Two meets in the unique Ballymacad hunting county come on the heels of a surprise event―the sudden unavailability of hunt insurance in Ireland. Without insurance, many hunt clubs will cease to function―indeed, many have already suspended hunting temporarily. And the native Irish breeds―the Iris Draught Horse and the Irish Sport Horse―may well become extinct. The economic and cultural losses to the Ballymacad countryside and to the wider Irish countryside would be devastating. –Ed.
Huntsman Kevin Donahoe with the Ballymacad foxhounds riding a pure Irish Draught Horse from Donahoe’s Sport Horses. / Noel Mullins photo
The Irish hunting fraternity has been stunned ever since the leading UK hunt insurance provider withdrew from Ireland last year. As insurance renewal dates came up in mid-season, many hunts were forced to suspend hunting. Only a small number of hunts were able to continue.
Various reasons for the lack of available insurance have been suggested, including large claims in the previous season. A new insurance proposal that allows hunting on foot and the running of hunt point-to-points has provoked a mixed reaction.
Another critical question arises from the lack of insurance, though less discussed so far. With far fewer hunts in operation, what will happen to what remains of our native breeds―the Irish Draught Horse and the Irish Sport Horse? The Irish Draught Horse is the backbone of Irish hunter breeding, sadly abandoned by many other equestrian disciplines and classified already as ‘endangered’ by the Irish Department of Agriculture. Could it survive or become extinct? If so, it would be a terrible indictment on this generation.
Aaron Farrel who whipped-in to the Galway Blazers rides a 17-hand 5-year old that is for sale. / Noel Mullins photo
Producing Field Hunters
The Ballymacad hunt country produces some of the best hunters in Ireland. The hunting country is rich and complete in offering every sort of footing and obstacle a field hunter is likely to confront during its career―at home or abroad. The Ballymacad country is the complete test for a finished field hunter.
Anybody who has hunted hounds, whipped-in, or acted as Field Master knows the difference between a horse that can ‘make country,’ that is, go first regardless of what it is faced with―blind ditches, double-banks, wire, gates, or double stone walls―and a horse that is a follower and needs a lead. And what a line-up of quality hunters I saw at the Ballymacads meets at Ryefield and Billis.
Huntsman Kevin Donohoe’s Donohoe Sport Horses produces a steady stream of field hunters each year that can ‘make country.’ Kevin had a truckload out, ridden by Colin Hawden and others, including his wife Joanne on a quality horse that they feel will make an eventer. As soon as he has done a bit more, he will be on the market. Kevin rode a horse at Ryefield from Frisk Jones, whipper-in to the Scarteen, that he described as a serious hunter.
On the second day at Billis, Kevin was on a horse produced by Ellen Coyle, who whipped-in to the late Johnny Vance in Fermanagh that Kevin described as a “machine.” Kevin and Joanne’s daughter Aoibhinn is a brave rider and was having a great time on her sturdy cob. As Kevin commented, “Once you get the mileage up on them, they are ready to go,” mainly to his clients in the UK, USA, and Holland.
Whipper-in Maurice Quinn rides a stunning pure Irish Draught by Gentle Diamond, broken at GFW Sporthorses in Kells. / Noel Mullins photo
Showjumper Alexander Butler, home from his success on the European circuit, was on a nice type owned by Robert Daly, while Aaron Farrell, who whipped-in to the Blazers, was riding a smashing five-year-old seventeen-hand hunter broken by the late Johnny Vance. And the five-year-old is for sale! Ciara O’Brien, who works in the hunt kennels, rode whipper-in Maurice Quinn’s second horse. Maurice was on a stunning new grey pure Irish Draught hunter by Gentle Diamond. He bought the grey from Kevin Donohoe. It was broken by Glenn Farrell Walker of GFW Sporthorses in Kells.
James O’Rourke on a home-produced 3-year-old Modern Irish Draught Horse. / Noel Mullins photo
Fellow whipper-in Bobby Kellett was on a keen coloured cob that looks as if he could get you out of any trappy place in the hunting field. Jamie O’Rourke, whose father Paul hunted the Fingal Harriers and grandfather ‘Speedy’ whipper-in to the Meath Foxhounds, was on his home-produced three-year-old by Huntingfield Sunny C, best described as a Modern Irish Draught with an athletic frame. Thomas Carrigy was riding a Connemara-Irish Draught cross, standing over sixteen hands with lovely quality and a kind head. Field Master Paul Keogan was on another quality four-year-old―one of many that he and his son Alan, who deputizes as huntsman when needed, produce each year.
Thomas Carrigy on a quality 16+-hand Connemara-Irish Draught cross with a kind head. / Noel Mullins photo
Masters
Joint Masters Martin Farrell, Michael Bevan, and Michael Cosgrove were hunting while Garry O’Neill was away on business. Former Masters Thosh Kellett and Jim Stevenson were also following.
Hunt Staff
Huntsman Kevin Donohoe and whippers-in Maurice Quinn and Bobby Kellett make a top-class team. At Ryefield, Alexander Butler and Aaron Farrell were helping out, but Joint Field Master Ken Farrrelly was temporarily out with a shoulder injury. The huntsman describes Rachel Gilsenan, the honorary secretary, as ‘the backbone of the hunt’ because of her efficiency and amazing energy.
Hunting
Kevin Donohoe and Maurice Quinn had to visit more than fifty farmers before this meet, a huge workload before a meet. It is also a lesson to all followers to be careful crossing country and not increase their post-hunt workload.
The meet at Billis Bridge was a day for watching real hound work and hunting at its best. Hounds found immediately in the first covert in Lisgrey Bog. A nice slow forty-minute hound-hunt ensued with hounds accuracy following the line and allowing the hound enthusiasts to see what real hunting is all about. It was a difficult country for followers. One whipper-in and two Masters who shall be nameless decided to go foot-hunting along with a number of followers.
The huntsman went on to try Lynch’s Furze, where this fox ran parallel to the road towards Lisgrey Bog. He jinked left by Denning’s over Brian Reilly’s and towards Johnson’s Covert for another forty minutes. Riders described the run as ‘brilliant jumping’ over extremely challenging country. Again there was a roll call of the fallen.
Having picked themselves up and remounting, they were ready again when hounds had yet another fox on the run from Victor Foster’s for a lovely circular hunt. This clever fox displayed its expertise on evasion tactics, and the hunt staff just chose to enjoy watching their wily customer elude hounds from the hill. They enjoyed a grandstand view of perfect hound work after this clever fox who sensibly sought cover underground. Two-and-a-half couple of pups, in particular, demonstrated their fox sense. It confirmed the huntsman’s talent for hound breeding; they were by Louth Logan and Ballymacad Lawyer. With enough done by evening and the fallers still catching horses, the huntsman blew for home after this memorable day.
The young horses came back with a clean sheet, having built confidence and furthering their education. It is reassuring for the future of the Traditional Irish Horse, particularly the Irish Draught, to see so many producers in Ballymacad country turning out high-quality horses and creating a steady export trade. Hunting in Ireland needs to continue.
History
The hunt was formed about 1735 by the Sherbourne family and named the Ballymacad Foxhounds in 1826. Hounds were kennelled at Loughcrew, one of the most historic parts of ancient Ireland. The burial mound on the top of Loughcrew (The Hill of the Witch) dates back five thousand years, and the Hag’s Chair, an outsize stone chair said to belong to a mythical witch, sits beside it. It is said that if you sit in the chair and make a wish, the witch will grant it!
Ballymacad Staff and Officers
Chairman: Ken Farrelly
Masters: Garry O’Neill, Martin Farrell, Michael Bevan, and Brendan Cosgrove
Huntsman: Kevin Donohoe
Whippers-In: Bobby Kellett, Maurice Quinn
Field Master: Paul Keogan, Ken Farrelly
Honorary Secretary: Rachel Gilsenan
Honorary Treasurer: Eileen Farrelly
Public Relations Officer: Annieka Cadden
Posted January 25, 2022
Noel Mullins is a photojournalist, lifelong foxhunter, and author of The Dublin Horse Show, The Irish Hunter, In Search of the Kerry Beagle, and other books on Irish horse sport. Visit Noel at his website.