For most of us, life without an Irish Red and White Setter would be well nigh a travesty.
In 1943 when the Rev. Noble Huston passed to his heavenly reward, his tanist to whom he ceded the
protection and promotion of the Red and White (which the minister no doubt saved from extinction
and oblivion) was the Cuddy family of Knockalla (Echo Hill). William and Maureen Cuddy became
the heart and soul, the true activists, at the centre of the Society formed for the preservation of the
particoloured Irish Setter in 1944. Through thick and thin Mrs. Cuddy was to retain a devoted role
as prime Red and White oracle for the next fifty plus years.
Social changes in the Irish Free State at that capricious period, assured that the club presided over
by Baron Rossmore of Cúr Talmhain remain essentially – a vacuous list. Irish dogs were alienated
from the Kennel Club some fifty years before the Citizenship – Passport Act, due to Anglo / Irish
divided loyalties.
By the sixties Mrs. Cuddy had expedited the export of choice Red and Whites to Spain (1947 – Sênor
Mayo), Britain (Elsie James), South Africa and The United Sates of America. Interest overseas,
however was not honed and no breeding progress was evidenced, much to Maureen Cuddy’s chagrin.
Subsequently she regretted her action and dubbed it premature. No woman is an Island John Donne
should have said.
A lull and hiatus gripped the sporting dog enthusiasts in Ireland at this time, brought on no doubt by
the plight of families, throughout the land, dealing with the polio paralysis epidemic and the
concomitant fear of this horrible contagion before the advent of the Salk Vaccine. The Cuddy family
(William – Maureen – Liam Jr. – Judy – Chris – David) naturally zeroed in on personal health over
Setter promotion and when it was perceived that canine direction was disastrously faltering as it had
in WW 1 & 11, two strong perceptive setter advocates rushed into the breach aiding Maureen
Cuddy to redirect her energies.
Willie (Liam) Gaynor of Monadreen and Dermot (Diarmuid) Mooney of Mayo encouraged the
Knockalla Kennel with continuous support, informing of Red and White Setters throughout the four
green fields (provinces) and beyond. Without this input and gentle goading, the Red and White
breeding programme at Knockalla would have ceased and we would have been left languishing with
Pangur bán our tom cat, pet mouse ‘Wi’ bickering brattle or effusive gold fish. (All things bright
and beautiful, all no doubt God’s creatures great and small) but not the beautiful Irish Red and
White Setter that we have come to know frolicking on green pastures or hunting the upland gorse
and whins.
It is from Dermot Mooney, now living in Australia, who pined after the Red and Whites lost to the
gene pool, which his acquaintance (John Mc Manamon – 1953) had taken stateside (USA), that we
have heard of the passing of Willie Gaynor into eternal life on 16th of May 2015.
Willie was a true friend to each member of the Cuddy family, throughout the devastating polio
period and long afterwards. And, in his own nonchalant fashion even urged the Cuddy children to
focus on the dog and like wise to a greater appreciation of their Celtic heritage. He was a pater
familias to his own four adoring children (Joseph – Dervill – Teresa – Miriam), a devoted husband to
Kathleen about whom he spoke ardently as the one most supportive of his many enterprises, a
recognized and admired arts instructor and sculptor (his figurines or bronze effigies won the laud
and approval of Red and White gurus Cuddy, Walsh and Doherty as did his delightful paintings –
one now proudly shown in our home) and a copious font of knowledge to canine and equine
comrades. His two year old filly garnered “Nostri Plena Laboris” at the Royal Dublin in 1988. Gaye
of Knockalla was his personal gift to Mrs. Cuddy. Gaye, (cf. Gaynor), Foxes bitch and Gormley’s
Harlequin of Knockalla, figure in the arriere fond of all Irish Red and White Setter pedigrees. The
Irish Kennel Club’s caustic relationship, with this very dear advocate, was a cause of deep distress to
those who were privileged to know him and so happy to greet him during the Munster Circuit each
August.
Willie Gaynor corresponded at least twice a year and we so looked forward to his gentle words of
wisdom, his keen sense of inquiry and to sharing his proven acumen in the world of the Irish horse
and dog. With his friend of many moons Dermot Mooney and U.S. President Kathy Pellerito, we
were honoured to break bread in the Great Pugin Hall at Maynooth University College, a venerable
old clerical institution where one sensed echoes of Brosna Griffin, Canon Doherty and Bishop
Mulligan. To watch with him, Gordon Hayburn’s famous slip jig and exchange sentimentally in the
Celtic speech of the Gael was a extra bonus. Gaelic as you know is the lingua franca of our dearly
departed and all the choirs of angels in the kingdom. To witness with him the anniversary show
judged by Diarmuid Mooney was a treat profoundly appreciated on so many levels. Clogran, the
Irish Kennel Clubs spacious exhibition grounds was a superb venue.
In Willie Gaynor’s passing we have lost a good friend. He was a lovely man in the best sense of that
usage, one owed much by the Irish Red and White Setter camaraderie worldwide. His family will
miss a loving husband and father and his extended family a wise mentor. We appreciate every
moment you shared Willie Gaynor with us and know full well that on the other side of the rainbow
bridge – ar neamh – áit atá sé ar dheis Dé ag guí suaimhneas orainn uilig. Síochán Síoraí chugat
Liam is mile buíochas. From the right hand of God you wish comfort to all. Eternal peace Willie and
a thousand thanks.
Dr. Albrecht Ua Siaghail June, 2015
Cf. spring addition April 2010 re Willie Gaynor
Cf. obit for a young Judy Cuddy pictured above with Gaye of Knockalla
In 1943 when the Rev. Noble Huston passed to his heavenly reward, his tanist to whom he ceded the
protection and promotion of the Red and White (which the minister no doubt saved from extinction
and oblivion) was the Cuddy family of Knockalla (Echo Hill). William and Maureen Cuddy became
the heart and soul, the true activists, at the centre of the Society formed for the preservation of the
particoloured Irish Setter in 1944. Through thick and thin Mrs. Cuddy was to retain a devoted role
as prime Red and White oracle for the next fifty plus years.
Social changes in the Irish Free State at that capricious period, assured that the club presided over
by Baron Rossmore of Cúr Talmhain remain essentially – a vacuous list. Irish dogs were alienated
from the Kennel Club some fifty years before the Citizenship – Passport Act, due to Anglo / Irish
divided loyalties.
By the sixties Mrs. Cuddy had expedited the export of choice Red and Whites to Spain (1947 – Sênor
Mayo), Britain (Elsie James), South Africa and The United Sates of America. Interest overseas,
however was not honed and no breeding progress was evidenced, much to Maureen Cuddy’s chagrin.
Subsequently she regretted her action and dubbed it premature. No woman is an Island John Donne
should have said.
A lull and hiatus gripped the sporting dog enthusiasts in Ireland at this time, brought on no doubt by
the plight of families, throughout the land, dealing with the polio paralysis epidemic and the
concomitant fear of this horrible contagion before the advent of the Salk Vaccine. The Cuddy family
(William – Maureen – Liam Jr. – Judy – Chris – David) naturally zeroed in on personal health over
Setter promotion and when it was perceived that canine direction was disastrously faltering as it had
in WW 1 & 11, two strong perceptive setter advocates rushed into the breach aiding Maureen
Cuddy to redirect her energies.
Willie (Liam) Gaynor of Monadreen and Dermot (Diarmuid) Mooney of Mayo encouraged the
Knockalla Kennel with continuous support, informing of Red and White Setters throughout the four
green fields (provinces) and beyond. Without this input and gentle goading, the Red and White
breeding programme at Knockalla would have ceased and we would have been left languishing with
Pangur bán our tom cat, pet mouse ‘Wi’ bickering brattle or effusive gold fish. (All things bright
and beautiful, all no doubt God’s creatures great and small) but not the beautiful Irish Red and
White Setter that we have come to know frolicking on green pastures or hunting the upland gorse
and whins.
It is from Dermot Mooney, now living in Australia, who pined after the Red and Whites lost to the
gene pool, which his acquaintance (John Mc Manamon – 1953) had taken stateside (USA), that we
have heard of the passing of Willie Gaynor into eternal life on 16th of May 2015.
Willie was a true friend to each member of the Cuddy family, throughout the devastating polio
period and long afterwards. And, in his own nonchalant fashion even urged the Cuddy children to
focus on the dog and like wise to a greater appreciation of their Celtic heritage. He was a pater
familias to his own four adoring children (Joseph – Dervill – Teresa – Miriam), a devoted husband to
Kathleen about whom he spoke ardently as the one most supportive of his many enterprises, a
recognized and admired arts instructor and sculptor (his figurines or bronze effigies won the laud
and approval of Red and White gurus Cuddy, Walsh and Doherty as did his delightful paintings –
one now proudly shown in our home) and a copious font of knowledge to canine and equine
comrades. His two year old filly garnered “Nostri Plena Laboris” at the Royal Dublin in 1988. Gaye
of Knockalla was his personal gift to Mrs. Cuddy. Gaye, (cf. Gaynor), Foxes bitch and Gormley’s
Harlequin of Knockalla, figure in the arriere fond of all Irish Red and White Setter pedigrees. The
Irish Kennel Club’s caustic relationship, with this very dear advocate, was a cause of deep distress to
those who were privileged to know him and so happy to greet him during the Munster Circuit each
August.
Willie Gaynor corresponded at least twice a year and we so looked forward to his gentle words of
wisdom, his keen sense of inquiry and to sharing his proven acumen in the world of the Irish horse
and dog. With his friend of many moons Dermot Mooney and U.S. President Kathy Pellerito, we
were honoured to break bread in the Great Pugin Hall at Maynooth University College, a venerable
old clerical institution where one sensed echoes of Brosna Griffin, Canon Doherty and Bishop
Mulligan. To watch with him, Gordon Hayburn’s famous slip jig and exchange sentimentally in the
Celtic speech of the Gael was a extra bonus. Gaelic as you know is the lingua franca of our dearly
departed and all the choirs of angels in the kingdom. To witness with him the anniversary show
judged by Diarmuid Mooney was a treat profoundly appreciated on so many levels. Clogran, the
Irish Kennel Clubs spacious exhibition grounds was a superb venue.
In Willie Gaynor’s passing we have lost a good friend. He was a lovely man in the best sense of that
usage, one owed much by the Irish Red and White Setter camaraderie worldwide. His family will
miss a loving husband and father and his extended family a wise mentor. We appreciate every
moment you shared Willie Gaynor with us and know full well that on the other side of the rainbow
bridge – ar neamh – áit atá sé ar dheis Dé ag guí suaimhneas orainn uilig. Síochán Síoraí chugat
Liam is mile buíochas. From the right hand of God you wish comfort to all. Eternal peace Willie and
a thousand thanks.
Dr. Albrecht Ua Siaghail June, 2015
Cf. spring addition April 2010 re Willie Gaynor
Cf. obit for a young Judy Cuddy pictured above with Gaye of Knockalla