94 MEMOIR OF THE KILKENNY HUNT. 



CONCLUSION. 



IT will be evident from the foregoing Memoir that 

 on more than one occasion the Kilkenny Hunt, and 

 with it the old Club, was perilously near extinction, 

 and probably has had more hairbreadth escapes than 

 most packs. The events which occurred at the close 

 of Mr. Meredyth's mastership very nearly led to a 

 break-up of the Hunt. Later on, in 1880 and suc- 

 ceeding years, matters were in a very critical state in 

 Kilkenny, as elsewhere in Ireland ; and in 1886 it 

 seemed inevitable that a final dissolution of the Hunt 

 \vould occur. But, on all these occasions, the sport- 

 ing instincts which are bred in all Irishmen asserted 

 themselves, and a way was found out of the dilem- 

 mas which threatened the Hunt, and hounds are now 

 out oftener than ever. 



With regard to sport, it is invidious to draw com- 

 parisons, but it may at least be said, that foxes are 

 capable of making as long points as they ever were, 

 and hounds as capable of hunting them. A scries of 

 fine runs from Rossmore gorse, a covert thoroughly 

 well preserved, culminating in a great run to Upper- 

 court, and a fine hunt last season from Carricktriss 

 to Inistiogc, sufficiently warrant both assertions. It 

 is true that coverts arc nearer to each other than was 

 the case in early days. Some of them, such as 



