Countryside Alliance

Round-up of the 2014 –15 Beagling Season Most packs report that the past season provided plenty of hares – possibly the result of the warm & dry spring and long summer of 2014, with good survival rates amongst leverets. The Cavanapole Beagles report that they called a slightly premature halt to their season this spring, having encountered early leverets on the ground – hopefully this is a sign of another good breeding year and is possibly the result of a relatively mild winter. However, in contrast, there have been reports of some localised areas being relatively short of hares, particularly areas of open grassland with little cover, and some huntsmen wonder if this shortage can be linked with the ever burgeoning numbers of buzzards?

the huntsman & one of the young whippers-in from the Goldburn Beagles were welcomed as observers, to learn much of hunting practice and kennel-management from the more experienced visiting hunt staff and the host pack. Just after the end of the season two young stalwarts of the Woodrock celebrated their marriage –very best wishes from all Irish beaglers go to Marie & John as they set out on their shared life together. The Armagh & Richhill report their best season’s hunting for many years, with good numbers of hares and the pack hunting particularly strongly. The club ended their season with a very successful dinner dance which attracted members from their own hunt and many of their neighbouring hunt clubs, both beagles and mounted packs. Under the enthusiastic guidance of Joint Master Aileen Byrne, the Goldburn Beagles are happily enjoying renewed levels of support from regular and occasional followers, with particularly encouraging numbers of enthusiastic youngsters. This hunt is currently working on construction of new kennels, which should soon be ready for occupation. The surroundings of the old kennels had become increasingly urbanised & difficult for pack management. Two observations from the master / huntsman of the Westmeath Beagles highlight some aspects of the simple but deeply profound enjoyment that our sport can provide: He noted the huge satisfaction when a fourth season bitch hound finally decided to enter. She is a great character and of sound breeding, but very slow to learn her trade. The huntsman, alone amongst his pack’s followers, kept the faith and was eventually rewarded with great delight when she transformed from a “hound at heel” to a hound with a great work ethic during this past season. He also reflected on the absolute joy of following our ancient sport over some of the most significant sites of Celtic history and the special sense of timeless tradition enjoyed when out with his hounds at such special locations. So we look back on a fruitful season in which many younger followers have stepped forward to increase their knowledge of beagling and to take increasing responsibility for the hounds under their care, thereby fostering a positive future for our ancient sport. In closing we acknowledge our gratitude to the many hundreds of farmers and landowners who have welcomed beagle packs over their land during the past season and send an enormous “thank you” from all the hunts. With- out your support we would have no sport, and we appreciate greatly your continued tolerance of our hounds and followers. -E M Brown , Sunnyland Beagles

The Westmeath focused their early season meets on the bog-lands of their country, where there is less likelihood of disrupting dairy herds enjoying the last of the summer grass. This was particularly necessary in autumn 2014, with its extended grazing season. For the same reason other packs started their season on stubble & plough, in forestry or on uplands. The Sunnyland Beagles went as usual to the bog- lands of North Galway, meeting up there with the Pallaskenry from County Limerick. It was a momentous and daunting time for the Sunnyland, following the death in summer 2014 of John Shaw Brown, their huntsman for 35 seasons and also a very hands-on kennelman for the majority of that time. Joint Master David Rodgers has taken over as huntsman, with Lee Beverland as kennel-huntsman, and a willing team of whippers-in providing vital assistance in all aspects. The pack has had a good season with great support from members & visitors and a most cheering welcome from their landowners. Towards the end of the season, two joint meets between the Armagh & Richhill Beagles and the Sunnyland brought some really noteworthy hunting. At the second of these meets a new young lady whipper-in wore the Sunnyland uniform for the first time. The Maryboro / Midleton Beagles and the Riverstown also enjoyed joint hunting in County Cork. Such shared meets always provide a good opportunity to judge the relative merits of others’ hounds for potential breeding purposes, as well as welcome social interaction amongst the huntsmen and hunt followers. The Woodrock & Blackwater Valley beagles held their annual Beagling Festival in February, with terrific support from the visiting English hunts bringing a welcome boost to the local economy. Under an initiative from the IMBA committee,

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