Enriched by my R&W My R&W came to me through one of those coincidence we have probably all experienced at times and which suggest the subtle hand of destiny. For more than 18 years we had a wonderful family dog, a mutt of beagle, cocker-spaniel and blond lab ancestry. After that long and energetic life, now old and tired, she deserved our mercy, the sad realization that comes at some time for every dog owner. My wife was already ill then. She fought it with courage for another two years but it progressed further. We knew in our hearts that to own and enjoy another dog together would remain a dream forever. Finally, as it sadly still does so many, cancer claimed my wife Brigitte too.  I was numb with grief. My daughter had the good intuition to buy me the 2004 Dog Annual before she left to return to England. I looked at the pages from time to time, but for many months I felt no energy or drive to enliven my empty home again. In early summer I began visiting SPCA shelters, but did not find what I was looking for, a dog like the mutt “Tuffy” we owned as a family. At last I realized the futility of my attempt to reach into the past. I also came to the conclusion that I would likely have to get a puppy, although in my situation I preferred a more mature dog. My fond memories of Bernese Mountain Dogs when growing up in Switzerland led me to look up a number in the Dog Annual of a breeder of such dogs who just happened to live in our town. It turned out to be another bout of nostalgia, the breed was not for me after all. The outing did, however, point me in the right direction: Getting into my car and driving away, I noticed a couple walking a young, trim and rather long legged dog with floppy ears and a lovely face in which I seemed to detect something of our old family dog. I stopped, got out and chatted with owners. Their dog was a young English field setter, a “Llewellyn” setter they called it, and had been just recently acquired by them from a breeder in the U.S. The more I played with the dog, the more it grew on me. My search through the internet turned up a number of breeders of English field setters in the Dakotas, but after talking to some of them, I had a change of heart. Back to the “Dog Annual” to recheck for Canadian breeders: No English field setters, but the Irish Red & White pictures by Aislingcudo looked in size what I had in mind, so I e-mailed them to inquire about their setters. Pat Ua Siaghail answered right away and also let me know that, no they do not have any puppies now, but would I settle for a two-year old female looking for a new home and presently at her sister’s in Edmonton? She definitely got me interested now. Events got into high gear from then on, more correspondence, telephone calls & paper work and finally in July 04, my son and I drove up from Vancouver to Edmonton to meet Theresa and Paul to pick up Katie. Bonding, at least from my side was as instantaneous as crazy-glue. I think it happened with Katie a few hours later when we camped in the Rocky Mountains and she looked in our tent to us for safety and assurance during one of the worst thunderstorms I had ever experienced in the mountains. That Katie was brought into my life I consider a blessing and a gift for me and I understand that Pat and her sister are equally pleased that I just happened to contact them when they were looking to re-home Katie. Although she is “only a dog” as some people would say, she has brought life and companionship into my home again and her joyful exuberance is infectious.   I am now more willing to accept that life is like a river whose current carries us relentlessly to the sea, only occasionally interrupted by pleasant drifts in back eddies. The river will never be the same as it was once further upstream and there is no way to return to those shores other than by memory. My dog Katie has now joined me on my raft and her presence has already made the journey onward more rewarding and enjoyable again. - WW

Generations As I write this, I have a very active 4 month old Irish Red and White Setter puppy racing around my desk.  Her name is Aislingcudo Mairnéalaigh Dea (Dea).  She is the third generation of a collaboration between Aislingcudo Irish Red and White Setters and Mairnéalaigh Irish Red and White setters. About 10 years ago, I was researching various sporting breeds, trying to find one that would fit with the Newfoundland and the rescue dog we already had, when I met an IRWS.  This dog was the smartest and most beautiful dog I’d ever met, and I knew immediately that this was the breed I had been looking for. This IRWS was an Aislingcudo dog, and through him I met Pat Ua Siaghail.  After what seemed like forever, in 2003 we got the cutest puppy, named Treasa. CH Aislingcudo Is Treasa Fionnrua RN (Treasa) became Mairnéalaigh’s foundation.  Treasa is a conformation champion and obedience title holder.  Naturally, you can’t have just one IRWS, so our family grew with the addition of Aislingcudo Is Erin Go Braugh (Quinn).  Then along came Treasa’s puppies, CH Aislingcudo Mairnéalaigh Dis (Duffy) and CH Aislingcudo Mairnéalaigh Una (Orla).  Duffy and Orla are both Canadian and American conformation champions. Both are learning Rally, Obedience, and the finer points of hunting.  Now we have Dea, one of Orla’s puppies.  She too will do lots of activities as she matures. Through the years, Pat Ua Siaghail has been a constant source of information, support, and help for me.  I am proud to say that she is my mentor and my friend. Jane Mairnéalaigh Irish Red & White Setters

For the love of Tucker I was introduced to Patricia Ua Siaghail of Aislingcudo under very odd circumstances. I did not obtain one of Pat’s puppies - I sought her expertise in the field of Irish Red and Whites for my dog Tucker (Tuckmans Forrest Gump CD RE CGC - Therapy Dog). Under the suggestion of the American Kennel Club, I required confirmation from a reputable IRWS breeder that my 6 month old rescue dog was an Irish Red and White Setter. Pat’s confirmation on December 13, 2006 (via a number of photographs that I sent her) was all that AKC needed in order to register my dog for Obedience and Rally competition under their ILP registration (Indefinite Listing Privilege). Since that day in December, I looked to Pat for advice, ranging from general information on the IRWS (I was a novice to this breed) to basic grooming tips and health related issues. If I had a question, she responded rather quickly. She even made a point to meet my boy twice at the IRWS Nationals in 2009 and 2010. Unfortunately, an untimely death of my boy at age 6 came too soon. Again, Pat was there to comfort me and provide me words of wisdom. I value her knowledge of this breed and it’s standards as well as the support and encouragement she gave to me over the years. I am looking forward to trying my hand once again in the obedience ring with an Aislingcudo IRWS puppy. Tucker's Accomplishments... Rescue from Plainfield Animal Shelter in Plainfield Illinois AKC Canine Good Citizen Certification 2006 Therapy Dog International Inc Certification 2007 AKC Companion Dog Title 2007 AKC Rally Novice Title 2007 AKC Rally Advanced Title 2007 AKC Rally Excellence Title 2009 Confirmed as a cancer identifier dog (3 hits) while performing therapy dog work at a local participating hospital in 2008. First competitive dog in the ring first Irish Red and White Setter National Show in 2009 First Ranking for Rally Obedience by AKC Irish Red and White Setter Parent Club 2010 Earned first leg towards AKC Rally Advanced Excellent title with double first place finishes at IRWS Nationals in 2010. Earned first leg toward AKC Graduate Novice title December 2010 in addition to competing in AKC Open A (3 non-qualifying scores). - Sandy

Kane In the year 2002 I picked up a book that had just been published called The Essence of Setters by Marsha Hall Brown.  I had owned an Irish Red Setter off and on my entire life.  I was of course, also familiar with the Gordon Setter and the English Setter, but this was the first time I had heard of the Irish Red and White Setter. I was immediately attracted to this breed after reading Ms. Brown’s accounting of the dog.  The problem was that I compete in obedience (both formal and rally) and some agility and at the time the AKC did not recognize the red and white setter which would not allow me to compete in these venues.  When the AKC did recognize the breed I went to the first Irish Red and White Setter national to see these beautiful dogs compete in both obedience and the breed ring.  As I was watching the breed ring a gentleman brought a chair up next to me and sat down.  It was obvious to me that he was very familiar with many of the red and whites in the ring and I began to ask him questions which included “how hard is it to find a good red and white puppy?”.  It turned out that this gentleman was Dr. Albrecht Ua Siaghail.  Albrecht was kind enough to not only answer my questions but introduce me to his wife Pat.  Her dogs were beautiful inside and out and I really liked the relationships she had with her puppy owners.  As busy as she was she took time to talk to me and give me her contact information.  Since then Pat has spent hours and hours  of her valuable time answering questions and then finally helping me to find my first red and white puppy  ending my 9 year quest to have a red and white in my home. When a breeding of her bitches in her home did not work out Pat went to bat for me with another breeder who had a litter of her lines and secured a puppy for me from that litter.  In addition to obedience and agility I also do therapy dog work in a local hospital working with stroke and head/brain injury patients.  From what I have seen of this puppy he will be a wonderful therapy dog.  He is only 4 months old at this writing but is very  sweet, outgoing, smart, and inquisitive.  I could not have ordered a more perfect puppy.   I am very excited about the potential of this puppy and am indebted to Pat for finding him for me.  As I have gotten to know Pat over the last two years I can honestly say that I have met few breeders with Pat’s integrity and ethics.  She is extremely knowledgeable about the breed and has the breed’s best interest at heart.  I have come to trust her completely not only as a breeder, but as a friend and look forward to many years of friendship and dogs with Pat. - R.J.L.  Minnesota

Rosie's Story Rosie - Aislingcudo Is Rosin Na Laoi- came home with me to New Jersey in March 2001. I had been looking at the breed for several years and had my heart set on owning one some day. Pat and Albrecht entrusted her to me and our friend grew over the years. Pat has been very supportive and my mentor, for which I am ever grateful. Rosie and I went back up to Canada to show and she became the first American Irish Red and White Setter to become a CKC Champion. I also finished my two Gordon Setters, who were both AKC Champions. Rosie could spot Grandpop Albrecht sitting up in the stands. Rosie became the first IRWS to achieve an ARBA - American Rare Breed Assoc. - Master Champion. Rosie most enjoyed going to AKC Hunt Tests. She was a natural bird finder. Quick to learn and could hold a steady point, she finished her JH in style. Pat was always happy to hear of our new adventures. Rosie is a great ambassidor of the breed - walking for years in the annual St. Patricks Day parade in Somerville NJ. Rosie's greatest achievement were her two litters of puppies. We met many new people who have become lifelong friends. I can always count on Pat to answer any questions and support us. Pat and Albrecht have always been willing to share their knowledge, history and stories of the Irish Red and White Setter. I was able to meet and talk to many IRWS breeders through the Ua Siaghails. Pat is one of the most dedicated breeders I have had the honor to know. I thank her for her years of support and friendship. Rosie was a dream come true. - KP

A Dog for All Seasons A year after my husband and I moved to a rural setting in southern Maine, we had to euthanize our beloved 14-year-old English cocker. Losing him was so difficult that it was over a year before I even contemplated getting another dog. I was semi-retired and wanted to choose a breed that would fit my new lifestyle—a medium-size dog, non-aggressive, not too energetic, trainable without too much hassle, companionable but not clingy, and with an easy-to-groom coat. I loved setters and the English cocker breeds with their soft eyes, silky hair, and drooping ears, but Chase had needed a lot of grooming to tame the thick “feathers” on his belly and legs, and our new property was next to a wet woodland and surrounded by weeds and burrs. Every run in the woods turned into a combing, clipping nightmare. So, I was paging through one of several books on dog breeds when all of a sudden, there was my perfect dog—a breed I had never heard of before, the Irish Red and White Setter. I spent some time on the Internet, reading about the red and whites and looking for breeders. When I reached Pat and Albrecht’s site, I instantly fell in love with their stud, Bran, and began exchanging emails with Pat. As it turned out, no litters by Bran were available, but Pat was expecting puppies from her new young stud, Lonan, and promised to determine if one was suited to our household. So it came to pass that in December of 1999, I flew to Ontario and the next day returned with a Sherpa pet carrier on my lap, containing a tiny red and white puppy. She had decided the best way to deal with the new experience was to curl up and go to sleep. Never made a peep during the entire flight. Every now and then I’d unzip the bag to pet her and tell her how good she was, but she remained in her Zen state. (And to this day, Cailen, as we named her, is a joy to travel with; lies down on her blanket on the back seat and snoozes until I park the car.) Pat had warned me that young red and whites were energetic, and she was so right. While Cailen had her baby teeth, she wanted to explore and test everything by chewing on it: the cat, her toys, the furniture, the logs by the fireplace, the bricks in the hearth, me! Although quick to toilet train, she decided her poop was good to eat. I’d never had a dog that mouthed so much and wrote to Pat for advice. “She’s just a baby,” she wrote back. “Wait until her adult teeth come in.” And that’s just what happened. One week the chewing stopped just as if a switch had been thrown, and in all her twelve years, Cailen has never chewed on anything other than her treats and her bones again. She was still very active, however, and to socialize her and give myself a break, I put her in doggy daycare three times a week. So wonderful to have her return home at the end of the day and fall asleep after supper and a half hour of playtime. By five months, daycare was down to twice a week, and by three years it was over. I was told she was a delight to deal with and was often put in charge of disciplining new puppies because she never got rough—just a hard stare and sharp back to order them to mind their behavior. As an adult, Cailen became just the right dog for us. She’s enthusiastic about a run by the ocean or through the woods, but is also perfectly happy to lounge around when we’re occupied at home. At first we let her run in a fenced area of the backyard, but as she matured she learned the boundaries of our property and now stays within them, even when chasing a deer from our field! She never wanders off. (I understand this is NOT typical of most setters.) Her attachment to us may be partly because she was the smallest of her litter and received special attention from Pat and Albrecht. Whatever reason, she likes to keep us close by and even when on a hike or run, always stays within eyesight. We do, however, have to think of her safety whenever we let her off-leash, because she likes to run and pays little attention to cars on the road. Cailen has done her best to become a useful member of our pack. Her eyes sparkle with intelligence. She’s quick to watch our faces for cues, quick to learn commands, and seeks to please. Since Barry and I obviously don’t hear or smell very well, she has taken on the job of guard dog and barks (never bites or growls) to alert us to human or animal intruders. She gets along well with other dogs and all people. She can tell time and noses me gently if I’m late getting her dinner. Treat time is 7 pm, and if we’re slow, Cailen first tries staring at us, then pulls out her throw (on which we toss the treat), hoping we’ll take the hint. She anticipates our actions by the routine we keep and even the clothes we wear. She may not be able to speak, but she sure tries to communicate. We love our girl dearly and make every effort to be as gentle and loving to her as she has always been to us. - Meredith

Jamie - first Red & White Setter to earn the IRWSA Trinity Award We were just looking for a dog to do agility with.  We thought an Irish Red and White Setter would be the perfect addition to our canine family, which consisted of our Irish Setter Teagan.  We were taken aback when Pat offered us the pick male of Pingin and Lonan’s last litter, with the condition that we show the dog in conformation, to earn his Canadian and eventual AKC championships.  Having never set foot in a show ring, we agreed, with trepidation, and so the adventure began.  Pat assured us that it would be fun, that we would enjoy it, and that she would help teach us what we needed to know.  It was not always fun, but she stuck with her part of the bargain, mentoring me, encouraging me, laughing with, and sometimes at, me, and never doubting that Jamie had what it took to succeed.  The road to those two championships took us from coast to coast in the U.S. and across the border, and was paved with many new friendships and experiences and stories to tell.  Jamie took us places we had never imagined, including the Eukanuba Championships.  He put his paws in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as several Great Lakes.  And along the way, he also helped pave the way for the IRWS in agility, rally obedience, hunt tests, and obedience as he earned titles in each, showing those watching the beauty and versatility of the red and white setter. The relationship we built with Pat along the way went far beyond what would be expected of a responsible breeder looking out for her puppy.  The mutual respect we had from the beginning grew into a good friendship.  She has always been ready with an answer to a question, an encouraging word when I grew frustrated, a laugh, or words of advice.  Many times Pat and I had differing opinions on aspects of Jamie’s feeding, health care, or training strategies.  And Pat will always let you know what she thinks!   Protecting and advocating for her breed and her dogs is always foremost in her priorities. But many times she also stepped back and told me to do what I thought was best.  In addition, as she observed Jamie and me, I saw her own training strategies evolve.  The person who felt that obedience training was at odds with successful showing in conformation was now taking her dogs to not only obedience, but agility classes, and proudly showing me her 4 month old puppy’s “sit”!  If you decide to get an Aislingcudo dog, you can rest assured that you will get a dog with excellent structure, temperament, and health.  But know that you will also be getting two people along with your dog.  You will get Albrecht, whose lilting Irish voice will regale you with tales of the history of the red and white setter from his vast knowledge of the breed’s history.  He will spoil your dog terribly, if you let him! (I remember one dinner at Pat and Albrecht’s house, where my well-trained obedience dog ended up in his lap at the dinner table!)  And you will get Pat, who will follow up on her pup, and will be available to you for his lifetime, for any mentoring, support, or information you might need, or, if you are as fortunate as we have been, as a lifelong friend.  - Corlie