The Irish Setter 165 
“T think the handsomest blood red and white Irish setters I ever saw 
were in the possession of the two Misses Ledwidge, of Beggarsbush, near 
Dublin. Stella, the dam, and two sons, named Old York and Young 
York. Stella, although blood red and white, was the dam of Mr. Dycer’s 
blood red setter Dan, well known in his day for his goodness. This dog 
was sire of Captain Hutchinson’s Bob. Miss Ledwidge informed me that 
she possessed this breed for half a century or more, and Mr. La Touche’s 
keeper at Harristown, when I visited his kennels there, pointed out a blood 
red and white setter as the best he had. I believe the Misses Ledwidge’s 
kennel was as pure as any in Ireland. I was told they originally came from 
the Butler family. [A reference to the Butler dogs will be found in the 
article on the Gordon setter.—Eb.] 
“ Another, and one of the best breeds, which have probably been kept 
as pure as any in Ireland, are those of the Hon. David Plunket and Lord 
Freyne of Coolavin, County Sligo. : 
*“Of the two colours, blood red and blood red and white, I admire the 
latter the most, they being in my opinion the handsomer of the two. Mr. 
Barton, County Wicklow, hada large kennel of the blood red and whites, and 
there are doubtless other breeds in Ireland considered as pure as those named. 
“As far as my experience goes of those I have seen worked, there are 
few, if any, setters more valuable for general utility than the Irish, provided 
you can get a sufficiency of point, but I am sorry to write it, the major part 
are deficient in this requisite, and not to be relied on, but when they have 
it they are admirable dogs. 
“Those I have seen were rather light, if anything too light in head, 
wanting a little squareness about the nose and lip; their ears are too high 
set on the head, being often on a line with the skull, which gives them a 
prick-ear appearance. A thin, spare, lathy body in general, and, in my 
opinion, too long on the legs. ‘Their shoulders are generally well placed, 
low and oblique, with a drooping stern, coat rather harsh, more harsh and 
wiry than that of the English setter, neither is it so bright and silky; temper 
obstinate, fiery and impetuous, which detracts from the major part of the 
breed, but still there are exceptions, and notwithstanding some people 
say they never saw a good Irish setter, I have, although rarely; but when 
they are really good they are a first class dog, none better. 
“T should probably have crossed with some of the above named dogs, but 
on consideration I was afraid of their acknowledged insufficiency of point.” 
