214 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



of Ballintobber, William Newenham of Coolmore, 

 Thomas Hayes, William Patton, and M. Donegan. 



THE UNITED HUNT. 



So many changes have taken place in the manage- 

 ment of this hunt, that it is by no means easy to trace 

 it through all its phases. It was originally established 

 in the year 1824 or 1825, by the late Mr. Simon Dring 

 of Rockgrove, county Cork, and was then known as 

 the *' Union Hunt," and an Englishman, Paul Quirke, 

 was huntsman. Mr. Dring was succeeded by Mr. 

 Devonshire, and the hounds were then removed to 

 Kilshannig, near Rathcormac. It appears that the 

 sport was very poor during the regime of Mr. Dring ; 

 nor was all satisfactory under Mr. Devonshire's 

 dynasty. 



I take the following, written by ** D. G.," from an 

 English sporting magazine of 1837 : — 



" I have been a good deal surprised that none of your Irish cor- 

 respondents has ever tried to prove the superiority, in an Irish 

 country, of the old Irish foxhound over the English blood. Though 

 we have had the question fairly tried here, I shall not attempt to 

 enter into their relative merits ; but I will state a few facts, which 

 may elicit the opinions of more experienced sportsmen and prac- 

 tised writers. About ten years ago the Union Hunt Club was got 

 up to hunt an extensive country in the county of Cork. Two packs, 

 one of mixed, the other of pure Irish blood, were presented by 

 their owners (one of whom became manager) to the club, and a 

 round sum was subscribed and paid up. The exclusive hunting of 

 an extensive district was obtained. The club and the cub-hunting 

 commenced with the most cheering prospects ; but although our 

 proceedings commenced so favourably the sport of the first year 

 fell far short of our expectations. At the wind-up dinner the 

 failure was admitted by all, but the opinions as to the causes which 



