MEMOIR OF THE KILKENNY HUNT. 6l 



which formed a bar to any escapade which a member 

 felt inclined to indulge in. For instance, Henry 

 Lord Waterford performed the feat of riding his 

 horse up the brass-bound staircase into the Club 

 Room (now the commercial room of the Club House 

 Hotel), jumping him over the dining-table, and 

 returning the way he came. Practical jokes of all 

 kinds were perpetrated continually ; but in the latter 

 years of the Club meetings they died out altogether, 

 and the festivities were limited to an occasional 

 dinner. The picture of the first Sir John Power 

 used to hang in the Club Room, but was afterwards 

 moved to Kilfane. Mr. John Walsh kept the Club 

 House for a great number of years, and was a well- 

 known character. The rules as to the admission of 

 " strangers" were very rigid, and on one occasion the 

 brother of one of the most prominent members of 

 the Club was refused permission to breakfast in the 

 Club Room. The Club subscription was ten guineas, 

 but was afterwards reduced to ,5. The "Club 

 button" carried considerable authority with it, and 

 the mastership still more. Even one of Her Majesty's 

 judges on one occasion recognised the importance of 

 the office in the following manner : Sir John Power 

 (second baronet) was serving on the County Grand 

 Jury, the business of which extended rather longer 

 than usual, and encroached on a hunting day. As 

 the hour for meeting approached, Sir John, with a 

 great-coat covering his pink, appeared in the Grand 

 Jury gallery, and, addressing his lordship, represented 

 that he had " important business," and requested to 

 be excused from further attendance. The judge 



