WITH temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees and a little tipple of port and brandy for good measure, there was no need for jackets at the South County Dublin Harriers meet at Ivan Hemyrick’s Laraghcon Farm near Lucan.

Joint-master Liam Brew, who has been in office for the last five seasons, had laid on a large tract of land for this meet with great support from Dermot O’Brien and Jamie Taaffe, so there was no shortage of good ditch country to challenge the followers. Brew was on home ground as he runs his business, Westport Equipment Company, supplying the building industry out of Jimmy Collins’ yard, a Ward Hunt follower from nearby Dunboyne. He plans to spend some time in the West of Ireland this winter as he has also joined the Galway Blazers.

The Souths are a fun pack, where you are guaranteed a good spin across country as their hounds follow an artificial drag scent. The masters and huntsman know exactly the line of the hounds so that they have kept huge tracts of land around built up areas open to hunting. It was noticeable in the heavy traffic outside Lucan that car drivers were polite and patient and the masters, hunt staff and followers were courteous as they acknowledged the patience of drivers and thanked them for their understanding.

A happy group at The South County Dublin Harriers meet at Laraghcon Farm \ Noel Mullins

The challenging terrain resulted in a quota of injuries during the day being treated by Des Bell a Leixtippian (otherwise known as a native of Leixlip) whose car boot looked like a scene from the TV series ‘MASH’ as he tended to cuts and bruises with the skill of a paramedic without scrubs. Des plays multiple roles in hunting as his phone is full of farmer contacts and gate codes and he knows every inch of the country. He has a yellow warning light on his car to alert traffic, and wears a yellow vest while directing the hunt safely across roads and thanking drivers. He also whips into Mr Kerrs Beagles, which he has done for many years.

Billy Flood of the Kildare Foxhounds, with Mark Houlihan Miah Kelly and Emily Conlon at The South County Dublin Harriers meet at Laraghcon Farm \ Noel Mullins

Paul Kerr, who has been huntsman for the last 31 seasons, has a smashing pack of black and tan hounds that are a credit to him as they are so steady and well controlled - and they have to be as the roads are so busy. On the day, his daughter Catherine, and Nathan Barrett, a son of Colin, a farm manager at The Irish National Stud, were whipping-in.

Niall Byrne, joint master of The South County Dublin Harriers, in action on his smashing Appaloosa at Laraghcon Farm \ Noel Mullins

Many mounted

There were 50 mounted out including the masters Liam Brew and Niall Byrne on his sturdy Appaloosa, whose family were out in force: wife Eileen, daughters Ashling, Ciara and Emer, the latter looks after the hunt website. Also master John Hanlon, former honorary secretary Tina Foley and Kieran Foley, who bought visitors cap to the Galway Blazers in a recent hunt auction, ex-whip Declan Hughes, Sinead O’Connor, Barry Murphy, Kevin McDonagh, a farrier from Blessington who I met before in Brittas on a smashing black cob, Oliver Ryan, Maeve Reidy, Jean Brady, Kate Strathern who is an Irish rugby supporter, Carol Murphy, Jane Sykes from The Madhatters Skiing Group, Billy Flood who had four Kildare visitors out, Mark Houlihan, Brendan Osbourne, Aisling Doyle, Jimmy Kelly, Miah Kelly on Liam Russell’s (huntsman of the Kilworth and Araglen’s) hunter that was one of the Cutbush 10 that finished at the then Kildare huntsman Peter Cahill’s last meet.

Also hunting were Emily Conlon and hunt secretary Jackie McCann, who is just back from a ranching holiday in Australia and Carol O’Grady all the way from the Fingal Harriers. Others were Declan Hughes, Liam O’Brien, Joan ‘The Mothership’ Brady, Michelle Jordan, Camilla Grey and Mick Keating. Josh, who looks after John Hanlon’s hunters, as always was on hand when needed, but we missed former hunt chairman Shay O’Haire.

Hunting

It always amazes me how much land there is for a drag pack to hunt despite intense development, which Paul Kerr’s steady pack of black and tan hounds took advantage of as they were flying all afternoon.

As the gliders flew over, the hunt spent the afternoon criss-crossing the borders of Counties Meath, Kildare and Dublin. The drag lines were laid by Jamie Taaffe, Oliver Ryan and Tom Aita, a grandson of show jumping producer Paddy Quinlan, whose father Aleco produces polo ponies. Hounds ran from Laraghcon Farm beside Lucan Village getting off to a great start on the stubble.

They crossed the road at St Catherine’s and, when they finished that line, they jumped out on the road and hacked over the Coldblow Bridge that spans the Royal Canal, where fishermen were course fishing for rudd, roach and pike.

The next line took the followers back left up the Rooske Road towards Dunboyne, crossing the lane towards Comfrey into Feighreys, where there was a line of challenging ditches, one in particular that accounted for Eileen Byrne, who was just back from another hunting injury, to fall victim to a ditch where a scattering of stones caused a few cuts and Cathal Giltrap picked up a rib injury.

But more drama was about to raise its head from Feigherys across Rowans into O’Neills, where Alacia O’Neill and her son Fionn and daughter Leah, who are both talented musicians, were on hand as the ditch got wider as horses crossed. There were some great displays by the hunt staff and masters Niall Byrne, John Hanlon and Liam Brew and a few more falls but no serious injuries except their pride.

Melvyn Giles and his wife Rose and daughter Ros watched as their son, 13-year-old Sean, was taking the ditches in his stride. Unfortunately for Melvyn his jeep got stuck in the stubble (I will not mention the make or model!), and a tractor was sent for, but Alacia softened the blow while waiting for help by inviting them all for tea.

Hacking out to the Moor of Meath Road, where three counties meet (Kildare, Dublin and Meath) there is an interesting sign titled, ‘Pass If You Can’ which goes back to the days in the 19th century of the highway men that robbed coaches along the roads. They then crossed by Leonard’s and Finnian McKeogh’s behind O’Neill’s into Sean Byrne’s farm, who is a former master of the Ward Union and also boxed for UCD.

To finish the day they tracked back right-handed by the Little Moor onto the first line to get back to the meet at Laraghcon. There, Des Bell was administering first aid from a well-stocked medical box in the boot of his car to Irene Byrne, who later visited hospital requiring stitches, and Cathal Giltrap who had injuries to his ribs.

But that aside what a great start to the season.

Since last season, members recalled with sadness the passing of former master Herbie Harty, a member of the eventing and racing family.

The Hunt, was formed in 1867, disbanded in 1884, and restarted in 1904 as a drag pack. It was disbanded during WWI, reformed in 1929 and is the oldest mounted drag hunt in Ireland.

Officers

Chairman – Kieran Foley

Masters – Liam Brew, Niall Byrne and John Hanlon

Huntsman – Paul Kerr

Whippers-In – Catherine Kerr, Eve Kerr, Grace Kerr and Nathan Barrett

Honorary Secretary – Jackie McCann

Honorary Treasurer – Cathal Giltrap