for some group photographs. All in all a most successful start to what we all hope will be the rebirth of mounted hunting after the lay-off.