246 IRISH SPORT AND SPORTSMEN. 



Stoppers have more than enough to do, owing to the 

 great number of sewers and drains, as well as lime- 

 stone rocks. The coverts are mostly small patches of 

 gorse ; there are only a few big woodlands. The 

 principal supporters of the hunt are : the Earl of 

 Listowel, Sir Harry Becher of Ballygiblin, and Mr. 

 Richard Longfield of Longueville. There are gene- 

 rally thirty-five couple of hounds in kennel. The 

 pack consists mostly of old Duhallow hounds and 

 those purchased from Lord Shannon, when he gave 

 up the *' United Hunt." The Duhallows hunt nomi- 

 nally two days a week, but generally three. The 

 kennels, which were built a couple of years ago, are 

 at Cortigan, near Mallow ; P. Dalton is huntsman, C. 

 Burns and T. Hayes, whippersin. There are two or 

 three packs of harriers kept in the neighbourhood of 

 Mallow ; and excellent accommodation can be had in 

 the town for man and horse. 



THE LIMERICK STAGHOUNDS. 



Stag-hunting, or "catching your own again," as 

 Sam Nicholl called it, is becoming more popular in 

 Ireland every day. 



In 1872, Mr. John Gubbins of Bruree House, Kil- 

 mallock, formed the pack now known as the Limerick 

 Staghounds. They are a very good lot of hounds, 

 bred from the Limerick, Lord Shannon, and the Cur- 

 raghmore kennels. There are now twenty couple in 

 kennel. They hunt two days a week, over a splendid 

 grass-country. The "field" generally numbers about 

 forty. The master is well supported, particularly 

 by The O' Grady of Kilballyowen, and Mr. George 



