HISTORY OF THE KILDARE HUNT 



this was insufficient, and the fox managed to break 

 back and keep cover. Mr MedHcott finds a note 

 recording the incident. 



" The foxhounds hunted a fox for two hours 

 and twenty minutes in the Curragh covert, but 

 could not make him break and were drawn off at 

 dusk." 



It is obvious that a Master with so many occu- 

 pations could only hunt a country successfully with 

 the co-operation of his fellow sportsmen, and with 

 the prevalence of the best of relations between 

 Master and Hunt. Lord Naas certainly enjoyed 

 both in full measure. He was undoubtedly much 

 indebted to a number of his hunting comrades for 

 invaluable assistance, among whom it is not in the 

 least invidious to specify Mr Wm La Touche, Mr 

 Robert Kennedy and the late Baron de Robeck. 



Mr Wm La Touche, as always, was a tower of 

 strength to the Hunt. I remember him well myself, 

 during my father's Mastership, in the yard at 

 Palmerstown by the kennels on his weekly visit to 

 inspect the hounds. The impression I have retained 

 was that of a very pale, silent, and pensive-looking 

 man, who seldom spoke. He lunched always with 

 my mother on these occasions, she being one of 

 the few ladies he ever spoke to in his later years. 

 His care of the kennels and the breeding and 

 training of the pack continued after my father's 

 248 



