Irish Kennel Club

The following is the mission statement of the Irish Kennel Club:

“To regulate and promote every aspect of Pedigree Dogs through efficient cost effective electronic registrations and validations. To promote the health and welfare of all dogs and to develop public relations, information and educative services by organising events that will achieve these aims.”

History

The Irish Kennel Club has its roots in the 1920s, a period of political unrest and nationalist revolution in Ireland. It was also an era when native Irish breeds enjoyed a renewed enthusiasm from the Irish people as they were seen as symbolic of our Celtic origins. This was particularly true for the Kerry Blue Terrier, also known as the Irish Blue Terrier, due to Irish revolutionary leader Michael Collins’ love for the breed. As his own popularity increased, so too did that of the Kerry Blue.

While the first Ard Chomhairle of the Irish Kennel Club did not take place until January 1922, the foundations for the club were laid two years earlier when the Dublin Irish Blue Terrier Club decided to hold a Breed Show. This was the first dog event to take place in Ireland outside the jurisdiction of the English Kennel Club, a defiant act that lead to a Show in 1921 that included other breeds in opposition to the English Kennel Club Show that was taking place on the same day. The overwhelming popularity of this Show resulted in a meeting on 20^th January 1922, at which the Irish Kennel Club was established.