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Like many fanciers, I've been in love with Irish Setters since reading the "Big Red" trilogy as a teenager. When I moved to Vermont in 1970, one of the first things I did was to buy a puppy whose grandmother was one of the dogs in the Walt Disney movie. Michael hiked to the tops of mountains at my side; led me along cross-country ski trails; and lay next to my chair by the fireplace through many cold Vermont evenings. He was my companion for almost 16 years. After Mike's death in 1986, I was fortunate to meet Kate Seymour and her Cucuhullain dogs. She had a litter by Cucuhullain Diamond Summer out of Ramblin' Red Iaslinn and I brought home a lively male puppy. When he was 8 months old, I went to a show to watch his littermates and became interested. With Kate's mentoring and encouragement, Paddy went on to become Am./Can. Ch. Cucuhullain Eternal Encore JH, CD, VC, winning two Awards of Merit at ISCA National Specialties.
Sinead's qualities have been carried on in her puppies. Her third and last litter, sired by Ch. Jamond's Call The Play, contains three who have won eight Specialty majors between them. Ch. Connall Town And Country finished as Winners Dog at the 2002 ISCA National Specialty in Lexington, Kentucky. Best of all, every puppy Sinead produced is a loving family companion with a temperament admired by all who know them, including their vets. Sinead's daughter, Jaimie, Ch. Connall Country Morning JH, is now carrying on her mother's legacy. Her first litter from Ch. Ramblin' Red Tax & Spend includes Jordan, Ch. Connall Magic Morning, who was Best Puppy at the 2005 ISCA National Specialty and finished her championship with 4 Specialty majors. Austin, Paxton, and Miller also have championships and performance titles. They all can be seen on the Photos page in the Magic album. Jaimie's second litter is sired by Am/Can Ch. Captiva's Tommy Hilfiger. The Evening kids will be in the ring in 2008. More than 30 years have passed, and I no longer hike to the tops of mountains, but my dogs and I still hike the trails around the farm and now four to five share the warmth of the fireplace! |
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Last modified:05/28/2008
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Another Cucuhullain puppy joined our family in 1990 when Kate bred Ch. Cucuhullain Diamond Morning to Ch. Cucuhullain Eternal Prince. Sinead,
Ch. Cucuhullain Good Morning, finished her championship easily with three
5 point Specialty majors and became my foundation bitch. I chose Connall for a kennel name in recognition of Sinead's breeder. Kate's interest and
advice helped me a great deal in my education about the breed. In Irish myth, Connall Cearnach, of the Victories, was the foster brother to Cucuhullain, the most famous Irish hero. They were both warriors of the
Red Branch of Ulster.