HAVING hunted for the first three weeks of the current season with some of the longest established packs, it was a refreshing change to visit a hunt that is unburdened by history, having been started a mere 12 seasons ago in a county with no huge tradition of fox hunting.

Up to 20 years ago there was no mounted pack at all in Kerry, though there were numerous foot packs, particularly around Waterville. More recently, a group of enthusiasts based around Killarney formed the Kingdom Hunt, hunting drag and covering most of south Kerry as far as Valentia Island. It was a runaway success, often attracting fields of over 100 and eventually having to close membership to new applicants.