Founded in 1892 when Ireland had a thriving canine
involvement, early records of the Irish Collie Club are
sketchy. It is believed the society accepted Kennel Club
authority from the outset, although registration has seen
at least two short periods when this was not so.
By 1900 we are informed that popular Irish circuit judge,
Mr W. D. Gilchrist of Leinster Street, Dublin, was the secretary.

 

Originally the Irish Collie Club catered for Collie fanciers throughout Ireland, but after partition during the early 1920s, which coincided with one of the periods of de-registration, the Irish Collie Club, whose then secretary, Mr A Dalzell ‘Knocke’
was based in Belfast, elected to remain under Kennel Club control, leaving
fanciers based south of the border to establish their own society.

 

As there is no record in early Kennel Club Stud Books of the Irish
Collie Club organising independent shows, it is possible that they
confined their activities to guaranteeing classes at the many shows
then scheduled in Ireland. Championship status under the current
rules, first introduced in 1893, did not arrive until 1988 when well
known Collie specialist judge Mr Jimmy Tait, ‘Aberthorne’, attracted
an entry of 104 Collies, the second highest entry of Collies at any
post-war Northern Irish show, handing the first set of tickets to
Sylcroft Sorcerer and Westoak Gypsy.

 

In an effort to recapture the entries of the late 1980s and early 1990s
the Irish Collie Club intends moving its Championship Show
from its traditional August date, to the same weekend as
Belfast Dog Show, the only other Northern Irish general
Championship Show held under Kennel Club Rules, from 2008,
thereby allowing visitors from the mainland, in addition to local
enthusiasts and those from Eire, two opportunities at gaining
Kennel Club Challenge Certificates within as many days.

With more than a century of dedication to the Collie, the Irish Collie Club continues with its same objectives of:

Promoting the Collies’ positive attributes.

Encouraging improved standards of welfare to all Collies.

 

Dedicated to furthering Collie interests in Northern Ireland
Membership is open to all

For more details about what the Irish Collie Club has to offer
please contact the secretary