By Tom Fulton
The First in a Series of Country Sports Profiles Declan Feeney huntsman to the East Down Foxhounds Declan Feeney was born into hunt service, his late father John Michael Feeney at that time being second whipper-in to the Iveagh Harriers, where Johnny Flynn was kennel huntsman and first whipper-in and they both turned hounds to Albert Uprichard MH. One of Declan’s brothers, Peter, also followed his father and was huntsman to the Kildare Foxhounds.
Declan Feeney is a marvellous ambassador for hunting.
Declan Feeney in the saddle.
In later years, John Michael Feeney was appointed kennel huntsman to Brian Faulkner MH, the Former Prime Minister of Northern Ireland who now hunted the Iveagh Harriers. A week after his appointment John Michael Feeney was murdered by loyalist terrorists and Declan’s brother Jimmy succeeded his father for a brief time. It was at this time that Albert Uprichard became an influential mentor to Declan, which he has not forgotten. Declan continued to hunt as a schoolboy while working at a tracking centre for George Bailey, who paid for all Declan’s schoolboy hunting, before leaving school and working in a harness and tack shop for four years. While working with Polo ponies for Stephen Hutchinson MH (South Tyrone) Declan
travelled throughout the UK and met Terry and Jan Hall who sourced and liveried the Cheshire’s hunt horses. Terry Hall made good on his promise to get Declan into hunt service, which he did at the Cheshire Hunt where Stuart Coley was huntsman. It is relevant to note here that one of Terry Hall’s staff was Cathy Sharp, whom Declan subsequently married in 1992. When whipper-in Paul Steele was injured Declan stepped into the breech and gained more experience with these Modern English hounds. After two years with the Cheshire Declan moved to the South Shropshire where Michael Rowson was huntsman. Declan greatly enjoyed and learned a lot from his two years with this marvellous ambassador for foxhunting. He then moved to the Flint and Denbigh as first whipper-in under Michael King, with Major David Watkin Williams-Wynn as Master.
Michael King had learned his trade under Bruce Durno at the Fernie and, as with Michael Rowson, Declan was happy with and learned a lot from another excellent huntsman. This was Declan’s first experience with Old English hounds but it was something which he took in his stride. Two years later, Declan moved, as first whipper-in, to turn hounds to David Barker at the Meynell and South Stafordshire. The East Down job then came up and Declan secured it with Craig Caven and David Sandford as joint masters and local lad Ryan Carvill helping out in kennels. Declan then returned to the Meynell as kennel huntsman and first whipper-in to Johnny Greenall MFH who hunted hounds. Ryan Carvill accompanied Declan as second whipper-in and kennel man, David Barker having retired. After two years at Sudbury, the East Down job came up again and Declan returned home in the
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