LORD NAAS, 1857-1862 



after as well nor foxes as plenty as they are now, and 

 until Lord Naas took the mastership the Kildare 

 Hunt was no exception. Lord Naas having hurt his 

 back hunted that day on wheels, but passing some 

 wild gorse which is now Laragh covert and situated 

 about two miles from Maynooth and half a mile 

 south of the Midland Railway he got out of his gig 

 and drew the furze himself with a terrier. A fox 

 went away unseen, but the hounds getting on the 

 line away they streamed in full view of a numerous 

 field of horsemen and without either horn or holloa. 

 At a fine steady pace they ran by Laragh House and 

 wheeling to the right they faced for Kilcock but 

 crossed the railway and grand canal at Chambers 

 Bridge which was lucky for the followers, for that 

 watercourse is nearly fifty feet wide and ten deep. 

 Away they went into the County Meath, not racing, 

 but a good three-quarters pace and straight as a 

 whip by Castle Hussey into CoUestown, a covert 

 belonging to the Meath. Here they hunted — it was 

 the dog pack — for a quarter of an hour and without 

 checking brought the line out at the other side, 

 which was remarkable, for the earths were, of 

 course, open, and the fox could have readily gone to 

 ground if he had chosen. It was then the same story 

 for the like distance to Culmullen, but instead of 

 going into it the game fellow ran the boundary 

 fence, and continued his way across that glorious 

 country to Grange, which passing on the left, he 

 went for Swainstown, and just before reaching its 

 boundary fence, he was run into fair and square. 



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