Author and friend / Catherine Power photoWith the season winding down, we decided to keep the best wine ’til last…or very nearly so. Monday saw us with the “Dashing” Duhallow at their meet at Monymusk Stud in Kanturk. The Duhallow is the oldest hunting establishment in Ireland with foxhounds, and has hunted the country continuously since 1745. The market town of Kanturk is looked on as the capital of the ancient barony of Duhallow, so it seemed a suitable venue on which to end their season.
Monymusk, now the property of Duhallow Senior Master Kate Jarvey, was bound to be a gala occasion, and so it proved. Kate holds the unique distinction of being Master of two of Ireland’s leading packs simultaneously—the Duhallow and neighbouring Scarteen. Her great-grandfather was Ely Lily of pharmaceutical fame, and she was brought up during Cape Cod summers near the Kennedy family. Kate is also a former chairman of the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association. Sadly she was not riding as she is recovering from a broken hip, the result of an unfortunate schooling fall just after Christmas.
(l-r) Pat Hayes, MFH; Peter O’Meara, MFH; Ger Withers, huntsman, Kate Jarvey, MFH; Matt Nagle, MFH; and Field Master Maurice Coleman / Catherine Power photo
Monymusk Stud is almost as famous as the Duhallow Hunt itself. It has the unique distinction of producing no less than three Grand National winners in the last fifteen years: Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011), and Many Clouds (2015). All three were Irish-bred and spent their early days in Monymusk. Indeed, Hedgehunter the 2005 winner was broken by Patrick Coleman, who was hunting this day.
These legendary horses were owned by the stud’s previous owner, the famed Trevor Hemming’s, who at any given time would have upwards of a hundred National Hunt horses in training. A self-made man from the North of England, he owns the soccer club, Preston North End FC; Blackpool Tower, the tourist attraction in England inspired by the Eiffel Tower; and has extensive interests in tourism related businesses including Trabolgan Holiday Village in east Cork.
Refreshment were liberally dispensed by Kate and her team in one of the many horse barns in Monymusk. A meet in Duhallow is all about hunting so once the obligatory photos were taken—local photographer Eamonn Collins and videographer Timmy Browne assisting—it was time for the first draw.
Ready to move off / Catherine Power photo
Huntsman Ger Withers, on a new grey formerly owned by our hostess, Kate Jarvey, had sixteen-and-a-half couple of Old English foxhounds so evenly matched every one could have been from the same litter. He was assisted by four whippers-in, all voluntary (as opposed to amateur): Tim Brosnan, Arthur Comyn, Paul Buckley, and Finbar Fehin. The latter hunts the neighbouring Liscarrol Harriers on Sundays, and during the spring and summer acts as the local AI man, thus working with all the local dairy farmers. Arthur Comyn, the veteran of the four, has just returned to hunting after a triple by-pass procedure.
Field Master was Maurice Coleman who has filled the role since 1981 and still crosses the country with abandon. His son Michael who works with Apple was out on one of the many top class hunters from the yard. Maurice has a very useful eventer Kilroe Hero ridden by Sian Coleman (recently married to Patrick) and is entered in the up-coming 5-star Badminton Trials. Maurice’s Joint-Field-Master, Roger Kiely, sadly is still on the bench recovering from half a dozen broken ribs.
Kate’s three other Joint-Masters— Pat Hayes, Peter O’Meara, and Matt Nagle—were out as well. Peter was out with his daughter, Sophie, a student in the Ursuline Thurles. Rounding out the Joint-Masters, Matt Nagle, from Buttevant, practises as a solicitor from his office in Mallow He is a descendant of the venerable Nano Nagle, a pioneer of Catholic education in the late 1700s, to whom he bears a strong family resemblance. The much venerated Nano was founder of the now worldwide Congregations of the Sisters of the Presentation, and came from nearby Kilavullen.
Catherine O’Flynn, the diligent and hardworking treasurer, was on hand as always to collect caps. She and her husband are expanding their book shop in Mallow. When finished it promises to be the largest and best in Munster. Among the large and well mounted field (you have no business in Duhallow on a middling horse) was the huntsman’s wife, Maria, not yet back at work after the birth of young Jamie, their baby.
The first draw was across the main Newmarket road near the old Kanturk railway, and hounds found almost immediately. The music was fantastic before they pushed their pilot on towards the Island wood almost in Newmarket where he was marked to ground.
They then hacked back in Twohig’s farm which is just under Michael Winter’s gallops. Hounds found quickly, resulting in a smashing dash. Not without incident, however. Huntsman Ger Withers was jumping what appeared to by be a fairly innocuous bank but it concealed a nasty root which caught his horse’s leg and pitched him out of the plate. Horse or man were none the worse and continued.
Hounds ran towards Monymusk, then towards the top road and into Scanahan’s Glen. This glen is almost a mile long with loads of covert, so it gave the field a chance to catch their breaths. In the meantime it gave car followers a welcome break for a cup of tea and, with a bit of luck, something to wash it down. We were fortunate to enjoy real Duhallow hospitality provided by hunt chairman Pat and Eleanor Fleming. Providing a very decent sloe gin was former Master Maurice O’Connor, whose wife Rosemary was hunting .
It took hounds some time to persuade Reynard to leave the hospitality of Scanahan’s, and at one stage when they were at fault, the huntsman had to look to third season Lawyer (by Waterford Ladder). Lawyer, who had been walked by Kate Jarvey, soon had the pack back in song.
Peter O’Meara buys some land at Monymusk. / Catherine Power photoHounds ran back to Monymusk right through the stud and briefly re-crossed the Newmarket road before returning to the valley near Michal Winters, where he eventually found a welcoming shore and was given best.
As huntsman Withers blew for home with horses having plenty done, the drama was not quite over. Joint-Master Peter O’Meara, jumping a bank to get back to the road, made a complete hames of it and was unceremoniously dumped in a muddy drain, red coat and all! Luckily his daughter Sophie was on hand to catch his horse and generally give moral support which dads need at times like this.
It was a happy group that made the short hack back to Monymusk where some further welcoming refreshments waited. An end to a good day and a great season.
Duhallow Foxhounds:
Kennels: Rossanarney, Liscarroll, Co. Cork
Foxhounds: 45 couple, Old English
Chairman: Pat Fleming, Moygue, Liscarroll, Mallow, Co. Cork
Masters: Kate Jarvey, Matthew Nagle, Peter O’Meara, Pat Hayes
Joint-secretaries: Pat Coleman, Dromore, Dromahane, Mallow, Co. Cork ([email protected]) and David O’Meara, Clyda House, Mallow, Co. Cork
Country hunted: North Cork, 30 miles North to South and 50 miles East to West, mostly bank country
Meets: Mon, Wed, Sat
Visitors: Welcome by arrangement
Posted June 5, 2019
This article previously appeared in The Irish Field and is republished with permission.