LORD NAAS, 1857-1862 



soon got the requisite permission from the Govern- 

 ment and Mr Medlicott found no difficuhy in 

 raising the money. He was allowed to enclose eight 

 acres altogether, a patch which included four acres 

 of an old covert which had been made by Colonel 

 Bruen of Old Park, Carlow, who was President of 

 a Coursing Club on the Curragh. 



Mr Medlicott had, of course, to plough the 

 ground, and he thought he might as well raise a crop 

 of oats the first year. The wire- worm took most of 

 the oats, but, as he says, did not take the gorse. 

 He got a few pounds for the crop, nevertheless, and 

 when the whole thing was done and fenced he found 

 that with the surplus of the subscription and the 

 money from the oats he had a few pounds in hand. 

 The covert was properly fenced, and at the next 

 meet he handed Lord Naas the key with a ten- 

 pound note representing the surplus. '' Thank 

 you," replied Lord Naas, " I am very grateful to 

 you, and if you will make me a few more coverts in 

 Kildare on the same terms I shall be very glad." 



By such means then the gentlemen of Kildare set 

 about to repair the damage of the Crimean winter, 

 and it is well known that in a few seasons sport was 

 as good in Kildare as it had even been, better, 

 some people who remember the time say, consider- 

 ing the great handicap of the losses during the first 

 few seasons. The state of things which prevailed 



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