THE CURRAGHMORE HOUNDS. 8 1 



its success. His lordship cares little for racing as a 

 rule, but takes great interest in the Hunt Races, which 

 he instituted for the amusement of the farmers, and as 

 a small return to them for the support they give him 

 in the hunting. 



I omitted to mention that when Lord Huntingdon 

 (then Lord Hastings) gave up the Dungarvan and 

 Whitechurch country to take his present country, Lord 

 Waterford took it ; but it was too far away and incon- 

 venient, so he gave it up after a year or two. 



Curraghmore is stituated near Portlaw, a small 

 village, ten miles from Waterford, and one of the 

 prettiest in Ireland, owing to the enterprise and em- 

 ployment given by that princely firm, Messrs. Malcom- 

 son Brothers, whose headquarters are in the village, 

 and where they employ some 2,000 hands daily. 



The Portlaw entrance to Curraghmore is not 

 exactly so imposing as you might expect, and for that 

 matter, every entrance to it is beneath it. However, 

 once within the walls, one very soon forgets the gate- 

 ways, for on all sides we see that which gladdens the 

 eye of the lover of the picturesque and grand ; but from 

 the meaning of the word Curraghmore we imagine we 

 are to see vast plains stretching away on all sides. No 

 such thing. The hills and valleys are mostly covered 

 with woods, and it is only in the race-course and large 

 sheep-walk fronting the pleasure-grounds that we see 

 large enclosures. It is, however, those which gave origin 

 to the name, for it was only the portion of the present 

 demesne which lies on the Carrick side of the Clodiagh, 

 that always belonged to the Curraghmore family, the 

 woods of Portlaw, Baylock,and Darrigal being of recent 

 acquisition by purchase from the Duckett and Medly- 



