During the 125 years of its existence the Irish Red Setter Club has touched the life of many Irish people. These people came from all walks of life and in their time supported the breed and the club. While all in their own way made the club what it is, certain individuals played significant roles and in the space of an article it is only possible to consider a few of the more influential members.
The Irish Red Setter Club was first proposed in 1882 on the 19th June at 2 Morgan Place in Dublin, by J J Giltrap who acted as the Honorary Secretary for the meeting and subsequently was elected to the post. The meeting resolved to have as the Club objectives the preservation and protection of the breed and the establishment of field trials in Ireland. The founding members were all noted setter owners many of whom became commentators on the breed in the following years, and included Capt. (later Colonel) J K Millner, Cecil Moore, J G Hawkes and others. They wrote the breed standard which stood the test of time until it was revised in the 1990s to make it fit into the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) format.
The standard was based on Ch. Garryowen, owned by Giltrap a noted dog of the day who had Spillane’s Garryowen Flake tobacco called after him and who featured in James Joyce’s Ulysses.
Old Garryowen started growling again at Bloom that was skeezing round the door. .
. old Giltrap's dog and getting fed up by the ratepayers and corporators. ...
Has the Club lived up to its objectives? I believe it has and without its support, the working qualities of the breed would not be preserved around the world as they are today. The breed’s beauty has ensured its popularity, but as its function created its form, it remained a priority for the Club to maintain the breed’s working qualities. Throughout the history of the Club field trials and shows have been held almost every year and while the interest in the breed has waned and grown there has always been a cohort of people with the interest of the breed at heart that guided the Club and the bloodlines through even the most difficult of times; the Irish rebellion, the Civil War, two World Wars and despite these extraordinary events continued to hold its activities throughout.
The founding fathers were very influential as breeders, exhibitors and judges with Millner and Hawkes being the ones that exerted the most impact.
Hawkes lived in Glengarrif in Co. Cork. He died in 1914. He is probably the father of the modern working setter and the influence of his dogs has stretched long past his life. In all he produced 19 setter that won at trials; Muskerry, Wrestler, Signal, Galtee, Kerry Kate and Punchestown are perhaps the best known. Although I can find no evidence that he served as an officer of the club he is recorded as having attended all meetings and events that the Club ran and he was a constant throughout the early life of the Club.
Col J K Millner went on to become Hon. Secretary of The Irish Red Setter Club. In 1908 he became Ireland’s first Olympic Gold medalist in Rifle Shooting at the age of 58, and one of the foremost sportsmen of his day. Millner wrote The Irish Setter, its History and Training in 1924 which was first and last book written by an Irishman on the breed, a matter which I hope change in the near future. He was the last commander of the Carlow Militia; he became legendary after losing Ireland an International long range rifle shooting match against America in 1874, when he shot a bulls-eye in the wrong target. He was born in 1850 and died in 1931. His interest in the breed spanned his long life. One of his first setters had a profound influence on the breed and became one of the foundation sires of the modern Irish setter. That dog was Frisco, who was born in 1877. Among his other noted dogs were Airnie, Aileen and Spalpeen. The experiences of his lifetime and his considerable research into the breed are contained in his valued book.
At the start of the 1900s, the next major influence was J A Carbery, Beechgrove, Drogheda whose ‘of Boyne’ prefix was known worldwide. Carbery acted as Chairman and Treasurer alternatively and concurrently during the 1920s and early 1930s. His kennel started as a dual purpose kennel, but later focused more on the show side. Barney, Terry, Brian, Noreen, Sarsfield of Boyne all went to exert their influence and many of the Boyne setters are at the base of the modern show setter all over the world as Carbery exported extensively. He resigned from the Club in 1935 having been a pillar for the Club and heavily involved in Irish Kennel Club matters for a considerable period of time.
Mr G C Bennett, born in 1877, died in 1963, a farmer from Ratheney Knocklong, Co Limerick was very involved with the breed and Club. On the death of Hawkes, the kennel went into Bennett’s hands because they were friends. Bennett bred from Beltane, his famous Ch. Gruagach, winner of Cruft’s Show in 1922.. He became the leading sire of his time, producing several dual purpose dogs; Ch Tadhg, Ch Domnal MacGrugach, FTW Eitleog, FTCHs Gilpin and June, the latter two the first FTCHs under IKC rules. His influence is still with us today.
Bennett became a Fine Gael Oireachtas member for Limerick and served from 1927 to 1951. His interest in setters waned when he went into politics but I include a passage from a Seanad debate on the Irish News Agency Bill on the 14th December 1949 to reflect his pride in his dogs.
I have worked in other countries for many years—I had to do it—and I think I was as anxious as anyone could be to uphold the honour of my particular country. I heard very little of the Irish language ever spoken there. I do not give way to any Senator in respect for those who are enthusiastic about the Irish language and who have made very great sacrifices to learn it. Unfortunately, I did not learn it, but in my own small way I tried to back up those people who were trying to further it. I will give one instance of what happened. I have engaged in numerous occupations during a very lengthy life, and one of them is a breeder of dogs—probably one of the most successful breeders of the Red Setter in the world at one time. I adopted the practice of naming all my dogs by an Irish name, though I did not know a word of the language. Some 20 or 30 years ago, when there was very much enthusiasm and demand for the learning of Irish here, I was beyond the age for learning it as a student, but I backed it up in other ways and in the naming of my dogs I called them, for instance, Gruagach, Bealtaine and Eilteog; and other names that possibly I barely knew the meaning of myself. That is just an instance of what enthusiasm could do. It did not matter twopence whether I called the dogs by English, French or any other name. I did not want to sell my dogs. I was going to these shows only as an exhibitor and it did not matter whether I got a prize or not. As I was not selling them, I was not looking for an effect in that way. But if I were to engage in it as a purely commercial transaction, I would not have called my dogs by Irish names. I would have advertised them in some other way.
P J McNamara joined the Club in 1932, became the Hon Secretary in 1939 and remained in that post until 1954. Mac as he was affectionately known to his friends was a member of the Garda Siochana and rose to the rank of Superintendent. In fact he served in Stradbally Co Waterford during the 1929 ‘Missing Postman’ case. Later he was promoted and spent time in Naas and finally in Carrick-on-Shannon.
He handled both IntFTCH Garry of Burtown and FTCH Rena of Burtown for their owner Len Spiers, but is better known for being the trainer and owner of the The Blacksmith, who is one of the most influential sires in working setters and who was exported to New Zeeland in the early 1950s.
Dan McMenamin (1882 - ) was a Barrister at-law and a Fine Gael Oireachtas member for 1927 to 1957 for East Donegal. He was an active member for many years
Chair of the Club in the 20s and 30s. He owned Cloghan Belle before she went to Mrs Nagle’s Sulhamstead kennel in the late 1920s and became her foundation bitch and much later in his life his IntFTCH Roscombre Red Grouse was a trialer and sire in the 1950s. His brother Willie Tom and cousin Fr. John were also involved with he breed and owned several setters of note.
Walter Kehoe from Carlow became the Hon Secretary in 1955 to his death in 1964. His wife Joan continued the tradition until 1973, when John Nash took over the position. The Kehoe affix ‘of Killone’ was a byword for top class excellent working dogs based on IntFTCH Juliet of Killone. They followed her successes with Joyful, Duke, Gay, Susan and others and concluding with IntFTCH Patrica of Killone, who passed to John Nash’s hands and FTCH Galtee Grouse who went Fr Bob Dineen on Walter’s death.
Len Spiers interest began in the 1930s when he purchased Garry of Boyne from Carbery but it was with dogs that carried his prefix ‘of Burtown’ that he really made an impression. As previously mentioned he had both Garry and Rena of Burtown, other noted dogs were Trixie and Brindie of Burtown and he concluded with IntFTCH Sherry of Curracloe in the late 1950s. He was the Club’s treasurer from 1955 to 1973 and put its finances on a solid platform. He attended the Centenary celebrations in 1982 when in his 90s still very interested in the setter world. John Nash and I visited him at his home in Athy before this event and we had a most interesting and informative evening when he reminisced about his life and his dogs. He died in the autumn of the following year.
The Very Rev. Dr. Partick Mulligan, Bishop of Clogher was the president of the Club from 1975 to 1984, he was involved with the Club from the 1930s and he wrote his interesting and informative Recollections for the Centenary Newsletter in 1982. He is also credited as having saved one of the best producing lines, which although not as evident as a tail female line as it once was, still plays an important role in the modern setter. His last dog, FTCH Slievebawn Bracken handled by Jim Treanor in the late 1980s shows the length of Bishop Mulligan’s involvement and commitment to the breed.
John Nash became involved with setters when working in Mitchelstown Creamery in the early 1950s. He met Dick Barry and handled FTCH Red Spinner for him at trials. When Dick died he was given New Square Red Lassie and as they say the rest is history. Jack became the most successful breeder, trainer and competitor the breed has known. He was the Hon Secretary of the Club from 1974 to 1990 when we lost him aged 60, in a tragic accident while at a shoot. To all who knew him he was a terrible loss, he was a great wit, raconteur and the very best of company.
His influence was immense; dogs from his ‘Moanruad’ kennel went all over the world and were successful. He always said that FTCH Moanruad Gin was the best dog he bred but the one that really took my eye was FTCH Moanruad Gingersnap, who despite being bred from sparingly continues to exert an enormous influence today.
Bob Stakelum was the Treasurer from 1974 to 1990 when he became President of the Club, a post he held for three years. Bob usually had one dog which he campaigned long and hard. His dogs were like himself, well turned out and as a result each one has a long list of wins and was still winning well past their prime. He was very supportive of new members of the Club and his advice was brief, succinct and accurate. Those who listened benefited from his long experience.
The people who took over the principle positions of the Club from the last two mentioned are still involved and therefore I will desist from further comment.
At the AGM of the Club in 1935 a resolution was put forward by A H Verscoyle proposing to change the name of the Club to the Irish Red Setter and Pointer Club but it received no support and was withdrawn. This was at a time when other breeds started to gain a foothold in the country. Prior to this point in time, the focus had always been on the breed and since that event many other Clubs have been established to promote other breeds and run events to promote them. However we are proud of the long tradition of our Club and that it has remained true to its founding objectives. The Irish Red Setter Club predates the Irish Kennel Club (IKC) and many of the later organisation’s rules and regulations were proposed by the IRSC. The IKC recognises that the IRSC has overall control of the breed standards and refers all matters pertaining to the breed to the Club.
In the early days of my involvement with the Club a phrase that was used regularly by those involved was the ‘cult of the red dog’ and it described the passion which surrounded the camaraderie, support and delight that was shared when the breed won high honours. It still exists amongst those with the interests of the breed at heart and it is up to the present incumbents to continue the traditions and values of the Club.
We look forward with confidence to the next milestone of the Club.
