14 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



town ; none were invited, all were welcome when they 

 came ; in truth, it may be said, that " though he feasted 

 all the great he ne'er forgot the small." 



Some years before Squire Connolly's death, the pack 

 was kept at Bishopscourt, though he was the recog- 

 nised master; when he died in 1804, Sir Fenton 

 Aylmer succeeded him, and kept the hounds for a 

 year or two ; and then Mr. Arthur Henry took them, 

 and kept them till 18 10, when Sir Fenton Aylmer 

 resumed the mastership. 



He had a very famous huntsman, Jack Grennon, 

 gifted with a grand voice ; a first-rate rider, but 

 like all of us, he had his faults, and one of them 

 was being too hasty to please the hunting men of 

 his time, though, I dare say, his manner would be 

 considered not unbecoming in these more demo- 

 cratic days. The whips, Will Mathews and his son, 

 were men who subsequently acquired a great repu- 

 tation. 



In 1 8 13, an accident occurred w^hich destroyed 

 the best hounds in the kennel. The meet was at 

 Tipper cross-roads, near Naas ; a fox was found in 

 Forenaughts, and a grand run ensued to Poulaphouca, 

 beloved of pic-nicers. Just near the spot where the 

 bridge now stands Reynard plunged into the rushing 

 torrent, thirteen couple of the pack followed suit, there 

 was a strong "freshet" in the Liffey at the time, and 

 they were all drowned. 



In 1 8 14, Sir John Kennedy became master : he cer- 

 tainly may be called the " father of the hunt;" his popu- 

 larity was as widespread as it was deserved ; a more 

 enthusiastic worshipper never paid homage at Diana's 

 shrine, nor a more genuine sportsman ever wore at his 



