27-year-old Philip Hore, who passed away last week after battling cancer. He was laid to rest on Sunday afternoon in Tomhaggard. Pic: Jim Campbell

THE VILLAGE of Tomhaggard came to a standstill on Sunday afternoon as hundreds of mourners gathered at the Church of St. Anne and St. James to pay their final respects to 27-year-old Philip Hore, who sadly passed away on Thursday last.

Philip, the son of Valerie and the late Nicholas, had been battling cancer for the past year. A long term member of the Killinick Harriers Hunt, he remained active in the club up until his passing and, most recently, was the main organiser of a charity hunt in December which raised nearly €50,000 for the oncology ward in St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Philip, from Tilladavins in Tomhaggard, had told his friends that he would see out the 2016 hunting season and his hunt colleague, Fr. David Murphy was quick to inform the gathered congregation on Sunday afternoon that the avid young horseman was a man of his word.

Fr. Murphy, who is also a member of the hunt, explained that Philip had lost his fight for life at 5:50 p.m. on Thursday last at Wexford General Hospital. At the exact same time, in Killinick, Master of the Hunt Johnny Roche was blowing the bugle to call the hounds home on the last day of hunting for the 2016 season.

“His hunt for a cure from the dreadful disease of cancer was over. Johnny Roche, the Master of the Hunt, blew the bugle and called the hounds home on the last day of the season, the third of March, 2016 in Killinick at ten minutes to six. At the same time, at ten minutes to six, on Thursday, the third of March, God blew the bugle and called Philip home.”

He added: “Philip had said to me a few months ago that he would see the season out. He would see the hunting season out. True to form, and his honesty, he did see the season out.”

Philip, who had only just turned 27, on February 15, was educated at Kilmore National School and Bridgetown Vocational College. He went on to study at Kildalton College where he played GAA and won an All Ireland Colleges medal on the football field.

He had a great love for horses, something instilled in him by his late father, and he soon took up hunting and acted as Secretary and Field Master of the Killinick Harriers. His two horses, Billy and Calvin, who lead the funeral cortege, were his pride and joy. His coffin was flanked by Guards of Honour by members of the Killinick Harriers Hunt Club and members of Kilmore GAA Club.

The charity hunt, which ran in December, had been a huge success, said Fr. Murphy and had put the Killinick Harriers on the national stage, including an article in the latest copy of ‘Horse and Hound’ which, he noted, was dated March 3, 2016, the day of Philip’s passing.

Philip was laid to rest at the Church of St. Anne and St. James cemetery after Sunday’s funeral mass. As a final mark of tribute, Master of the Hunt Johnny Roche sounded the bugle one last time for their friend and colleague.

Philip is survived by his mother Valerie, his sister Annaleigh, aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family and a wide circle of friends.