224 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



THE ORMOND AND KING'S COUNTY HOUNDS. 



Having left the "kingdom of Connaught," I con- 

 tinued my tour in quest of information for these 

 hunting sketches, and, on the borders of Tipperary, 

 I found a Mentor, willing and able to afford me 

 much information relative to the Ormond Hounds 

 and country. 



" Now," says mine host, "having catered to your 

 wants as regards the * inner man,' we will have a chat 

 about your book and a smoke. If there is any truth 

 in the proverb, ' in vino Veritas^ it is not badly capped 

 by ' ex/umo dare lucem;' we get the silver lining of the 

 clouds, we say our best things, and keep the real con- 

 versation of the day for that cheerful hour when ordi- 

 nary mortals have retired to rest. I will tell you all 

 I know about our hounds. You do not surprise me 

 when you tell me that you have had more difficulty in 

 obtaining details regarding the Ormond and King's 

 County Hunt and the Duhallows than any other. 

 They are, I think, established longer than any pack 

 in Ireland ; and so many changes have taken place in 

 the management of the ' Ormonds,' that it is most 

 difficult to trace their history. You know there has 

 existed an 'Ormond Hunt' and a 'King's County 



