Jane and I along with Eula, Isla, Flora and Harvey have had a fantastic time in Ireland, where we took part for the first time in the Irish Munster Circuit, which is a series of shows within the Munster region of Ireland.

We sailed from Fishguard in Wales to Rosslair, arriving early on Sunday morning the 15th August. We travelled through Waterford and Wexford to our first show destination Clonmel. We had been warned that the weather can be very wet, but Clonmel was far from wet, it was positively tropical!! After pitching our tent alongside the hundreds of other tents on the showground, we went to watch some judging so that when it was our turn we had some idea of what we were doing. We went along to the Pointer ring where we were just in time to see our friends' young dog receive his 7th and crowning Green Star - Ireland's equivalent to the CC. Congratulations to Mark and Jonathon!

Soon it was our turn, one thing we have learnt is that it's all over very quickly - the judges hardly handle the dogs, and they are judging your dog before you have even had a chance to stack - so before you know it you are at the challenge! Harvey won the Open Dog class and was awarded the Res. Green Star, Eula won Junior bitch, Bitch Green Star and Best of Breed! Flora Won Open Bitch and Isla was unplaced in open bitch - her coat was a bit too wavy for him and as always she was a little on the 'porky side'!!! There are only places to 4th in Ireland, however all four dogs were graded Excellent - all week, which was relief in itself! By the time we got to the group judging both us and the dogs were very hot..Eula didn't figure in the group placings, but we gave it our best shot.

After packing away our tent, we moved on to our cottage in Killarney, were we were to spend the rest of the week.

We arrived at the cottage around 7pm and was met by the owner, a really nice man, who also arranged for us to use one of the neighbouring unused fields to run the dogs. It was just perfect - two minutes up the lane and into a huge paddock - I'm not good with acreage, but it was VERY big!!

Monday 16th August

On Monday we mainly relaxed after our two long days of travelling and showing. The dogs made full use of the field and had a brilliant time all week - Eula and Harvey were the ball chasers, whilst Isla and Flora were the grazers, in fact if they had been Black & White they would have been mistaken for part of the dairy herd!!

We spent a few hours in Killarney and then around tea time we gave the dogs a freshen up ready for the Killarney show the next day.

Tuesday 17th August Killarney

It was overcast on Tuesday, and we did have a few showers, but they didn't really come to much, so we were grateful for that. The tent proved to be more problematical today - not quite sure what we did, but at one point it was inside out - and we had travelled about 10 foot from our original pitch trying to put it up!! Once successfully up, we set about getting the dogs in and sorting ourselves out. Today was Janes day, as it turned out to be for the rest of the week. Havey winning Open Dog and BOB, Flora Winning Open Bitch and Res. BOB, Eula won Junior Bitch and the reserve Green Star, and Isla was 3rd in Open bitch - her coat obviously not such a problem with today's judge haha!! Whilst waiting for the group, we went into Killarney Town with friends for lunch, whilst the dogs slept in the tent. Back in time for the group, but unfortunately Harvey didn't feature in the places. Show over, we packed up and went home. The dogs had a lovely run in 'our' field and in the evening Jane and I went into town for dinner. We found a lovely restaurant, where I had real Irish Stew - yum yum, followed by desert in Murphy's Ice Cream Parlour yum yum yum!!!!!

Wednesday 18th August

This was our second free day, and we went to Killarney National Park, which is beautiful – the scenery is indescribable – it is so lovely. We decided to go by Jaunting Car (pony and trap) so that we would see more and have a guide. We went along the lakes and up to Ross Castle and back to the town. After lunch, we made our way back for more dog walking, and then to get the dogs ready for the following days show. In the evening we went back into town for dinner, followed by – another Ice Cream Parlour stop off !

Thursday 19th August – Limerick

Today we had two shows at the same venue – the 1st was the Limerick All Breed Championship Show and later in the day the ESSC of Ireland Championship Show.
We were first in for the All Breed Show, which was just as well because at around 11 am it started raining, and it continued for most of the day thereafter. Harvey and Flora won the Green Stars, with Harvey taking BOB, and to our amazement – the little porky one with the wavy coat – was awarded the Res. Bitch Green Star – well done Isla! The Breed Club Show, was next and again Havey and Flora cleaned up with both taking the Green Stars and Harvey going Best in Show and Flora Reserve. Harvey also went on the Group 2 at the main show – what a day!

Friday 20th August

Our last 'free' day of our holiday, we went back to the National Park, but this time to Muckross House, where we had a tour of the house, which is most famous for having Queen Victoria stay 'for just two days' as the guide kept repeating – but it was a bit dull and dreary if I am honest – however the gardens and grounds like the rest of the park were beautiful. After lunch, we got the dogs ready for the last show, and then met our friends at the Tralee Greyhound track for a meal and a little flutter. It was a good night with a lovely meal and lovely company, and I even had a glass of GUINNESS!! I'm not so keen on the racing side though – I'm afraid I worry about the welfare of these dogs and so it takes away any real enjoyment. That aside it was a good end to our holiday.

Saturday 21st August Tralee

All packed up, not only for the show, but also to go home, by the time we had everything in the van we were full, floor to ceiling!

Tralee was only half an hour from our cottage so we arrived in good time to put up our tent, but it was windy and our camping skills had started to let us down, the tent was not doing so well in the wind – fortunately it was mostly dry, so we managed to put up a couple of cages by the ring and had the dogs there – the tent at times, was almost flattened by the wind haha!! Another good day for Jane with Harvey and Flora taking the top honours, and this time Eula received the Res. Green Star. We had a four hour drive back to Rosslair and our ferry, so we needed to be away from the show by 4 at the latest. At 3 the group still had not been called, and we were beginning to think that we would miss it and in Ireland if the Best of Breed is not present in the group you get fined by the Irish Kennel Club. You have to give the secretary notice in writing if you are not going in the group. So, Jane started to 'jivvy up' the show manager, and at 3.15 they called the group. Like I said before the judging does not take long, and we were all done and on our way by 3.50pm phew! It's about the only time you are glad that you didn't win the Group!

We made up some time on our journey back to the port, and arrived at 8.15, in time to catch the ferry home.

We caught up with old friends and made some new friends, it was a lovely holiday, and we can't wait to do it all again.