Historian Sean J Murphy from Windgates writes about a famous ballad recalling a memorable fox hunt which took place from Killruddery near Bray in December 1744. The article is based on a recent talk delivered via Zoom to members of the Kilmacanogue History Society.
In Britain and Ireland the hunting song is a well defined class of popular ballad. Songs of this type describe memorable pursuits of prey such as the stag, fox or hare, with the daring and skills of the huntsmen to the fore in the narrative.
Examples of Irish hunting songs include The County Limerick Buck-Hunt , Reynard the Fox and of course The Killruddery Hunt . The lyrics of The Killruddery Hunt are quite precise as to the date when the event took place, namely, December 5, 1744, commencing at five in the morning, by most of the clocks . Hunters of that period must have been very hardy to rise at such an early hour in winter.