THE QUEEN S COUNTY HOUNDS. 239 



Then Mr. Thomas B. Kelly of Kellyville succeeded 

 Sir Walter, but the poor fellow did not live long to 

 enjoy the position he so worthily filled. *' King 

 Death" claimed him for his own when in the very 

 prime of manhood ; he was a most popular gentleman, 

 a true sportsman, and a brilliant horseman, to hounds 

 and between the flags. Mr. Sidney Cosby, father of the 

 present owner of Stradbally Hall, then presided over 

 the pack. He built kennels at Stradbally, close to his 

 beautiful mansion, but, like his predecessor, Mr. Kelly, 

 he did not long survive his accession. He was a 

 great favourite, and to see him ride was quite a 

 treat ; he and his brother-in-law, Mr. Horace Roche- 

 fort, the squire of Clogrenan, were about the best 

 men in the county to hounds at this period. The 

 late Lord Portarlington then kept them for a time, and 

 the present Lord Drogheda succeeded in 1847, and 

 during the three years of his mastership, and with the 

 aid of his most popular cousin, Mr. Robert Moore, an 

 excellent sportsman, hunting survived in a most trying 

 time, although his Lordship did not receive the sup- 

 port he merited from the farmers and landed pro- 

 prietors of the Queen's County. Simultaneously Lord 

 Ashbrooke hunted the Ossory portion of the country. 

 He was asked to have the packs amalgamated when 

 Lord Drogheda resigned, and, having given his con- 

 sent, a county pack was established for the first time. 

 He filled the role of master but for a short time, and 

 was succeeded by Mr. Hamilton Stubber of Moyne, 

 the father of the present master. He gave great 

 satisfaction, was a universal favourite, and turned out 

 in the best style — in fact, he was the "right man in 

 the right place." 



