A rumour emanating from the holy land of Ireland, had it, that the man of myth and legend, John Kerr, had passed over the Rainbow Bridge and that the celebratory hooley with the greats of the Irish Red and White Setter’s historic renaissance, Huston, Rossmore, Cuddy, Mulligan, Doherty, Marron, Nash etc. was replete with heavenly Uisge Beatha (P. & C. whiskey) and embracing céad mile fáiltes galore.  Well, the rumour of Kerr’s demise is greatly exaggerated.  We have been informed by M.S. in Scotland that John is bien vivant, no doubt, aiming at five or six score before shuffling off this mortal coil.  Friends and foes are no doubt fielding delight of many colours that his intimations of mortality have found no final fruition.  Go maire sé I bhfad Linn – long may he be with us.

John Kerr was a “hunting man archetype” long before and after his migration from Derry in Ulster Ireland to Aberdeenshire in Northern Scotland.  His interest in the:  ”hunting blood” of field dogs was well established by the time he first contacted Maureen and William Cuddy in 1971.  He pursued with abiding interest contacts and pedigrees whenever or wherever even the glint of an informative experience presented, North, South, East or West.  A man of unbounded energy, outspoken and determined with terrier instincts, Kerr expressed the passionate direction he esposed with unbridled fervor.   His Rushfield Kennel produce, in Ulster and Dál Riagha, though subject to advocates and detractors have had more than a modicum of prized adherants in the UK and N.A.  Sheriden in Ireland and Kerr in Scotland have shared aspects of their fieldwork and breeding camaraderie.  When one notes their base, one is astounded and gratified at the wondrous progress made.  We trust that you will find pleasure in reading this initial missive of John Kerr to Mrs. Cuddy (Knockalla) and shall be pleased to regale you with additional correspondence, glimpses of the Red and White arriere fond, in future newsletters.

Rushfield Kennels,
Coleraine, N. Ireland
18 March 1971

Dear Mrs. Cuddy,

I have at last got your address.  I have been meaning to write to you for some time re Irish Setters Red and White.

I have been interested in these for some time now and I have done quite a bit of checking pedigrees.  I received some old pedigrees from Rev. Robert Houston of Hollywood Co. Down plus a letter you had written him in 1945 re the formation of the White and Red Society, and you were going to see puppies that he had bred.  The main reason for my writing is to find out if there would be any possibility of having this Society re-founded.  As far as I have checked back it appears to me that the “working type” Irish Setter of the present day has very strong blood lines back to the White and Red.  For this reason plus the fact that those were a traditional “Irish Dog” it would be a pity to let them go completely from the scene.  I also had a recent letter from W.J. Kidd, Newcastle, Co. Down who tells me that he sold a bitch to your husband.

I got a puppy from Dermot Mooney in Westport Co. Mayo (Winnowing).  Unforunately, I believe he was not fully injected and he died at five months of a liver disease.  He was very promising. 

The other setters that I have at present are:
1)    A two year old bitch by Bally Mac Eagle out of Patricia of Killone.  An excellent bitch, has done
       very well in field trials last year.  Shows a white strip down her forehead, a white breast and a
       small white markings on the feet - a real fast working setter.
2)    A dog seven years old by “Bally Mac Eagle” out of “Shiela of Moanruadh” – a dog of excellent
       game finding ability over a couple of puppy trials.  He was badly handled by Dr. Boyd and was
       a nervous wreck when I got him.  By the time I got him back into shape he was too old for
       trialing but an excellent shooting dog. 
3)    A young bitch 18 months old by this dog and out of a bitch by “Ballybay Rose” (Latton / Canon
       Marron).  A fast stylish bitch, small a bit but showing very good promise.
4)    A puppy by my own dog and out of a bitch by “Rahard Belle”.

If you would like to see the old pedigrees I have I would loan them to you to look over.  In the meantime I believe that there are some approaches to be made to the Kennel Club to re-establish the breed and also the forming of the Society.  If I can be of any help or support to this and I will be only too happy to give it.  Perhaps you would keep me informed of future developments! 

Yours sincerely,
John Kerr

P.S.      Do you know anything of puppies Red and White in Tipperary belonging to a Mr. Gaynor, Monadreen Thurles?

© Dr. Albrecht Ua Siaghail ~ August 2012