WELCOMING SPEECH BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE IRWS CLUB TERRY O'LEARY
Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to welcome you all on behalf of the Irish Red and White Setter Club to this, our 25th anniversary celebration. We are indeed honoured that many of you have travelled from various parts of the world to help us celebrate this milestone. As you know, this event is being run over four days. Although some of you may not be attending the full four-day programme, it is the sincere hope of the Club that whichever events you participate in, you will find them to be a both positive and informing experience.
In 1977, Mrs Cuddy bred a litter. In this litter were Hawk, Hickory and Harlequin of Knockalla. I think it is fair to say that the people who purchased pups from this litter contributed significantly to the revival of the breed as we know it.
Just so you can envisage what the dogs looked like at this stage, here are some pictures of the three dogs.
The Irish Red and White Setter Field and Show Society was formed in 1981. Its founders were Mr Sean Walsh, Mr Alan and Mrs Anne Gormley, Mrs Laura Dunne and myself. The main objectives of the Club were:
That the Irish Red and White Setter was to be bred in accordance with the Standard of the country of origin.
To encourage the working qualities of the breed in every possible way.
To promote breeding of them upon sound working principles.
To ensure that when classified at shows, they are to be judged from a working standpoint.
The Club has remained true to those objectives and, over the last 25 years, we have seen the Irish Red and White Setter progress to the point where it has now produced champions, show champions and field trial champions.
However, we are also here to celebrate a breed we know and love – the Irish Red and White Setter. The Irish Red and White Setter is not just a member of our native breeds; it is indeed part of our national heritage, a part we thought to have lost forever. However, through the efforts of people like Mrs Cuddy and Dermot Mooney, the Irish Kennel Club, the Irish Red Setter Club and indeed some of the people who are sitting here today, we have brought this breed back to life.
We have representatives here today from America, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Scotland and England. Who could have foreseen this event happening a mere twenty-five years ago? I feel the breed is well on the road to recovery. It has made its presence felt in the show world and the field trial world and is indeed a top-class shooting dog.
Today we will hear from the delegates how the breed is progressing in their own countries. I am sure there will be stories of success, as well as stories of problems that some may be having. When I think back to 1977, the year that I first became involved with Irish Red and White Setters, and see the progress we have made since then, I look at you breeders and fellow enthusiasts and I know that we can overcome any problems that may arise.
It is the sincere hope of this Club that the celebrations over the next few days will be a positive event from which we may all learn and will be of benefit to our breed, the Irish Red and White Setter.
Thank you very much, Ladies and Gentlemen.