HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



first introduced shorthorn cattle into the country. 

 Mr Alexander Kirkpatrick was a great rider and 

 prominent sportsman with a great knowledge of the 

 breeding of horses. He was a leading member of 

 the Hunt, and generally rode thoroughbreds. 



Finally there is Captain Sheddon of Dublin, a 

 gentleman well known in Kildare sport of those 

 days for the strength of his language and the mild- 

 ness of his riding. 



Mr Medlicott, the present owner of Dun- 

 murrey, is another veteran of the Kildare Hunt, 

 whose recollections extend well back into the 

 Mastership of Sir John Kennedy, and has been kind 

 enough to tell me much of interest about that 

 famous period. When Sir John came over into that 

 country, which was regularly the case, the meet 

 always took place at the door of Dunmurrey Hall. 

 The hounds, indeed, were often sent over the 

 night before and kennelled in the stables. These 

 buildings were sometimes used by the workmen, 

 who lit fires, baked potatoes, and ate their meals 

 there. On one of these visits by the Hunt, about the 

 year 1834, the hounds had been turned into the 

 stable, as usual, and early in the morning it was 

 found that the building was on fire. It was thought 

 that the hounds scratching among the ashes for 

 potato skins had thrown out the embers on to 

 their bedding straw and so started the fire. It was 



134 



