Following the County Louth Foxhounds famous black, tan, and white Old English pack is a double pleasure when combined with one of its most popular autumn hunting meets, the Dunany Estate on the northeast coast of Ireland.
Despite the inconvenience of some of the issues presented by reaching the grand age of ninety-two, Joy Bellingham together with her daughter Caroline were out to view hounds draw the woods around their extensive estate. Both were enthusiastic followers of the Louth, Meath, and Kildare foxhounds when they hunted.
“When riding out on the estate one has never to turn back,” said Caroline. One can take in the extensive woods and
grass or just wander along the seashore that looks out on Dundalk Bay with the Mountains of Mourne in the background. The mountains were made famous by writer and artist Percy French in his song “Where the Mountains of Mourne Sweep Down to the Sea.”
At Dunany one is reminded of the long military tradition of the Bellingham family. In the hall of the main house is a confiscated yellow German signpost of Tobruk, the scene during World War II of the well recorded Western Desert Campaign between the Axis and the Allied Forces, a siege that lasted for 240 days before it was relieved by the Eighth Army during Operation Crusader.
After heavy rain it was feared that foxes would take refuge underground, but there was no need to worry as wildlife is in abundance and is allowed to breed and prosper well before the shooting and hunting season begin. Master Gerry Boylan led a small group of followers. Local butcher Aidan Hand was taking a morning off as was Marnie Crearer riding a nice coloured cob. Noel McKeever hunts the pack and was assisted by whippers-in Stephen Gunne and Alan Reilly.
As with most large estates there are a variety of landmarks in almost every corner of the farm, and individual fields and woods all bear their unique names. Hounds found a fox almost immediately along the Main Avenue and hunted him back in the direction of the Watch House and up the hill in the direction of Church Wood. With all hounds on, the cry sounded like a well rehearsed orchestra with the doghounds singing at tenor, baritone, and some bass, blending in well with the bitches singing at soprano and alto. Then suddenly there was deadly silence, which was difficult to believe such was the drive of the pack. But a bitch came to the rescue in the difficult scenting conditions with a whimper. She obviously picked up some semblance of scent on the damp leaves, and the pack all rallied to her and drove the fox on eventually marking him to ground at the Walled Garden.
Cubs were showing the relaxed way of their parents as they criss-crossed the avenue in no apparent hurry, often stopping at the sight of the mounted riders. Meanwhile hounds found a brace beside the Pigeon House, and with their exceptional drive overran the line in their enthusiasm by the Old Graveyard. It was an opportunity to jump some of the vast variety of fences on the cross country course that hosts a number of graded events each year. Young Alex Lyons was riding his recently broken four-year-old by the Dutch Warmblood stallion Farro out of his mother Fionna’s mare Montana. Autumn hunting is an ideal way to advance a horse’s education, to get them used to hounds, sounds, and being with other horses. Alex jumped a few ditches and uprights with his young horse to develop his balance as he will go to compete in either eventing or showjumping. His father John was on Chester an experienced eventer and winner of the 2010 RDS Speed Derby when ridden by his daughter Lesley Ann in the main arena at the Royal Dublin Society Show during the summer.
Hounds picked up the line of the second fox on the Back Avenue and ran him the whole way to the Point which is along the sea looking out onto Dundalk Bay where the fox must have doubled back to safety. The huntsman drew the covert by Bills Wood and the Sea Lawn which is along the beach. Some of the horses had difficulty with the footing as there was an abundance of empty mussel shells piled along the beach. This cast took them out by the Sea Cliff and the Hut Field where there are the remains of the old building that was an observation post during World War II. This was blank, but the ditch along Primrose Wood held, and they had a short hunt before home was blown after a busy morning.
This was another successful outing that will stand to the pack and especially to the education of the young entry as the new season approaches.