THE GALWAY HOUNDS. 1 27 



some time ago that he had at one time records of the 

 hunt which dated back to the early part of the last 

 century ; he unfortunately lent them to a friend of his 

 who lost them, and the oldest now in his possession is 

 one of 1803." 



" Yes, his grandfather had hounds for many years 

 before that ; he used to turn them out in splendid 

 style, and dress his hunt-servants in * orange plush,' 

 but he himself always wore the scarlet." 



**Did he reside at Moyode ?" 



" Yes, in Persse Lodge, which stood where Moyode 

 Castle is now, and the kennels were, I think, near 

 where they are at present. Of course they were far 

 inferior to the present kennels." 



"Were there other hounds kept in the county at 

 that time ?" 



'* There were a few small packs, I believe, but the 

 late Colonel Giles Eyre, of Eyrecourt Castle, for 

 several years kept a large pack and hunted the lower 

 end of Galway, also part of King's Co. and Tipperary, 

 or Ormond. Of course you often heard of him; and 

 you remember Lever's song : — 



" ' The King of Oude 

 Is mighty proud, 



And so were onst the Caysars ; 

 But ould Giles Eyre 

 Would make them stare, 

 Av he had them with the Blazers. 

 To the devil I'd fling ould Runjut Singh, 

 He's only a prince in a small way, 

 And knows nothing at all of a six-foot wall. 

 Oh ! he'd never do for Galway.' 



The Colonel was very wealthy, and spared no expense 

 in improving the breed of his pack, and in mounting 



