Chris Ryan is the eighth generation of Ryans to be Master and huntsman of the Scarteen Hounds. Catherine Power photoThe present spell of hard weather has played havoc with hunting schedules, so the moment a thaw was forecast Scarteen put on a bye day at short notice for Lattin, situated between Tipperary town and the little town of Emly. The shortness of the notice did not deter a large and well mounted field from turning up. The area is almost unique in that most of the farmers in the area are either directly or indirectly involved in the hunt, resulting in unrivaled access to the country—a country of huge banks and almost no wire.
Master Chris Ryan took hounds to their first draw at Danagher’s moate field. He was hunting thirteen-and-a-half couple of the unique black and tan hounds which have been in the Ryan family almost since the flight of the Earls in the sixteen hundreds. Chris Ryan is the eighth generation of his family to carry the horn, a remarkable record in any walk of life. Assisting him this day were first whipper-in Joe Taylor, a formidable man across the country, as well as amateur whippers-in Hughie Ryan and his brother Michael, Ireland’s leading event rider, and Aonagh Quish, who on non-hunting days is a final year student in UL, studying equestrian science.
Riders were unfit after their enforced lay-off and horses mad fresh—a difficult combination at the best of times. Even my seasoned hunter briefly thought he was a racehorse, forgetting his more humble pedigree. The over-anxious field was a problem to Field Master James Riordan, and it took all his diplomacy and discipline to keep the field in check. With all jockeys still in the plate (just about) we jumped into Pat Ryan’s. Pat’s nephew Richard was out but not in his usual mode—up front—as he was bringing on a nice young grey horse. Hunting as his guest was his father-in-law, racehorse trainer Michael Hourigan, of Beef or Salmon fame. Hourigan was on his super roan cob who carries him so well across the country. Richard is an auctioneer with GVM Properties, so has plenty of time to go hunting especially in the current property environment. Also from GVM and Tatt’s was Phil Purcell on his good bay, who’s never found wanting when hounds run. Phil has been hunting with Scarteen since he was a nipper and has never missed a season.
Drawing on, hounds quickly found near the railway line and our pilot struck for Glenbane the ancestral home of the Breen’s. Shane couldn’t make it on the day as he was preparing for Olympia, but was represented by Uncle James who could show jockeys twenty years his junior the way across the country. Hunting on over banks that can only be found in that part of south Tipperary, there were surprisingly few empty saddles. Going with his usual verve was Professor Mike Snow on his bay Robert who rarely puts a foot wrong. Mike now in his mid-seventies still lectures at Limerick University in physiology.
Not everyone, however, managed to stay in the plate. Notable among the fallers was Golden veterinary surgeon Tom Burns, who almost disappeared in a sink hole with his horse. Happily both horse and man were reunited on terra firma and continued, muddied but unbowed.
Swinging left handed we crossed back over the railway bridge just as the express passed underneath, causing mayhem among the mounted field. Hounds forged ahead, giving marvelous tongue as they ran back toward the Burrow Road. Eventually our pilot was marked to ground after a marvelous thirty-five minutes.
Master then took hounds on to draw Casey’s plantation, which held a brace, the latter and better of which was viewed away by Kate Jarvey. Kate, who lives in Limerick Hunt country, is a regular with Scarteen and is also senior Joint-Master of Duhallow. Always beautifully mounted, she was on her best grey, bought originally from Maurice Coleman .
The hunted fox ran on toward the back avenue plantation in Mooresfort. They say that Mooresfort has a bank for every week of the year and a covert for every day of the week. Again marking their fox to ground, hounds went on to draw the twig yard, but surprisingly it was blank.
With a somewhat diminished field, hounds went on to draw John Finnan’s farm nearby. Jumping into Maraid English’s over a narrow single claimed more than a couple of victims, notably young James Casey whose inexperienced horse dumped him into the dyke at the back. Our hostess, however, on her home-bred chestnut gave a brilliant display. She reckons it is one of the best horses she has ever had, and who could disagree with her? But not a mount for the faint hearted!
Hounds picked up a stale line, and we hunted slowly all the while enjoying the fantastic banks. Almost the last bank of the day was a high single, guarded fore and aft by big trenches, and no wider than the back of a knife on top. Going well all day and looking towards a clear round was visiting Curragh trainer Paul Deegan. His clear round came to a halt, however, when he was dropped out the back door as his mount made a mistake getting up on the bank.
Despite the shortage of foxes in the latter part of the day, it was a most enjoyable and challenging day for all. The field returned to the pub in the village where the fences got even bigger and the falls more dramatic. That’s hunting!
Courtesy of the author, the Hunting Association of Ireland, and The Irish Field.
Posted March 15, 2011