The Irish drive

The "MUNSTER CIRCUIT TOUR" is organized, as its name indicates it in the province of the MUNSTER to the south of the Republic of Ireland, in the counties of CORK, KERRY, LIMERICK and TIPPERARY.

 4 Dog-shows are organized over eight days (1 every 2 days) in four different cities located sometimes at 300kms from  to each other: Be careful of little special roads whose verges are directly hedges (sometimes of fuchsia) that the rear view mirrors frequently rub, but we  were accustomed!

 The Irish people are very nice, always ready to discuss nicely with you or with laughing.

The competitions proceed in the open air and are exceptionally well organized. The "breeders" install their tent near the rings , we had brought our, a good idea because on our arrival weather was identical to that in France, i.e. rain and rain again, sun appeared as of the first show  until our departure fifteen days later.

 We are apparently only French breeders  to show dogs on the four exposures.

v             the first one was at  CLONMEL, county of Tipperary: city where the second national drink is manufactured, after the GUINNESS, it is the cider BULMERS served on draft. From  rings, located on the green of a cathedral and a school (a splendid setting ),

one can see tens of tanks containing of hundreds of hectolitres of cider

- 2500 dogs was  entered, it is international dog shows- In Irish terrier, 17 dogs are entered - after 25 hours of crossing in vary kennel, in the van, heat and the deafening noise, our dogs are not in an Olympic form. The judge is American S.KELLOG, he gives the CACIB, "green star" (CAC) and BOB  to O' Nut glen Take your Chance which is classified second of the group, O' Nut Glen Utha colleen, our bitch is in champion class , makes the reserves, she is beaten by Thomeilis  Inseba Of Terrijay (ownersM and  Mrs. PRATT, English people who lives in Ireland), it will be the only defeat of one of our dogs.

- the others Irish terriers are all of origin English or Irish lines .

BRAZAN, CAROLMAC, EDBRIOS, THOMEILIS, TELTOWN… We receive the visit of the President of IRISH KENNEL equivalent  of the SCC which congratulates us and thanks us for our presence in Ireland, on the rings.

v    the second show proceeds with KILLARNEY, county of Kerry

-2100 dogs are entered  including 10 Irish, the judge is N.KARLSDOTTER (DK): O' Nut Glen Tickety-boo got the "green star" and the BOB, he is short listed in the 6 best of  group, O' Nut Glen Utha colleen had the "green star" in front of the bitch which beat her  in Clonmel

v   LIMERICK, county of Limerick for the third exposure, we meet our President and Mr. Gauvrit who has more than 100 dogs to judge, he does not judge the Irish  terriers . Irish breeders  with who we spoke on the edge of ring seem very satisfied with his judgements (well done France !) , this show  is according to natives most important of Ireland.

- our judge is Ms H.L JENSEN (DK), 11 Irish are entered and 2200 dogs in the show .Our O' Nut Glen Take your chance gains the "green star" and the BOB "Utha" makes the "green star" in female.

v    Finally! the last show at TRALEE, county of Kerry

-2000 entered dogs whose 10 Irish terriers, the judge is Finnish Ms BERGBOM ,O' Nut Glen Tickety-boo gains the "green star" and the BOB and Utha the "green star" in female

As for the other races of terrier, we could see very beautiful Kerry blue, including one

exceptional male!!!!    , as well as splendid Airedales    ,

the fact of showing not allowing the relaxation of the visitor, we could not assess enough the quality of other breeds.

        In conclusion, we are very satisfied with the results of our "doggies" which with an exception loan made "paperboard full" .They are very noticed of the public and the breeders all Irish, except for Mr. Pratt. 

After 4 dog-shows, a few  days of rest in CONNEMARA

days very appreciated as much by the masters as by the dogs

then  we return at home to find with joy our great family of Irish which still has just increased of 12 pups!

Florence et Michel Guérin

and  Ireland.....how was it?

All starts with a very old desire for Michel and me to go to visit this mythical Country, but not without our dogs, you think ... IRISH TERRIERS ! but there are quarantine, then blood test against rabia, then the trip : how to go there, by plane, by crossing England with the car or the ferry? the cost, to find somebody of confidence to take care of the other dogs, how to find a lodging with 4 dogs.... in short…! pipe dream!!!! Then, we meet in our dogshows some Irish peoples, judges and the President of Irish kennel  club, all seem to appreciate our dogs and speaks to us about the problem of Ireland without Irish terriers of old origin! The kennel Irish club joined the FCI, quarantine is finished, blood tests  are made and finally I find the gem  to keep care of our dog:… LETS GO!!!!!

 As we are very tired, we decide to take Ferry: not simple!, finally we  can do it, on the other hand that will be difficult for the dogs: close to 24h without leaving their crate,  poor dogs ! , I enter the dogs on line (long life  euro!) and I find a B&B super sympathetic accepting the dogs: the way is free, Yoopi!!!! the remainder in image.....
 

departure of Cherbourg, on Normandy: a very good night and the dogs support the difficult conditions	arrival with Roslare
first day: rain, as in France, it will be the only day of bad weather: peninsula of DINGLE and the oratorio of Gallarus (small church of the VIth s)	the dogs, them pose already! ears in the wind.
roads are narrow and  bordered of fuchsia
strange weather phenomena: the clouds follow the relief	it seems to be  an avalanche
wonderful  flowers!

and in these trips, the dogs enjoy life  to their's heart's content!
they feel really well in their Country of origin! we visit already the counties of Cork, Kerry and Limerick: counties where there are dog shows  because it is already for that that we came
but it is necessary sometimes to take the leash for stopping them  to run after some encounters,  also in freedom and curiously painted	They are met  everywhere , that really formed part of the landscape!
no any Irish terrier! Irish themself  do not seem to know this breed, some setters, emblem of a coaches company   or these poor unhappy wolfhound, quite sad! no more kerry blue nor of Glen of Imaal,  also  Irish breeds, if they did not have dogshows there....	some visits: Cobh, Middletown(whisky "Jameson")…
.… castles (Limerick,kylemore…,et ruins of kilmacduagh)…	Killorglin, the city of the affix of our first bitch "Killorglin nut brown mayd":   Adare (close to Limerick) and its cottages
Glenbeigh and its old village renovated with its heaps of peat and Michel feels blacksmith:	but we are not inclined to the old stones, we prefer the sea and our dogs too:
they run ,...	...they climb...
they bathe  ....
then ,watch each other ...	and starts again..... after a short rest!

they are happy! and us also to see them "to freak out" thus, it's a sight for sore eyes!… but not only with the dogs, the landscapes are superb: the burren:	then, Connemara and its famous ponies
in  Connemara national park or elsewhere, in Connemara	its goémon and its mussels           its peat
more,
we do not weary ourself anymore, but conclusion with the dogs
thanks to all Irish for their kindness and their good mood and particularly to Rose, our hostess who accepted the presence of our dogs with good mood, to Jack her doggy ,to Henry the turtle and to cats    a B&B with really recommending :http://www.trienbandb.com  et rosebarry@eircom.net	and here the return: our boat, with far and right before the loading   In the morning, the French coast and Roscoff and our poor dogs locked up in their Vary kennel in the car, it was that or the kennels sorryfor this hard final reality, but they run now in Gurgy, with the buddies with whom they have many things to tell....!!!

come back soon Ireland   !!!!