l8o IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



CHAPTER XII. 



THE WEXFORD HOUNDS. 



This pack was established nearly a hundred years ago, 

 by Colonel Pigott of Slevoy Castle, as a private pack, 

 in conjunction with gentlemen residing in his neigh- 

 bourhood. In the year 1810, the Wexford Hunt Club 

 was formed, and Colonel Pigott became master, and 

 continued to fill that office till he resigned in 1839; 

 then his son, the late Mr. G. P. Pigott, was appointed. 

 In 1 84 1, Mr. James Harvey took the horn, and, after 

 one year's mastership, was replaced by the present 

 master, Mr. D. V. Beatty, in conjunction with Mr. 

 St. George Deane, who hunted the country for one 

 season, at the termination of which Mr. Beatty took 

 the onus on his shoulders, which he has borne con- 

 tinuously ever since. He hunted the hounds himself 

 till the close of the seasons 1875-6, when, from various 

 causes, he announced his intention of keeping a hunts- 

 man. The hunting district is very extensive ; about 

 thirty-three by twenty-three miles. It is a very diffi- 

 cult country to ride over; you require a very well 

 trained horse. It is for the most part flat, with 

 undulating hills, and obstacles of all descriptions are 

 to be met with. The territory includes all the county 

 Wexford, south of that hunted over by the Carlow 

 and Island Hounds. It is bounded, south and east by 

 the sea, on the west by Carlow, and on the north by 



