HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



hours and twenty minutes ; the first hour and 

 twenty minutes very fast." 



From the record of February I select the follow- 

 ing: 



*' 1 6th Feb. A good hunting run of one hour and 

 twenty minutes from Three Castles. Fast to 

 Punchbowl, back over the mountains as if for 

 Kilbride, then headed for Three Castles and ran 

 into him in a bit of a cover close by. Drew Down- 

 shire, found, went away fast towards Eadstown; 

 slow hunting across Blessington Road towards the 

 mountains, then headed for Three Castles; checked 

 for a short time at the covert, rattled him out of it 

 and away fast across the bog as if for Downshire, but 

 turned and ran into him in a garden at Blessington. 

 A very long hunting run of upwards of two hours. 

 Horses very much beaten." 



The tale of good sport continues throughout 

 February, though there is a remark of the major's, 

 " went away for two or three fields and lost as 

 usual," which seems to hint at some defect in the 

 huntsman. On the 25th, *' Found and went away 

 fast from Castle Kelly to Donore and on for Killy- 

 begs, turned, crossed the Liffey close to Millicent 

 and lost, a famous run of i hour and 25 minutes. 

 The fox was dead beat and close before the 

 hounds. Supposed he was drowned." 



There is no doubt indeed that Mr Kennedy 

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