Ukrainian Embassy to Accept Hero Dog Award 3pm Sunday 29th of May at IKC Festival of Dogs
The Irish Kennel Club is delighted to announce that the Ukrainian Embassy will accept its Honorary Golden Paw Hero Dog Award at the Festival of Dogs this weekend in Leopardstown Racecourse. First Secretary, Mr. Dmytro Shchedrin, will accept the award on Sunday at 3pm on behalf of Patron, a Ukrainian Jack Russell terrier who detects landmines. This is not Patron’s first accolade, having recently been bestowed the Medal of Courage from President Zelensky. Since the war in Ukraine began in February, 2 year old Patron has sniffed out over 200 undetonated explosive devices and has now won the hearts of many in the country with over 250,000 followers on Instagram.
The Irish Kennel Club (IKC), a volunteer organisation championing ethical dog breeding, will celebrate their Centenary year in 2022 with a full programme of special events, kicking off with a Festival of Dogs in Leopardstown Racecourse!
The IKC are very happy to provide admission tickets for media competitions and official press passes.
IKC Spokespeople are available for media interviews and have great advice to give and stories to tell!
- Sean Delmar - President of the Irish Kennel Club
- Karen Murphy – IKC Secretary
- Tim Kirby – Vet & Founder of PetBond
The event will be held on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th May 10 am – 5pm daily and promises to be an amazing weekend for the whole family including your dog!
Meet the experts and get advice on everything from suitable breeds, nutrition, rearing and training.
Jim Stephens - Leading canine nutritionist & pet behaviourist & Tim Kirby - Vet & PetBond founder
Visitors will have the opportunity to meet over 50 different breeds from around the world, including Ireland’s very own 9 native breeds, which have only recently been granted heritage status.
- Irish Wolfhound
- Kerry Beagle
- Irish Water Spaniel
- Irish Red Setter
- Irish Red & White Setter
- Irish Terrier
- Irish Glen of Imaal Terrier
- Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
- Kerry Blue Terrier.
Irish Red & White Setter, Finn, is the mascot for the Irish Air Corps and will be in attendance with his handler Corporal Aidan Brosnan.
The Dublin Blue Terrier Club, founding Club of the IKC, are also celebrating their Centenary Show at this event and we have been reliably informed Michael Collins, a past member of the club, will be putting in an appearance with his Kerry Blue Terrier, Convict 224!
The IKC will also be launching their Golden Paws Hero Dog Award at the festival with the winner to be announced later in the year. This award will be bestowed to a special canine superhero for acts of bravery and courage in the field.
Watch Ireland’s top dog groomers work their magic live on The Urban Dog Stage and check out the ‘Dogs on the Catwalk’, a fashion show with a difference showing all the latest canine trends for the summer season!
The Dream Dog Exhibition will showcase Irish school children’s creative imaginings of their perfect pooch, while the Canine Art Exhibition includes artworks from some of Ireland’s top painters, photographers and stain glass artists.
All this and more, so don’t miss out this paw-some day out for the whole family!
Book your tickets now at https://shop.ikc.ie/collections/festival-of-dogs-tickets
- Irish Native Breed Dog Show
- Ask the Experts with leading canine nutritionist & pet behaviourist, Jim Stephens and vet & Petbond founder, Tim Kirby.
- Junior Handling Competition.
- Dogs on the Catwalk Fashion Show
- Urban Dog Stage, Dog Grooming Demos
- Dream Dog Exhibition
- Canine Art Exhibition
- Gundog Display
- Display of the Therapy Dogs and Irish Guide Dogs.
- Carting Dogs (featuring the Bernese Mountain Dog from Switzerland)
- Agility Competition
- Champion of Champions Show (Sunday only)
- Launch of the IKC Golden Paw Hero dog Awards (Sunday)
- Seminar on Kerry Blue Terriers
- Breed Village (50 Breeds)
- Trade Village
When: Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th May 2022
Where: Leopardstown Racecourse (Just Off the M50)
Time: 10am – 5pm Each Day
Admission Prices:
Adults: €10.00
Children/OAP’s: €5.00
Family Ticket: €20.00
Dogs go Free! (If accompanied by a paying adult)
Free Car Parking! Junction 15 M50 South
More information: https://www.ikc.ie/
Prebook Tickets - https://shop.ikc.ie/collections/festival-of-dogs-tickets
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ikc.ie
About The Irish Kennel Club
The Irish Kennel Club promotes the responsible ownership and ethical breeding of dogs throughout Ireland through education, registration, training and support schemes and events. The Irish Kennel Club’s Good Citizen Dog Scheme helps educate dog owners and develop dogs into happy, loyal and well-behaved companions. The Good Citizen Test is offered by approved clubs and training classes, ensuring a high standard of training for owners.
The Irish Kennel Club does not condone or support puppy farming or unregistered breeding.
The Irish Kennel Club is supported by Glanbia GAIN Pet Nutrition.
A Very Interesting History
Before the foundation of the Irish Kennel Club, all dog events in Ireland were held under licence from the English Kennel Club. However, the recently founded Dublin Irish Blue Terrier Club – which included Michael Collins and Oliver St. John Gogarty among its members – broke with this system by holding the first breed show outside the English club’s jurisdiction on October 16, 1920.
Attendees included figures from both sides of the independence divide, including Captain Wyndham Quinn from the Vice Regal Lodge in the Phoenix Park, and the Under Secretary for Ireland, Sir James McMahon. They witnessed a show featuring dogs such as ‘Convict 224’ (Michael Collins’ dog), Trotsky, Munster Fusilier, and Markavich, presided over by judges Con O’Herlihy and Dan Nolan. From those colourful beginnings sprang the Wyndham Quinn Perpetual Cup, which is still awarded to this day, and the Michael Collins Perpetual Cup.
The event led to a further show featuring other breeds on Saint Patrick’s Day 1921 in the Concert Rooms of Dublin’s North Brunswick Street. That show’s success spurred the foundation of the Irish Kennel Club on January 20 1922. The freedom fighters who drove the club’s foundation reached across the political divide once again, electing independence opponent and dog lover Justice Henry Hanna as the Chairman. The first meeting of An Ard Chomhairle (Council) took place on the 3rd February 1922.
Issued by AE Consulting on behalf of The Irish Kennel Club.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information, imagery or interviews with IKC spokespeople.
