10 Animals From Ireland You
Should Celebrate on St. Patrick’s Day
“…Irish Setter
…did
you know that the beautiful Irish Setter wasn't always a solid red dog? The
earliest records of the breed (from about 400 years ago) refer to a red &
white setting dog- 2 colors that are
easy for hunters to see in the field. By the time dog shows came along in the mid-
to late-nineteenth century, solid red setters became the fashion.
Galway Sheep
Galway
sheep have been grazing in the fields of western Ireland since the late 17th
century. With their easygoing demeanor & long life span, these sheep are a
great addition to any flock.
Common Lizard
St.
Patrick might be celebrated for casting all the snakes out of Ireland, but he
did leave one reptile behind- the common lizard. While the scaly creature can
be found throughout the U.K., the common lizard is the only species of reptile
that’s native to Ireland.
Glen of Imaal Terrier
The Glen of
Imaal Terrier's name comes from an isolated valley in Ireland’s Wicklow
Mountains, where the terrier originated. The dog's history begins in the 1570s,
when Flemish mercenary soldiers came to the valley with their dogs, who
eventually mated with the local Irish canines.
If not for dog
shows, the Glen of Imaal Terrier would still probably remain hidden in the
remote mountains. It wasn’t until 1934 that the Irish Kennel Club finally
recognized the breed…
Irish Hare
The
Irish hare may look like a tiny little thing, but he's accomplished some pretty
impressive feats- like surviving the most recent ice age. According to the Hare
Preservation Trust, the species took refuge in an ice-free, tundra-like
landscape in southern Ireland.
Nowadays,
the russet brown-colored hare can be found in regions with tall plants &
rich vegetation, which provide food & shelter that protect them from
predators.
Connemara pony
The Connemara
pony is one of Ireland's equine gifts to the world. This is the largest of the
pony breeds, standing at 12.2 to 14.2 hands high, according to the Connemara
Pony Breeders Society of Ireland. They are known to be athletic
animals with good-natured dispositions.
Irish Water Spaniel
The
unusual-looking Irish Water Spaniel is covered with red curls everywhere
besides his ‘rat tail’ & his smooth face. His coat is naturally oily to
repel water & keep the skin underneath dry, even after the hunting dog has
been in the water.
The dog who has
the best claim to being the first modern Irish Water Spaniel was named
Boatswain. He lived from 1834 to 1852, which was an incredibly long time for
dogs back then!
Irish Moiled
This cow breed
should be proud to be the only surviving domestic livestock native to Northern
Ireland, according to the Irish Moiled Cattle Society.
It's a red, medium-sized, hornless breed that's marked by a white line on its
back, plus red ears & a red nose. Its name is derived from the Gaelic
word maol, which means ‘brow of a hill- referring to the cow's
rounded head.
Kerry Bog Pony
The Kerry bog pony
has quite an apt moniker- the equine originates
from the bogs of County Kerry in Southwest Ireland. At a mere
10 to 12 hands, the small pony is a light-footed breed that’s known for its
unique gait.
According to
the Kerry Bog
Cooperative Society of Ireland, the Kerry bogs were once known as
hobbies because Gaelic-speaking locals used to call out ‘hup, hup’ as a way to call
horses in from the farmyard.
Kerry Blue Terrier
Known for his striking blue coat, the Kerry Blue Terrier hails
from Ireland’s County Kerry, where the breed was developed more than a century
ago to do everything from herding sheep & cattle to hunting &
retrieving small game & birds.”
Laura
Cross & Shayna Meliker
March
14/2013
Vetstreet.com
Cute Critter Pic:
Weekly Chuckle:
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