SET in the deepest heart of mid-Tipperary, the village of Clonakenny certainly wasn’t a one-horse town last Sunday, as it was the venue for a meet of the Golden Vale Foxhounds. There were upwards of 50 horses and ponies assembled at or near hunt chairman, Michael Costigan’s house and stable yard, almost in the centre of the small village.

The kitchen was brimming with the best of Tipperary hospitality, liberally dispensed to one and all, either foot or mounted, by Michael and his wife Eileen. Sadly, Michael himself was not mounted, as he is recovering from a nasty leg injury and wouldn’t pass the trot up.