DROGHEDA IRISH SETTERS

History

At about 10 years of age, I began delivering newspapers to a number of local neighborhoods.   As I traveled down the route, I would throw the paper on each customer's front porch.  I came to one house, and lying on the porch near the front door was the most beautiful dog I had ever seen - a big  Irish Setter in full coat.  She was very friendly and came over to greet me.  This chance meeting would lead to a life-long interest in Irish Setters.

Unfortunately, as a child, I was not permitted to own a large dog.  So, when I purchased a house of my own, I immediately obtained an Irish Setter who was being placed due to her owner's divorce.  She certainly became a learning experience for someone who had never owned a big dog!!!   One day I had errands to run, and since she had been a house dog previously, I decided to give her the run of the house while I was gone.   Image my surprise when I came home to a couch with very big holes in it.  Thank God it was an old couch which was due to be replaced..   A crate was immediately purchased and training for the dog followed shortly thereafter.

After a few unsuccessful attempts in obtaining a show bitch (a puppy did not turn out, an older bitch turned out to be dysplastic), I was fortunate enough to obtain Ch. Charlton's Pillow Talk  "Dori" from Winnie Arland of Charlton Kennels.  Dori turned out to be the last or one of the last daughter(s) of Ch. Courtwood Summer Forecast that was ever available for sale.   She became the foundation bitch for Drogheda.

As I was just beginning to learn how to properly show a dog, a friend of mine - Jean Bristow of Rois Irish Setters - began showing Dori and obtained a number of points.   Subsequently, Mary Ann Alston, a professional handler,  finished Dori's championship.

Dori was then bred to Ch. Courtwood Golden Gate and produced Drogheda's DREAM litter, four of which finished their championships, and another was pointed.   Two bitches - Ch. Drogheda Sweet Dreams "Patsy" and Ch. Drogheda Enchanted Dream "Delaware" (owned by Laurie Darrell of Nevada) - and one dog - Ch. Drogheda Dream Weaver "Cody" (owned by Mary Thompson of Maryland)  were bred and continue the line.

After taking a break from the show circuit for a number of  years, we decided to breed Ch. Drogheda Dancing Slippers "Iris" (a granddaughter of Ch. Drogheda Sweet Dreams) to Ch. Meadowlark's Irish Monarch "Eddie".  Out of this litter, three bitches - Ch. Drogheda Dancing Queen "Queen", Ch. Drogheda Flash Dance "Dannon", and Ch. Drogheda Fire Dance "Ember" (owned by Grace Meehan of Maryland) finished their championships.

We plan to continue our line with breedings of the 3 "Dance Litter" sisters.

Over a period of almost 30 years of owing and showing Irish Setters, the most rewarding aspects have been the companionship and individual personalities of the dogs in addition to the friendship of fellow Irish Setter owners and exhibitors.