For 51 weekends of the year Sevenhouses is just a crossroads on the R697 a few miles south of Kilkenny; on the second weekend of January however, every year, it becomes a Mecca for the tight-knit coursing community, last-chance-saloon to qualify for the great annual National Coursing Meeting in Clonmel a few weeks later.

TOP horse exhibitor at last year’s Dublin Horse Show, Seamus Lehane, continued his domination of shows in his native West Cork, at last week’s Carbery Show in Skibbereen.

MARTS: A top price of €3,400 was paid for an outstanding Charolais bullock, winner of the overall reserve Championship of the Show at the Annual Fat Stock Show and Sale at Kilmallock Mart, County Limerick.