HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



indeed set to work manfully to repair the havoc of 

 the weather. A covert at Allen was presented by Sir 

 G. Aylmer; that at Downings by Mr D. Wright, at 

 Oberstown by Mr J. Nolan, Sillot Hill by Lord 

 Drogheda, Bert by Lord Downes, Sawyers Wood 

 by the Duke of Leinster. " Your father in fact," 

 writes Mr R. Kennedy, " infected all men in Kil- 

 dare with his most wondrous enthusiasm, and all 

 set to work with most willing hands, so that in five 

 years when he resigned he handed over the country 

 in the most perfect state, practically a six days a 

 week country." 



While on this subject I must describe the origin 

 of Rathbride covert, formerly and more properly 

 known as " Medlicott's," the gift of a living 

 member of the Hunt, Mr Medlicott of Dunmurry, 

 who has kindly furnished me with the details. 



" During Lord Naas's Mastership we chopped 

 a fox at Dunmurry, and the nearest covert was 

 then at Martinstown, seven miles away. Lord Naas 

 said, * It takes the heart out of a winter's day to 

 trot seven miles.' Mr Medlicott then replied ' If 

 we could get permission from the Government to 

 enclose a bit of ground on the Curragh, I know a 

 great many farmers and tradesmen, all with 

 horses, though they never see hounds, but are still 

 good sportsmen, and I should be able to get a 

 subscription among them to do it.' " Lord Naas 

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