Huntsman Gavin Shorten, foxhounds, staff, and field of nearly 80 move off through the north gate of the ancient town wall to the first draw. / Catherine Power photo
A day with the Tipperary Foxhounds is always special, but when that day happens to be the Opening Meet in Fethard, it rises to a completely different dimension. Recognised by all as the World Horse Capital, Fethard is a very special place, indeed. It hosts the Fethard Horse Museum in the Old Town Hall, a must for all horse enthusiasts. Not to forget as well that Coolmore Stud is just a stone’s throw from town.
And so it was we found ourselves on bank holiday Monday, in the small park between the Clashawley River and the historic town wall, first built in 1375 and among the best preserved of any in these islands. A portion of the town wall also serves as the back wall of the famed McCarthy’s hotel, that establishment providing hot port and other suitable hunting refreshments served up by the proprietor, Vincent (Jasper) Murphy. Mr. Murphy also doubles as the town undertaker. He is the fifth generation of his family since Richard McCarthy opened in 1852.
Paul Ronan, MFH, with son Paul and daughter Kim at their Rocklow estate, built in 1780. / Catherine Power photo
It was a gala sight to see Tipperary huntsman Gavin Shorten with fifteen-and-a-half couple of Old English foxhounds, and an all bi*ch pack to boot. Four of the six Joint-Masters were on hand with senior Master Paul Ronan as ever looking resplendent on his good chestnut. His Mastership runs to twenty-five seasons, and he admits to having attended fifty-five opening meets, missing only one due to a badly planned hospital stay.
Joint-Master Alan Murphy was on a coloured horse provided at short notice by Neil Simpson as Alan’s regular horse went lame. Joint-Master Andre Michalski, originally from Poland but now living near Cashel, is the Polish representative on the International Federation of Racing Authorities, the body which governs world racing.
(l-r) Kim Ronan, Niall O’Meara, and Lt.Col.Tom Freyne in action at the Opening meet. / Catherine Power photo
Rounding out the mounted Masters was Lt Col Tom Freyne OC (Officer Commanding) of the Irish Army Equitation School. Col Freyne lives in Fethard but is based in McKee Barracks, Dublin. A former international show jumper, Col Freyne combines the role of chief instructor and commanding officer on non-hunting days at McKee. He has only recently returned from a EUTM training mission in Mali, where he was based near Timbuktu. Summer temperatures were regularly over 100 degrees Farenheit in the shade! While away, his role at McKee was filled by his second in command, Comd. Sharon Crean, the first female officer to hold such a role. In addition to her army career, Sharon was recently called to the bar and is a qualified barrister.
Sadly missing were Joint-Masters Liam Kearney who was on business in the US and Tim Hyde, Jr also in the US but on bloodstock duty. Retired local padre Fr. Tom Breen invoked God’s blessing on hounds and followers for the season’s start.
Tipperary huntsman Shorten and his pack of Old English foxhounds / Catherine Power photo
The field of nearly eighty made more than an impressive sight as huntsman Shorten, on a smashing grey, let hounds and the field through the north gate towards the first draw. His girlfriend, event rider Becky Tandy, looked particularly smart and was beautifully turned out on a smashing bay. Family support was provided by the huntsman’s parents, Cecil and Margaret (Shorten), who had made the trip from Askeaton. A lifelong horse family, they stand a couple of half-bred stallions on their farm at Ballingirane.
The whippers-in looked no less impressive. Young William Bamforth is in first season in Tipperary having come from the Grove and Rufford in Yorkshire. Amateur whipper-in Seamus Kelly from Ballingarry was showing the young rookie the ropes. Seamus, a lifelong sufferer from Cystic Fibrosis, puts that debilitating condition behind him on hunting days and goes really well. Hunting is his life, and those who know him well say that his condition almost disappears during the hunting season and he rarely misses a day from a busy four-day-a-week schedule.
First draw was to the left of the Rocklow Road in some low-lying land on the banks of the Clashawley. Usually a sure find, this day Reynard was not at home, and hounds drew on across the road behind Dr Carmel Condon’s. The river crossing, however, was not without incident.
Joint-Master Andre Michalski got unceremoniously dumped, but hunted on despite the soaking. No such problems were experienced by his guest, veterinary surgeon James Sheeran from Kildare.
Young Sam Coen larks with the rest of the field over Halley’s jumping course. / Catherine Powers photo
The field was treated to a feast of jumping in Halley’s over the well-presented hunt jumps. The family was represented in the field by young Josh Halley, who works with Horseware. Hounds then crossed over to Rocklow, the home of Paul and Jane Ronan. This magnificent property, built around 1780, was first bought by Paul’s late father, Tom, who was Master of the Tipps for many seasons also. Adjoining Rocklow is Annsgift, the home of MV Magnier and his wife Emily (of Coolmore).
As hounds drew down the border screen, fourth-season home-bred Biscuit (Tipperary Pontiff ex Tipperary Bumble) took interest in a particularly forbidding thicket. As she persisted, a fine dog fox emerged and took staff and field on a guided tour of Annsgift before making a circuitous return to Rocklow where he found refuge in a shore and was given best.
Evie Quirke, out with her dad and siblings, makes stylish work of a stone wall. / Cathering Power photo
Going well throughout were the Quirke Family led by dad, the leading barrister, Frank, with no less than four of his children. Also up front were young Mimi O’Grady (daughter of Edward who was stood down for the day) and her boyfriend Jack Ross. Also going well were hard working hunt secretary Roseanne DeVere Hunt and hunt chairman Sean Brett who lives nearby. Roseanne follows the family tradition of auctioneering and is country manager for Sherry Fitzgerald. Riding at apprentice weights, she is fortunate to be able hunt a real good cob. Roseanne is a direct decedent of the celebrated poet, Aubrey DeVere, from Curragchase in Limerick, close by the home of huntsman Gavin Shorten.
Hounds hacked on to the next draw in O’Meara’s big kale field. With scent never better than patchy, hounds had to work hard but eventually Reynard was spotted slipping away by the eagle eyed Thomond O’Meara. What looked like the start of something potentially special, it never quite materialised. Hounds hunted this fox on towards Power’s Wood, back near Annsgift, but after a few fields scent petered out in Liam O’Connor’s extensive farm which runs between the Cashel and Moyglass roads.
With shadows lengthening our huntsman blew for home, and it was happy group that made the short hack back to Fethard. As a sign of the times, rather than retiring to a welcoming licenced premises, Dooks Café on the corner was the venue for final refreshments before returning home.
The Tipperary hunt dates from 1820. Some years prior to that W. Barton who resided at Grove, Fethard, established a pack, The Grove, and hunted the country until 1826. Notable previous Masters and Huntsmen are Captain Evan Williams and Michael Higgins.
Posted November 24, 2019
This article previously appeared in The Irish Field and is republished with permission.