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Now we see clustered among trees of ancient planting, through 

 which the Gothic windows look out upon the Curragh, a place of 

 historic fame. It was the home of the Watts', and it is Jockey Hall. 

 Here was stabled Echidna, when she dropped The Baron. Here, too, 

 the latter as a sire held court, and out of Pocahontas begat Stock- 

 well. At Jockey Hall Mr. John Hubert Moore for several years 

 resided in the sixties and seventies. During his time the best horses 

 in Ireland, bar none, were trained at The Hall. Among them were 

 Scots Grey, Curragh Ranger, Furley, Rufus, Albert, Revenge, Revoke, 

 and many others whose names I can't at the moment recall to mind. 

 Over the private course at the back his father taught Garrett Moore 

 how to ride a steeplechase. 



Another North of Ireland gentleman, Mr. T. G. Gordon, resides now 

 at Jockey Hall. He, like the former occupiers, has a large string of 

 first-class horses under his charge, and as a sire he has at present the 

 renowned Ben Battle. Mr. Gordon, as a member of our I.N.H.S. 

 Committee, does good service to our sport. We see that within the 

 past couple of years he has put the place in thorough repair and 

 wrought great improvements in the house and stables, which from 

 old age and hard usage they truly were in need of. 



Leaving Jockey Hall we wheel sharp to the left and travel along the 

 eastern end of the Curragh. In doing so we pass the rifle butts, and 

 cross the line of fire. After about two miles we turn up to the right and 

 arrive, by a short cut and the back entrance, at another establishment, 

 as famous and as ancient as any about the " Short grass." This is 

 Athgarvan Lodge, the seat of my friend Mr. William Pallin. 



We have now had some three hours on the Curragh, and travelled 

 nearly seven miles. At all of the houses, with profuse hospitality, we 

 were offered refreshment, and at some we certainly partook thereof. 

 Now, however, comes the hour for luncheon, and with the effects of 

 the Curragh air in our systems, we have a keen desire for it. This 

 feeling is the more intensified by the hearty welcome which we 

 receive, and forthwith we sit down to a sumptuous repast presided 

 over by the genial host. 



Athgarvan Lodge of the present day is very different from what it 

 was when George IV". visited Mr. Bowes Daly there in 1821. Then 

 mains of cocks were often fought on the green plot opposite the 

 <irawing-room windows, which is now the tennis ground, and here in 

 the dining-room, during the night's carouse, was many a battle 

 brought off upon the mahogany. Habits and fashions were very 

 different then from now, and if these walls could speak they might 

 tell queer tales ! Cock-fighting and hard-drinking were, however, in 

 olden times, practised at the Curragh in many other places besides 

 Athgarvan Lodge. 



Mr. Pallin is a man of very refined taste. He has a collection of 

 rare oak furniture and equally antique silver. Everywhere we see, 

 in choice selections, which betoken the instincts of the man, trophies 

 of the race, the chase, and foreign travel. 



