92 MEMOIR OF THE KILKENNY HUNT. 



Butler of Maiden Hall, Mr. Tighe, and Captain the 

 Hon. E. B. Stopford, who now performs the duties 

 of the office, which are onerous enough. 



It may be mentioned that some twelve years ago, 

 when the dispersal of the pack was nearly coming 

 about, it appeared that the old Hunt Club must also 

 cease to exist, and, indeed, without a pack and a 

 Master, its raison d'etre was hardly apparent. How- 

 ever that catastrophe was happily averted, the Club 

 subscriptions were continued, and a few years since 

 the Club rules were framed afresh, and matters gene- 

 rally placed on a proper footing as regards entrance, 

 &c. Though the system of meeting for dinners, &c.> 

 which obtained a hundred years ago and in the first 

 half of the century could now no longer be carried 

 out, it is hoped that some other form of social 

 enjoyment may shortly be inaugurated in connection 

 with the Club, which seems likely to prosper in the 

 future. 



Though the increased facility for moving about, 

 and the number of Hunts now in existence, make it 

 improbable that Kilkenny will ever again have the 

 opportunity of welcoming any great number of 

 strangers, we have had for some seasons a certain 

 number of visitors from neighbouring Hunts, who 

 come down for a day or two a week, and add not a 

 little to our enjoyment, and it is hoped to their own. 

 There have, too, generally been a few sportsmen 

 from other countries who make Kilkenny their head- 

 quarters during the winter. Amongst the former 

 may be mentioned Mr. and Mrs. Grogan, Mr. 

 Stewart Duckett, Captain Forbes, Mr. and Mrs. 



