As we Irish Americans gear up to celebrate St. Paddy’s day this weekend, we wanted to give a shoutout to our furry Irish friends who have been by our side for thousands of years.
Historical Background
Dogs, specifically the Irish Wolfhound, have been a fixture in Irish society since the days of Julius Caesar and his conquest of Celtic lands (Celtic societies existed all over Europe, but here we’re talking about Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and The Isle of Man). When Caesar went to battle the Celts he noted that they had these large dogs they brought into battle who stood loyally by their warriors. Back in Ireland, the Wolfhounds helped hunt and protect clan lands.
When the British arrived and Cromwell began his regime in Ireland he tried to outlaw the Irish Wolfhound, because he found them just as “barbaric” as their owners. It was thought that the breed died out by the time of the Famine in the 1840s, but a few remained and now we love to see these gentle giants around the world today.
Folkloric Background
Before the English colonized Ireland in the 1500s, medieval Irish monks recorded Irish folklore to be preserved for the centuries to come. Dogs and fellow canines like wolves are fixtures in Irish folklore because they were such a large part of folklife for the Gaels.
In Oidhead Chloinne Tuireann, Lugh, one of the Celtic gods, wins his hound Failinis in a battle. In the Ulster Cycle, a collection of Irish folklore and myth, the warrior Cú Chulainn, which literally translates to the Hound of Culann, gains his name when he tried to honorably replace a hound he killed in self defense. Cú Chulainn is one of the most prominent figures in Irish mythology, most notably Táin Bó Cúailnge, where he takes on the powerful Queen Medb after the cattle raid of Cooley.
Choose Your Fighter!
There are loads of breeds that come from Ireland and its Celtic neighbors. Dogs like the Irish Setter, Wheaten Terriers, and the Irish Terrier are all fixtures in American, as well as Irish, homes. Queen Elizabeth II famously toted around her Welsh Corgis, and Scottish Terriers are always a crowd favorite with their trademark beards. If you’re debating what kind of breed to get one of these smart and loyal pups might be right for you!
Sláinte to the buachaillí agus cailíní maithe (good boys and girls) who continue to be our loyal companions!
