A walk on the wildside

MEMORIES OF FERMOY’S HUNT CLUBS

A very kind friend recently lent me a minute book of the Fermoy Harrier Club, which gives a very comprehensive account of the club’s activities during those years. The minutes are written in meticulous long-hand, and they make a fascinating account of the activities of a club which has long since disappeared from our town.

The Master of the Harriers in 1911 was James Geany, the Huntsman was John Cotter, the Treasurer was James Foley and the President was Mr. John Bowen, who for many years was the Town Engineer for Fermoy. It is interesting to note the venues for the club meets for 1911; Perrotts Gate, Glenabo Bridge, Racecourse Gate, Bellvue Gates, Stacks Cross, Kilcrumper Cross and Molly Barry’s Cross, all still very well-known landmarks. A meeting of December 1st, 1911 requested the correspondent of the Cork Examiner to draw attention to the fact that a great number of dogs were being poisoned on the streets of Fermoy, including one of the Harrier Clubs own hounds.

The minutes for the 27th July record that the club ‘bought two hounds from a Mr. O’Brien of Mitchelstown, one of these, called Sportsman was given into the care of a Mr. Leahy, but when Mr. Daly offered to take the second dog, the chairman, Mr. Bowen objected on the grounds that Mr. Daly was living in a dangerous part of the town, his house being near the railway-line.

The dog was eventually entrusted into the care of Mr. Michael Ryan, and the sum of 31/6 pence was paid to Mr. O’Brien for the pair of hounds. At a meeting on October 13th, 1915 it was recorded that Mr. Bowen and Mr. Leahy attended a meeting of The Hare Preservation Society and that there should be a Sunday Field Collection to help to defray the costs of a gamekeeper. A circular from the Cross Street Band was read out to the meeting, requesting a subscription from the club, this was agreed to, with 5 shillings to be given straight away and another 5 shillings to be paid on Saint Stephens Day.

At the last recorded meeting of the club on April 5th 1915, the President, Mr John Bowen sought the views of members on purchasing some Otter Hounds for summer hunting, this was agreed to and the Otter Hounds were bought from a Mr Brodie. A minute book such as this is invaluable for tracing the history of a club, providing much information on names dates and places.

Does anybody interested in hunting know when the Fermoy Harrier Club ceased to function? In 1915 it is recorded that the Master of the Fermoy Harriers was , Mr. T. Rice, and among the other hunt clubs in the area were The United Hunt whose Master was Major Powell, The CCH with Master, Captain R. Holroyd Smyth, The Duhallow with two Masters,, R.

Grove Annesley and J.P. Longfield, Avondhu Harriers, Master C. Kirby and Fermoy Otter Hounds whose Master was Mr. J. Lombard.

There are still many people in the town of Fermoy who remember John Bowen, a very tall, distinguished looking gentleman who lived around the Pike. He was a man who loved walking and the great outdoors. In those now far-off days it was very common to see the hunts setting off early on a Sunday morning, one of the most famous huntsmen was Tommy O’Brien, the Master of the Avondhu Hunt, who lived in the Stand House near Castlehyde East. Tommy was a skilled horseman who knew no fear whether jumping a big fence or fording a swollen river.

He was also a man with great sense of humour, one morning he rode into town while the people were still in their beds, shouting out at the top of his voice “sprats, fresh sprats”. At that time fishmongers would call to people’s doors with fresh fish. They would bring out their plates which would be loaded up for a few pennies, but of course Tommy didn’t have any fish, and rode off up Cork Road laughing, while the people swore at him for being disturbed from their slumbers. The late Richie O’Grady from Castletownroche, whom many people will remember as being a great teacher in Ballynoe and in Fermoy, had many great memories and stories about Tommy when he was in his hey-day.