‘Emmsmoor’
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 moved its Championship Show from
their traditional early August date,
to the same weekend as Belfast
Dog Show, the only other Northern Irish general Championship
Show
held under Kennel Club Rules, in 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. An increase in entries at
both shows encouraging a continuation
of this arrangement for future years.
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
