In the late 1920�s my Grand Uncle John acquired his first Kerry Blue. He enjoyed hunting and his Kerry worked hard for him. My Father was born in 1931 and it was through his Uncle John that he became acquainted with the breed. While Dad was growing up on their farm in Kilkenny, they always kept a Kerry Blue, as they were used as all purpose dogs that herded cows, hunted and retrieved, and generally worked around the farm as well as being their family pet.
It was inevitable that once Dad moved to Dublin and established the family home with my Mum and myself that he would once again own a Kerry Blue. So in 1971 he purchased Countess Molly (Granemore Valley X Princess Obeida,) and at the tender age of 2, I was the third generation to be introduced to this wonderful breed and so began my love of and involvement in the breed.
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Greenhills Beauty also produced Ch Lost Valley Fame in 1982, he was the first Kerry owned by Keith Byrne. A later daughter of Greenhills Beauty became the foundation bitch for Rosheen Kerry Blues, South Africa.
Countess Molly died prior to the birth in 1987 of the fourth generation to live with us, Master of the Maroon (Music�s History Maker x Victorian Lady). She had been a loyal friend to me during my early years and had followed me everywhere. If I could be correctly considered my Dad�s shadow then she was definitely mine! During my childhood we lived at the edge of farmlands, sadly today a lot of this land is developed for housing but some fields remain nearby where Countess Molly taught all her descendants to hunt, swim and enjoy life.
In 1991 we contacted John Foley with a view to getting a puppy, and so purchased a daughter of Ir/UK Ch Arranshire Pioneer, Shandon Kontenance. Louisburgh Ring (Saoirse) joined us in 1993 and is the matriarch of our current stock. She was lightly shown as a youngster.
Niamh�s last mating, to Nutleaze Mr O�Meara, produced Paul Netherwood�s Glenfitor Caoimhin who,was lightly shown.
Ciara�s first mating, to her nephew, produced Ir & Am Ch Glenfitor DJ Carey, who earned his Irish title at the age of 17 months, he was previously owed in the USA by Kanchit Singhamongkolkhet, but is now owned by Gabriel Rangel, USA. Walter Pfenning�s Glenfitor Penny�s Billy and our own Glenfitor Cliodhna who was only shown as a Puppy and was the winner of BPIB and Group 4 St Patrick�s Day, BPIB and Group 3 Combined Canine Club Show, BPIB Monkstown International Show, BPIS Dublin Irish Blue Terrier Club and BPIB South Wales Show, she was also the winner of multiple Green Stars and Reserve Green Stars.
Clodagh was Reserve Top Irish Show Dog of the Year 2001-2002, she also has 2 CC�s and 2 CACIB�s to her credit. She produced an Int Cz , Pol, and SK Junior Ch Edbrios Blue Ivanhoe, World Show Res CAC winner 2006, for Philip and Eddie O�Brien and Jarka Polouva from her litter by Ch Torum's Ready to Rumble. He has now returned to them after spending his early years with the Braudag Kennel. Clodagh's 2004 & 2005 litters are by Edbrios Bohemia Ivanhoe, a son of Ir Ch Louisburgh Coismeig Mor, with whom she has produced many Champions.
Sorcha commenced her career in 2003 and finished her title in 2004, along the way she also earned a CC and a CACIB. All our puppy buyers are advised that if, for whatever reason, they no longer can keep their dog, no matter what age or condition, the dog will be taken back by us. This was the situation with Sorcha and we are thrilled to have her back with us !
Fionn Mac Cumhaill has sired some litters for Phil Davies� that include Uk Ch Perrisblu Queen of Dreams and Sonya Welch & Brendan Lang's Perrisblu Miss Ele. Queenie earned her title in 2005. David Cowden currently has a Hallsblu bitch also by Fionn and to Hugh Jordan�s Miculadh Bright Dream Fionn sired Barb Ward�s Am & Can Ch Miculadh Brocaire at Kingael and Miculadh Oisin.
Sadly Louisburgh Ring (Saoirse) passed away in 2004, she was a wonderful character right to the end, and is fondly remembered and missed!
2005 was all about development for the future. Our 2005 litter, out of Ciara, by Niadh produced three bitches, Luis de Castro's Glenfitor Siobhan, Orla Coyle's Glenfitor Aoife and our own Glenfitor Cadhla. Sadly this will be Ciara's last litter as she suffered a pyometra and has been spayed, thankfully it was caught in time and she is still with us and is enjoying her retirement !
Sam Moffett mated his Sky Dancer to Ir & Am Ch Glenfitor DJ Carey and kindly allowed us to take DJ's son home. He is named after yet another infamous Kilkenny Hurler, Henry Shefflin. A daughter from this mating, John Weatherhead's Neat Petit of Hallsblu has earned her Irish and Uk titles and another daughter, Mrs Austin's Classy Lassie of Hallsblu is being campaigned by George Wright in USA.
The 13 August 2005 we visited Phil Davies to collect a daughter of our Fionn Mac Cumhaill. She is the latest to carry the name of Saoirse. From a later litter by Fionn Phil Davies produced Cathy Neill's Uk Ch Perrisblu Streetwise for Kensbridge who was BIS & BPIS at his first outing, The Ulster Kerry Blue Terrier Club Show. He was later a qualifier for the 2007 Pup of The Year Finals.
At The All Terrier Association Show 2005 I had the pleasure of Judging and I progressed in the Terrier Group and am now passed to award Green Stars to Kerry Blues, Irish Terriers, Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and Scottish Terriers.
Regretfully 2005 saw the death of Fiach (Ir Ch Louisburgh Coismeig Mor) to prostate cancer, but his progeny live on. You can see details of his, and indeed all Glenfitor dogs available to us on our Progeny page.
In 2004 I officated at The Swedish Kerry Blue Speciality Show and I judged Kerry Blues at Manchester Show, UK, in January 2006. In April 2006 I was honoured to Judge the 10th Anniversary Russian Kerry Blue Terrier Club Show. I also had a wonderful time judging the Futurity at Montgomery weekend 2006. Needless to say I feel honoured and priviliged to have been chosen for these appointments and truly enjoyed the experiences. Details of my winners are on our News page.
09 December 2006 my Father, Tom, reached another milestone in his life by celebrating his 75th Birthday !
In 2006 we started health testing our dogs and in 2007 we imported semen from Norway, Link to Shyloch Iz Goluboi Legendy . We are very grateful to Helge Kvivesen for allowing us to do so. In 2007 we consolidated by mating Saoirse to Clodagh's son, Multi Ch Edbrios Blue Ivanhoe Top Dog All Breeds (Ireland) 2007, to produce a litter of 6 Dogs and 2 Bitches. We have kept a dog, Glenfitor O'Maoileoin who we will be campaiging in 2008 and beyond and we have sent a dog, Glenfitor Bradan Feasa to Finland in partnership to Gaeltacht, Leannan and Rosarnach Kennels. We look forward to both their careers. Indeed Eoin, Glenfitor O Maoileoin is already a Junior Champion and won his first Green Star at Kilkenny Show 2008.
In February 2007 I once again progressed within the Terrier Group, this time at Newtownards All Breed Championship Show. I am now passed by the IKC to award Green Stars to Kerry Blues, Irish Terrier, Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Irish Glen of Immal Terriers, Scottish Terriers, Lakeland Terriers and Airedale Terriers.
At Deise All Breed Championship Show in 2008 I progressed within Group 3 and awarded Green Stars to Australian Terriers, Australian Silky Terriers, Mini Bulls, Welsh and WHWT. In July 2008 I completed all the Breeds in Group 3 at Sligo and District Canine Club Show by judging Borders, Bulls, Fox Smooth and Wire, English Toy, Skye, Staffordshire and Yorkshire Terriers. Many thanks to the Committee's of Deise and Sligo for affording me these opportunities. Thank you also to the Exhibitors who supported me.
Niall, my husband, became an active member of Glenfitor in 1999 when we became involved. Although other committments do not always allow him to be a regular in the Show Ring he is an integral part and a huge support and is heavily involved in the foster care of our Rescue Kerries and more recently Dobermanns. We got engaged on 21 September 2001 and have had to wait for many years to get married, happily this took place on 26 September 2007. Niall's children, Ashley and Jack love the dogs also and are always on hand to socialise puppies. Niall is the current Auditor for The Ulster Kerry Blue Terrier Club and Treasurer of the Scottish Terrier Club of Ireland. Niall commenced his judging career at Omagh and District All Breed Open Show (under KC rules) on 26 April 2008. He judged most of the Terrier Breeds and we were pleased with the excellent turn out and appreciate the support he received. On 16 November 2008 Niall judged for the first time under IKC rules at the Scottish Terrier Club of Ireland All Breed Open Show. He had a fantastic entry of 16 Kerry Blues.
Christmas Day 2008 saw Perrisblu Saoirse of Glenfitor have her second and final litter of four dogs and three bitches, by Nedavir Notorious. From this we kept a dog, Glenfitor Uaibhreach (Mac). In February 2009 we were delighted to have a lovely litter of four dogs and 2 bitches out of Glenfitor Cadhla, by Ir & GB Ch Edbrios Amadeus.
In April 2009 Niall won his first Green Star and BOB with Glenfitor O'Maoileoin. Unfortunately I was not there to witness it as I was judging the Northern Kerry Blue Terrier Club Show in Liverpool. At South Tipperary Canine Club Show, May 2009 I will preside over Group 3.
I believe that for all the joy and pleasure Dogdom gives me it is only right and proper that I give something back to it. For many years I was a committee member of the Dublin Irish Blue Terrier Club. Since 2002 I have served as Secretary of The Scottish Terrier Club of Ireland. The following year I had the honour of becoming Secretary of The Ulster Kerry Blue Terrier Club. I was the Breed Representative for the Scottie Club at IKC in 2004 and 2006 (An Ard Chomhairle), and also serve as Chairperson of The All Terrier Association and The Lakeland Terrier Club of Ireland. I am a committee member of Irish Ladies Kennel Association and Treasurer ofThe All Ireland Irish Terrier Club.I have been Breed Note writer for Irish Terriers, Lakelands and Scotties for many years with Irish Canine Press.
We strongly believe in being responsible breeders and therefore only take approx two litters from each of our bitches. We are careful to build a lasting relationship with the people we sell dogs to and are always on hand to help Kerry Blue people in any way we can. While it may be viewed as being naiive we believe that working together is the only way forward for our wonderful breed. We run Kerry Blue and Dobermann Rescue as we love these breeds and are interested in the less fortunate among them. All dogs deserve a second chance of happiness and we work very hard to ensure this happens. All the Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, micro-chipped, vaccinated, wormed, flea treated and groomed prior to rehoming. We are careful where we place these dogs and they remain under our care for their lifetime.
We are looking forward to a bright and promising future at Glenfitor !
If you are interested in our future plans, or we can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us!
Fionnuala Mobile: +353 86 8750614 Fax: +353 86 58750614
Niall Mobile: +353 87 9690666
Tom Mobile: +353 87 6834972
