by

Reverend Martin Coen

Source: The Connacht Tribune, 5th March, 1976

The history of the Galway Blazers is difficult to discover as records are scarce. Originally they were a private pack of the Persse family of Castleboy and later Moyode. The Master then wore scarlet and the servants orange. The ladies wore blue. The name ‘Blazer’ is said to have come from the burning of Dooly’s Hotel by a group of hunters, although another theory holds that it is the result of their frequent practice of duelling i.e. ‘blazing’ (There is evidence of s duel between Blake of Holly Park and Burke of Strongfort as late as 1822). By then the name ‘Blazer’ must have been well established as Antoine O’Raifteire mentions in an 1833 poem “An Caiptin as Creachmhaoil, Seaghan Smith, a’s na Blazers.” There were then private packs in the county: St. George of Tyrone House, Blake of Frenchfort, Myrell of Pallas and Bodkin of Kilclooney.

The Blazers in their modern form

The Blazers in their modern form date from a meeting in the Grand Jury Coffee Room in Galway on 25th March, 1839 when it was decided to form a County Hunt. Sir M. D. Bellew, Bart., was in the chair. The Hunt was established on the motion of Walter Lambert of Castlelambert seconded by John Lambert of Aggard House; Craughwell. Denis Daly of Dunsandle and Pierce Joyce of Meryiew, Galway opened a subscription list and wrote to the nobility. The motion of John Martyn of Tulira Castle and Robert Bodkin of Armagh that the annual subscription be payable at the Spring Assizes and that nothing less than £5 be accepted was approved. Thomas N. Redington of Kflcornsn was the first Secretary and also the most generous subscriber; giving £25. On 26th July, 1839, the legendary John Dennis was appointed M/F/H and the committee consisted of The Marquis of Clanrickarde, the Hon. A. Nugent, Sir M. D. Bellew, T. N. Redington, M.P., Denis Daly, Christopher St. George, Michael J. Browne, John W. Lambert, Robert Bodkin, Burton Persse and Pierce Joyce. Many thanks were expressed to .Mr. Redington for his unceasing exertions, Mr. Denis was allowed £120 from which he had to supply and keep at least 25 couples of thoroughbred hunting hounds, the pack to be the property of the members. The hunt was to meet twice per week. There was to be one whip “turned out in proper style”. Mr. Dennis got a further £50 to buy dogs in England, but as he got nothing suitable there, as he got nothing there 15 couples were bought from the Upper Ormond Hounds at 5 guineas a couple. In October, 1839, the Hunt met at Monivea, Ballydugan, Dunsandle and Kilcornan at 11 o’clock. Field money was two shillings per person. In 1840 Mr. Dennis’s contract was renewed.

First hunt ball

On Friday, January 8th, 1841, the first hunt ball was held at William’s Hotel, Loughrea. Tickets were one pound each and members who had not paid their annual subscription could not be admitted. John Dennis (an ancestor of a later Master, Lady Mary Adele Cusack-Smith) was succeeded by the greatest Master of all, Burton Parson Persse of Moyode, who led from 1848 to 1855. He was both a great character and s wonderful horseman and many stories are told about his hunting feats both in Ireland and England. In March, 1875, Persse threatened to give up his post if the local people did not stop killing foxes with rabbit traps. (Mr. Persse, one presumes, had no small lambs).

Members and the Land Troubles

The hunt was very much then the preserve of the landed gentry, so that inevitably the members to some extent became embroiled in the land troubles. A member, Walter Matthew Bourke, J.P. of Rahasane Park, was murdered with his body-guard Corporal Robert Wallace on 8th June, 1882, as Bourke prepared to evict s number of his’ tenants. In the resultant bitterness, the Hunt became involved and on Saturday, 11th November, 1882, the pack led by Persse and Lord Clanmorris of Cregclare were prevented from hunting at Castletaylor and later at Rahasane. There was a riot and assaults so that the police had to intervene. On December 18th, 1882 James Keane, Michael Sylver, John Connell, Michael Cahill, William Coen, Thomas Holland and John Fahy were found guilty of riotous behaviour. Two prisoners got 18 months in jail and all, except one who expressed regret, got one year each.

The Hunt and Local Farmers in 1882-1883

Despite the struggle of the land war, the hunt met each year although in 1882-83 the meets were cancelled for the rest of the season. It is to the credit of the farmers that when they did become owners they continued to allow their lands to be hunted. And the Blazers in turn endeavoured to do as little damage as possible. And if damage is done, compensation is paid immediately.

Dudley Persse and W.B. Yeats

There was regret when Lieut-Col. Dudley Persse, 6th son of Burton Persse of Moyode was killed while hunting on 5th November, 1894at the age of 55. A great loss to the hunt was one of the finest horsemen, Robert Gregory, son of Lady Gregory who was shot down over Italy on 23rd January, 1918 “a gallant fellow, one of the very best. I don’t suppose he had an enemy on the world or that he knew what fear was. A more fearless horseman never rode this country”. W. B. Yeats wrote of him:

When with the Galway foxhounds he would ride

From Castletaylor to the Roxborough side

Or Esserkelly plain, few kept his pace,           

At Moneen he had leaped a pace,       

So perilous that half the astonished meet

Had shut their eyes; and where was it

He rode a race without a bit?    

And yet his mind outran the horse’s feet.

John Dennis and a Cabbage Stalk

The 1947-48 season was a much debated one but not for the usual reasons. Farmers stopped the hunt once more from hunting their land in December, 1947. The problem ceased when one of the joint.masters resigned. Echoes of the past sounded in August, 1974, when an antique silver trophy was stolen from Bermingham House, Tuam, the residence of Lady Cusack-Smith. The solid silver racing trophy, worth thousands of pounds was won in 1837 by John Dennis, the first M.F.H. of the Co. Hunt and an ancestor of Lady Molly. John Dennis once rode over five foot  walls in succession without bridle, saddle, whip or spur. All he had to guide his horse with was a cabbage stalk. For this feat he won £25.

Dress

For those who plan to join the hunt, wearing the red coat is not automatic. It is by invitation. As in many clubs, membership is by decision of the committee. Evening dress for ladies includes a white collar, white watered silk facings and red coat. Along with white knee breeches go the hunt buttons, on which there is an image in relief of Reynard. The hounds are doubly marked; on the right ear is the county mark and on the left ear is the litter mark. The Blazer country is about thirty square miles, one quarter consisting of walls and banks. In 1891 the East Galway Hunt took over certain areas for their hunt and in 1946 the Tuam country was lent to the North Galway Hunt based at Bermingham House. The Blazers now have 50 couples and hunt three days a week. Lord Clanmorris provided Ballymore House.