Steeped in history

Fun and memories of lasting friendships compensate for a trip beleaguered by thick fog as Capt Ian Farquhar visits the welcoming Duhallow

- Capt Ian Farquhar

CAR following has never been an easy game and maybe recently conditions have been more testing. But certainly this year we seem to have experienced a number of difficult viewing days, especially with packs of which one had high expectations — none of this their fault I might add. A visit to the Duhallow in Ireland recently sadly fell into this category, despite brilliant company and great craic.

Our tour leader was John White, a celebrated and popular former field master at the Beaufort. John had hunted with the Duhallow in the past, plus bought horses from the Colemans who, as a family, have been linchpins of the hunt for years. Therefore, when he suggested we took a trip to see these famous old English hounds and stay at one of the most celebrated sporting hotels, the Dunraven Arms in Adare, we jumped at it.

We were accompanied by their daughter Nancy and three of her friends — Rachel White, Sarah Rippon and Hetta Stevens. Arriving at the Dunraven, we were immediately made very welcome by the proprietor, Louis Murphy, whose family have long been involved with hunting and bloodstock. Seeing Louis later that evening personally carving the house specialty, the beef, was an example of a really hands-on host.

GUINNESS FOR THE GIRLS

THE following morning, after an amazing breakfast, I did smile to see the girls fortifying themselves with a Guinness or two, just as they were about to get on unfamiliar horses.