230 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



Thomas Ilackett of Riverview, Thomas Spunner of 

 Clyduff (both these gentlemen died about ten or twelve 

 years ago), Henry Allen of Shan bally, Joseph Falkiner, 

 of Rodeen, Captain Tom Middleton of Elm-hill, Wil- 

 liam Kennedy of Bantiss, and, some years later, 

 Thomas Hemsworth of Abbeyville, and Thomas Smith 

 of Silver-hill. In 18 ^,9, Thomas Stoney of Kyle-park, 

 near Borrisokane, kept the Ormond Hounds, and con- 

 tinued to do so for four or five years." 



** Who was his huntsman ? " 



" Denis Coughlan." 



" Who succeeded Mr. Stoney?" 



'* A sportsman of whom you have often heard, Mr. 

 James Drought of Banagher. Yes, he was the best 

 of sportsmen and most genial of friends. Richard 

 Conroy was his huntsman, with Tom Mara, as first 

 whip, whose voice it was a treat to hear, when those 

 fine hounds would answer as if by magic with a crash." 



" Mr. Drought was a supporter of steeplechasing 

 as well as of the sister-sport, fox-hunting, I think." 



" He was ; with the Cob, Smerger, Mountjoy, and 

 other chasers, to wit, the celebrated Dan O'Connell, 

 with Charley Canavan (father of the present fine 

 horsemen, David and Willie), made the extraordinary 

 fly of thirty-two feet over the down fence at Lisma- 

 crorry, while racing for the cup, which Mr. Drought 

 won two previous years, with the renowned chaser 

 ' The Cob,' ridden by the greatest horseman of the 

 day, Mr. Kelly, and by whom, though then supposed 

 to be a second string, this much-coveted prize was 

 won for the third and final win, when O'Connell broke 

 down." 



"Mr. Drought resigned in 1849, I think. ^" 



