CHAPTER I. 



Early Histjry of the Irish Terrier. 



The early history of the Irish Terrier seems somevvhat 

 vague and mixed, and opinions as to its origin seem to differ 

 considerably. •' Stonehenge '" at first refused to recognize 

 in his book a dog about which, at the time, no two seemed 

 to agree, and which it was believed in no way differed from 

 the old Scotch Terrier commonly met v;ith in the early part 

 of the present century. 



In "Vero Shaw's" "Book of the Dog," Mr. George R. 

 Krehl, one of the most enthusiastic admirers of the breed, 

 as well as a prominent breeder and authority, is quoted as 

 follows : 



•• The Irish terrier is a true and distinct breed indigenous to Ireland, 

 and no man can trace its origin, which is lost in antiquity. 



'■ Mr. Ridgway, of Waterford, whose name is familiar in Irish 

 terrier circles, from having drawai up the first code of points, states that 

 they have been known in Ireland as long as that country has been an 

 Island, and I ground my faith in their age and purity on the fact that 

 there exists ' old manuscript in Irish ' mentioning the existence of the 

 breed at a very remote period. In old pictures representing scenes of 

 Irish life, an Irish terrier or two are often to be descried. Ballymena 

 and County Wicklow may almost claim to be the birthplace of the breed. 

 Most of the best specimens hail from Ballymena and the neighborhood, 

 where Mr. Thomas Erwin, of Irish setter fame, boasts an extensive 



