Huntsman Kevin Donohue at Carrichavee RockThe area around the Ballymacad Foxhounds meet at Castlerahan on the outskirts of Oldcastle, County Meath in Ireland is steeped in Irish history. It is part of the old Royal Capital of Ireland. There are many hunting references to be found in the area. The entrance to the town of Oldcastle is over Sliamh na Callaigh which looks out on Loughcrew, the five-thousand-year-old site of the Summer Solstice, where one of the most important High Kings of Ireland, King Ollamh Fodhla was buried in 1277 BC. He officiated at the Feis Teamhrach or The Great Fair held on the Hill of Tara, where in addition to legislative affairs of the ancient Brehon Laws, he introduced horse fairs, horse racing, and hunting.
Kells tenth-century Market Cross depicting a mounted staghunting scene on the baseClearly visible is the round tower in Kells, where the tenth century Market Cross is also to be found depicting on its base a stag hunting scene. So despite widely held opinion that hunting was introduced into Ireland by English settlers, the Irish were hunting stag, wolves, and hare at least 2,500 years before the Norman Invasion of mercenaries in 1169, and Henry II appointing himself King of Ireland.
Castlerahan is in an area known as the Valley of the Black Pig. It is mentioned in the Prophesies of Saint Columcille, who was banished eventually to Iona in Scotland in 563AD for copying the works of Saint Finnian, an early example of plagiarism. The event gave rise to the earliest principle on copyright in the Brehon Laws that existed in Ireland from 2,000 BC that state, “To every cow its calf, and to every book its author.”
The Foxhounds and Staff
The Ballymacad Foxhounds are one of the oldest established packs in Ireland, taking over from the Sherbourne family who kept a pack at Loughcrew in the 1730s. The present pack was formed in 1797. They have a long tradition of hunt staff loyalty. Their current huntsman Kevin Donohue, who took over the pack in 1998, is the fourth member of the Donohue family to carry the horn. Larry Donohue started hunting the pack in 1910, Paddy in 1930, Peter in 1937 and Kevin’s father Barry in 1976. Barry Donohue hunted the pack for thirty-one seasons. Kevin Donohue has inherited a passion for hounds and hound breeding, and he wins his fair share at the IMFA National Hound Show at Stradbally.
Next year’s entry are by Beaufort Milton, Ballymacad Bosco, Westmeath Chancellor and Ormond Alpha. The present day hunt staff is a well-knit team that takes its roles seriously. Terrierman Alan Keogan manages the coverts and is in all the right places on his quad. Karl Clinton, who came in recently to help in the kennels and look after the fencing, travels in his jeep, but on this day was enjoying the sport on horseback, so Tom Young was helping out.
But what really stands out is the quality of the honorary whippers-in. Bobby Kellett, in his seventeenth season, together with Maurice Quinn make a formidable team. They are a class act and a pleasure to watch as both are excellent horsemen. Everything happens instinctively; there are few words exchanged by the huntsman. Everything is done nicely and quietly, completely detached from the followers. There is no chit chat as they ride wide onto point duty. They indicate discreetly as a fox breaks cover, and if the direction changes they gallop on to their new positions. But just as important they will never leave a hound behind, and can be seen bringing them onto the huntsman all day. And hounds move for them.
The Hunting Day
The first draw was a small patch of rushes. It was blank, but as hounds moved on, a fox was seen in the field behind Michael Tuites. Kevin took them back, put them on, and the fun started. From there the fox crossed over Paul Cosgrove’s Bog and the laneway. He then took us on a thirty-five-minute twisty run with frost still on the ground and the high sun making scent patchy. But the pack was brilliant and the cry was magnificent as they ran, then feathered, then ran again, demonstrating honesty in their pursuit of their quarry. Meanwhile, the followers’ minds were occupied with survival as Field Master Ken Farrelly gave them a good lead on his Goresbridge Horse Sales purchase over formidable banks, drains, stone walls, and wire.
The huntsman then went back to Paul Cosgrove’s Carne Bog. Though it was already disturbed, hounds found a stale line and feathered on until it faded out.
Ballymacad hounds at workAt Mullaghmore, hounds found a brace. One came up by the foot followers standing on Carrickavee Rock. The fox crossed Carrickavee Rock, Francie Fitzsimon’s, and, in the process, crossed two roads: the Lower Road—a narrow road that was used in the old days to drive cattle to Oldcastle Fair as it has few hills—and then over the Ballyjamesduff/Oldcastle road with Lough Sheelin in the background. He then headed left through Carne and Cill Dara.
It was magic to see hounds, never touched by the huntsman, weave a line left and right through the small enclosures. Mounted staff are often delayed there, so hounds have to be independent and get through any bad scenting conditions themselves. They worked as a unit, and their cry was sensational. After a run of forty-five minutes, donkeys on the hill had foiled the scent and hounds lost. John Green, who whips into the Brosna Foxhounds in County Offaly, showed his fitness as he was with hounds all day, on foot.
The Plantation in Phillip Reilly’s was blank, so it was onto the rocks in Pat Tuite’s. What a vantage point as one looked down over Virginia Lake and Lake Ramor with a 360-degree view of the countryside. A small herd of Jacob sheep were interested in the proceedings to see how hounds would fare on one of their worst predators, the fox. Hounds did not take long to disturb a fox near the sheep, but this wily customer did not plan on running too far as he skipped across a few fields and found an obviously familiar hiding place in the wall of a nearby farmyard shed. The huntsman tried the Rocks again but the fox did not have a companion.
In Cormaddyduff Bog hounds found yet again, and fox and hounds could be viewed all the way from the hill as they again followed a twisty line out, then back to the bog, and on left through a series of green fields where hounds hit a field of trodden grass. It appeared to be where willows were being harvested, and they came to a sudden halt as scent vanished. Although they cast themselves left and right, and even went back into the previous field that held the line, they could not recover it. Again they were a pleasure to watch. This was real hound hunting. This is where all the selective breeding comes in for scenting ability, drive, and a huntsman that does not unnecessarily interfere with his pack. This fox was seen running on the road and ran back to the bog.
Despite a hectic day and fading light, the huntsman was not yet finished. He drew Cormeen Wood and found another fox, and the music in the wood was magnificent. One bitch, Lily, has the remarkable vocal capacity to double a note, and stands out as a really special hound. What a brilliant day’s hunting!
Posted March 6, 2011
Text and photos by Noel Mullins, www.noelmullins.com
Huntsman Kevin Donohoe draws the stone wall through a stunning countryside.