The Ballykelly Kennels from 1960 to 1970

In 1960 there were again very few litters registered in general and no Ballykelly registrations until October, when four were registered. Three were by Diarmuid of Dunamaise, one out of Casbah of Ballykelly, wh. July 26th; one out of Ballykelly Rooney, wh. August 1st; and one out of Kingsholme Jet, wh. August 15th. The other litter was by Ir. Ch. McGilligan of Ballykelly ex Kingsholme Sunshine and wh. August 4th. McGilligan became an Irish Champion and Diarmuid of Dunamaise won the Reserve CC at both Belfast and the L.K.A.

1961 was a lot busier, with another Diarmuid of Dunamaise/Casbah of Ballykelly litter wh. February 12th; a repeat of the McGilligan/Sunshine breeding on March 8th; and two litters in April. Then two litters in August - one by McGilligan ex Ballykelly Kinvaragh and the other again by Diarmuid ex Casbah of Ballykelly. In September there was another repeat of the McGilligan/Kingsholme Sunshine breeding. Ballykelly Blarney of Killykeen (by Diarmuid of Dunamaise ex Ballykelly Kilkenny and bred by Tony Doyle) was transferred to Miss Seale and in November Brackenford Raider was transferred to her and the name changed to Ballykelly Brackenford Raider. Raider was bred by Mr. J.L. Jones, by Kingsholme Ballykelly O'Rafferty ex Bridget of Ballygran; wh. August 9th, 1961.

Ballykelly Allanagh from the Diarmuid of Dunamaise/Casbah of Ballykelly litter, February 12th, 1961

There was not much showing done in 1961 but the Ballykelly hounds were doing well in other countries, with Tyrone of Ballykelly, owned by Mrs. Barbara O'Neill going Best in Show at the North Country KC Show in New York, and Ballykelly O'Sullivan, owned by the Duke of Valencia going Best in Show at the Madrid International Show. Diarmuid of Dunamaise won the Green Star and Best of Breed at Limerick Show, and Ballykelly Marritagh won the bitch Green Star. Marritagh was from the Diarmuid of Dunamaise/Casbah of Ballykelly litter wh. December 11th, 1959. By the end of the year Tyrone was a USA Ch.

The following IWC Trophies were won by Ballykelly hounds:- The Ouborough Challenge Cup (bitch), awarded at the SKC, to Mr. Briggs Ballykelly Mayo; the Brabyns Cup and the Sulhamstead Challenge Cup to Mrs. Rice's Ballykelly Padraicin;; and the Halcyon Challenge Cup to Mrs. James Ballykelly Biddy Mulligan of Boroughbury.

Tyrone of Ballykelly	USA Ch. Tyrone of Ballykelly
Tyrone was named Best Irish Wolfhound in America in 1960, was 25 times Best of Breed, 4 times Best of Sex, as well as going Best in Show at the North Country KC Show

January 21st, 1962 saw a litter by Diarmuid of Dunamaise ex Ballykelly Rooney; and on April 17th a repeat of the McGilligan/Kingsholme Sunshine breeding. April 29th a litter by McGilligan ex Ballykelly Kinvaragh; and on June 13th one by McGilligan ex Ballykelly Mernagh. On August 14th there was another litter by McGilligan ex Kingsholme Jet. On September 26th a litter by Ir. Ch. Diarmuid of Dunamaise ex Ballykelly Rooney. November 12th was another repeat of the McGilligan/Sunshine breeding, and on the 27th there was a litter by Ballykelly Torrom ex Ballykelly Kinvaragh and one by Diarmuid ex Ballykelly Kilkenny. September, 1962 Kilpadraic of Boroughbury was transferred to Miss Seale by Mrs. James.

In 1962 the following IWC trophies were awarded to Ballykelly hounds:- Mrs. Rice's Ballykelly Padraicin won the Lady Gardner Beaker; Mrs. James Ballykelly Patsy Fagan of Boroughbury won the Sulhamstead Challenge Cup, the Type Cup (bitch) and the Bredonswicke Movement Challenge Cup; Mr. Boswell's Ballykelly Teresagh won the Halcyon Challenge Cup and his Ballykelly O'Mahoney won the Height Cup and Sulhamstead Challenge Cup; and Mr. Jones Urtagh of Ballykelly won the Sanctuary Points Cup (bitch).

In America two of the Ballykellys became champions - Mrs. Tillman's Ballykelly Kate, also an obedience champion, and Ballykelly Shannagh, who won her title at only 16 months of age.

USA Ch. Ballykelly Kate winning Best of Breed, North Conway, New Hampshire	USA Ch. Ballykelly Shannagh having gained her Championship at Woodstock, Vt.

And Ch. McGilligan of Ballykelly won Best of Breed at Birmingham.

Birmingham Championship Show, 1962 Sheelagh Seale with Ch. McGilligan of Ballykelly, Best of Breed Judge Bill Siggers, and Mrs. Nagle with Ch. Sulhamstead Mirth, Best Opposite Sex

January 1963 saw the transfer from Mrs. James of Boroughbury Adeelagh to Sheelagh Seale, and the change of name to Boroughbury Adeelagh of Ballykelly; and in March there was another transfer from Mrs. James - Torc of Ballykelly. Torc was from a litter wh. September 15th, 1957 by Tremey of Ballykelly ex Antostal of Ballykelly (but only registered with the IKC) and had been transferred by Sheelagh to Mrs. James in August, 1962. In June Sheelagh Seale registered Ballykelly Kilfenora of Ballygran, bred by Mrs. Harper, by McGilligan of Ballykelly ex Gralagh of Ballygran, wh. June 9th, 1962.

Boroughbury Adeelagh of Ballykelly and Ch. Holmehill Torridan

There was a home-bred litter on March 27th, 1963, by Ir. Ch. Diarmuid of Dunamaise ex Ballykelly Tralee; one on April 4th by McGilligan ex Kingsholme Jet; and one on April 11th by Ballykelly Torram ex Ballykelly Torc. The next litter was on June 23rd, by Ballykelly Torram ex Ballykelly Kinvaragh, then one on August 2nd, again by Torram ex Ballykelly Cead Mile Failte.

Ballykelly Torram	Ballykelly Torram
Ballykelly Torram and his son Holmehill Torridan

In 1963 Ballykelly O'Flynn, owned by Mrs. Bower (Brabyns), gained her Championship, as did Sheelagh Seale's McGilligan of Ballykelly, who also won the CC and Best of Breed at the L.K.A. Ballykelly Urtagh, owned by Mr. Jones (Ballygran), won the Bitch CC at Edinburgh Show.

Int. Ch. Ballykelly O'Flynn

1963 also saw the following wins of the IWC Trophies:- Int. Ch. McGilligan of Ballykelly won the Graham Shield, the Height Cup and the Stud Dog Cup, and Mrs. Bower's Ballykelly O'Flynn won the Irish Guards Shield and the Boroughbury Height Cup (bitch), while Mr. Jones' Ballykelly Urtagh won the Sanctuary Points Cup (bitch).

Mr. Jones' Ballykelly Urtagh by Diarmuid of Dunamaise ex Casbah of Ballykelly, wh. August 13th, 1961 Ballykelly Urtagh later became an English Champion

In 1964 there were quite a few litters registered; one in March by Ch. Colin of Nendrum ex Ballykelly Bawneen; two in May, one by McGilligan ex Bally Kinvaragh and one by Ballykelly Kilpadraic of Boroughbury ex Ballykelly Kilkenny; one in July by Kilpadraic ex Ballykelly Cead Mile Failte; and two in December, both by Ballykelly Torrom, one ex Cead Mile Failte and the other ex Kilkenny.

Ballykelly Cavin from the litter registered in March, by Ch. Colin of Nendrum ex Ballykelly Bawneen, wh. December 7th, 1963 Cavin sired five Champions

1964 was the year Holmehill Torridan came into the kennel - by Ballykelly Torram ex Soay of Dhunorch and bred by Mr. & Mrs. E. Gemmel, wh. December 24th, 1963, registered in April 1964 and transferred to Sheelagh Seale in October.

Irish Ch. Holmehill Torridan

In the same month a piece appeared in the New York Sunday News, entitled "A Shaggy Dog Story" and with several pictures of the Ballykelly hounds, including this one of Ch. Diarmuid of Dunamaise with unnamed poodle.

Ch. Diarmuid of Dunamaise

and this picture of Diarmuid greeting Sheelagh Seale on her return home

In 1964 Mr. Jones Ballykelly Sioban won the Sulhamstead Challenge Cup but there were no Ballykelly winners of Challenge Certificates.

There were only three Ballykelly litters registered with the English Kennel Club in 1965 - two by Ballykelly Kilpadraic of Boroughbury and one by Ballykelly Torram. In October Boroughbury Gay was transferred to Miss Seale by Mrs. James and her name changed to Ballykelly Boroughbury Gay. Ballykelly Sile was registered, bred by John Briggs, by Ballykelly O'Flannagan ex Ballykelly Mayo, wh. May 15th, 1965. She later went to Miss E. Murphy and her name was changed to Ballykelly Sile of Carrokeel. She then became an Irish Champion, gaining her title in one season and finishing with a hound group win.

Ir. Ch. Ballykelly Sile of Carrokeel

Int. Ch. McGilligan of Ballykelly died. One of his sons, Int. Ch. Colin of Nendrum, owned and bred by Miss Twyman, won Best in Show at Blackpool, Tipperary and Belfast Championship Shows in 1965. Ballykelly Ni-Rooney became an Irish Champion, and won the sporting group at the Boxing Day Ch. show in Dublin. Ballykelly Bawneen won several Green Stars, as did McGilligan's grandson Holmehill Torridan. Torridan also won a sporting group and was Best in Show at Athy Ch. show. Ballykelly Eoin, exported to New Zealand, won second in the AV Hound Stakes and was the runner-up Best Hound Puppy in Show at the Wellington National Championship Show. And Ballykelly Colin gained his American championship. There were no Ballykelly winners of CCs and the only IWC Trophy won was the Height Cup (bitch) which went to Mrs. Bowers' Int. Ch. Ballykelly O'Flynn.

Left to right: Ballykelly Bawneen, Ballykelly Torram, Ballykelly Ni-Rooney and Holmehill Torridan (8 month old son of Ballykelly Torram)

In 1966 Sheelagh Seale registered three litters with the English Kennel Club; one whelped January 23rd by Ballykelly Cavin ex Ballykelly Tralee; one from March 16th, by Ballykelly Cavin ex Ballykelly Cead Mile Failte; and one from August 7th, by Ballykelly Conor of St. Doulaghs ex Ballykelly Bawneen. Also registered was Ballykelly Damian and Ballykelly Sile (by Ballykelly O'Flanagan ex Ballykelly Mayo, wh. May 15th, 1965), bred by Mr. J.R. Briggs. And Mrs. Bower registered Ballykelly Tanaise-na-Gael, by Innis of Dunamaise ex Ballykelly Tralee, wh. June 26th, 1965 and bred by Miss Seale, while Miss Seale registered Ballykelly Shamrogue from the same litter. Again no Ballykelly winners of CCs, but Mrs. Bowers' Int. Ch. Ballykelly O'Flynn again won the Height Cup (bitch).

In Ireland Ballykelly Shamrogue was Best Puppy at the Irish Kennel Club Championship Show, winning the American Trophy, and Ir. Ch. Holmehill Torridan winning Green Stars and Best of Breed at most of the Irish Championship shows through the year, and taking the Reserve CC at Belfast. In America Mrs. Musson's Ch. Ballykelly Colin was Best of Breed at Westminster and Chicago Championship shows.

Irish Ch. Holmehill Torridan and Irish Ch. Ballykelly Ni-Rooney with the international film star Gent Friobe (Goldfinger)

In 1967 two registrations were made in June, one of Ballykelly Eoinin, d, by Ballykelly Kilpadraic of Boroughbury ex Ballykelly Bawneen, wh. August 11th, 1965. Plus a litter by Ballykelly Eoinin ex Ballykelly Duchess of Brabyns, wh. March 11th, 1967. Ballykelly Duchess of Brabyns was bred by Mrs. Bower, wh. February 11th, 1966 by Ballykelly Killinick of Boroughbury ex Brabyns Dingle of Boroughbury.

In November there was a transfer of Boroughbury Adeelagh of Ballykelly from Mrs. Jefferies to Miss Seale. In December Lorna and Thorna of Brabyns were transferred from Mrs. Bower to Miss Seale and their names changed to Ballykelly Lorna of Brabyns and Ballykelly Thorna of Brabyns.

Mrs. Musson's Ch. Ballykelly Colin again went Best of Breed at Westminster and Best in Show at Louisville.

This was the year that Sheelagh Seale moved to Clogga Strand, Arklow, Co. Wicklow, where there was four miles of beach for exercising the hounds. And Whippets were added to the Ballykelly kennels.

left to right: Ballykelly Adeelagh of Boroughbury, Ch. Ballykelly Ni-Rooney, Ballykelly Boroughbury Gay and Ch. Holmehill Torridan	Off to the show - five of the Ballykellys

In 1968 there was a transfer to Miss Seale of Kilrush of Boroughbury from Mrs. James, and in September the registration by Mr. J.R. Briggs of Ballykelly Carnog, by Ballykelly Inis ex Ballykelly Boroughbury Gay, wh. November 6th, 1967.

Irish Ch. Holmehill Torridan won the CC and Best of Breed at Belfast Championship Show.

In 1969 there were quite a few registrations, all of which had been whelped in 1967 and 1968. Ir. Ch. Holmehill Torridan again won the CC and Best of Breed at Belfast, and Ballykelly Roonagh won the Bitch CC at the same show. Ballykelly Mary did well through the year, having won several firsts and reserve Green Stars at Championship shows, and she then went to Tim Finney of the Gulliagh Irish Wolfhounds. Ballykelly Molly Mulligan really did well, even beating her sire, Holmehill Torridan, for Best of Breed at Limerick. Her dam, Ballykelly Adeelagh of Boroughbury won Open Bitch at this show but had to give way to her daughter in the challenge.

Ballykelly Mary at 8 months by Ballykelly Eoinin ex Ch. Ballykelly Ni-Rooney	Ballykelly Molly Mulligan

Torridan and Molly Mulligan also took part in an opera and proved a great success.

October 27th, 2015