Irish Red White Setter History

The Irish Kennel Club, a brief historical summary.

Reference: The Native Dogs of Ireland. Their Origin-Development-Standards

The Irish Setter probably came into its own at the end of the 17th century. It is not well known outside of Ireland that there are two breeds of Irish Setters, but is fairly certain, that the Red and White Setter is the older of the two and that selective and judicious breeding evolved the solid red color. When Irish Setters came to the show benches, just past the middle of the 19th century, there was a good deal of confusion about their proper color. By the end of the 19th century the Red Setter had virtually eclipsed the Red and White, which became so rare that they where thought to be extinct.

During the 1920s, efforts were made to revive the Irish Red and White Setter. The Rev. Noble Huston's work in gathering the Red and Whites available and recording pedigrees from as far back as approximately 1790 was compiled and preserved by Mrs. Maureen Cuddy from Midleton, Co. Cork. Mrs. Cuddy's hard work and dedication to the breed resulted in 1978 in having the breed separately classified and given championship status by the Irish Kennel Club. The breed had re-established itself well enough to have a club of its own by 1944 and today it can be seen in healthy numbers at Irish shows and Field Trials.