Won Reserve Best in Show, Sporting Breeds Show 1972
the IWCA Specialty, 1971
In 1970 there were five litters which were registered with the English Kennel Club. One on May 14th by Ir. Ch. Ballykelly Portmagee ex Ballykelly Shaneen; one on June 16th by Ballykelly Cavin ex Ballykelly Boroughbury Gay; one on August 11th by Ballykelly Incicore ex Ballykelly Duchess of Brabyns; one on November 14th by Ballykelly Cavin ex Ballykelly O'Pratie; and one on December 27th by Holmehill Torridan ex Ballykelly Molly Mulligan. This was the litter from which came Ballykelly Reamonn.
In 1970 not many shows were attended but Ballykelly Molly Mulligan became an Irish Champion, and won Best of Breed at the Irish Breeds Championship Show. Ballykelly Maggie Murphy won a good number of puppy classes. In the U.S.A. Ch. Ballykelly Colin, having been the top-winning Irish Wolfhound for several years also became the top Irish Wolfhound stud dog in the U.S.A. He sired twenty-six champions and was the grand-sire of many more, with several of his progeny being group and best-in-show winners. Ballykelly McGettigan became a Danish champion, and Col. DeQuoy's Ballykelly Charlie-Girl became an American Champion.
In 1971 there were three litters; one in March by Killykeen Dhulart ex Ballykelly Maggie Murphy, and two in August; one by Ballykelly Inchicore ex Ballykelly Molly Mulligan and one by Holmehill Torridan ex Ballykelly Boroughbury Gay. Three hounds born in 1971 were then taken into the Ballykelly ownership. They were Tullyhunco Shevaun, bred by Mrs. V. McKiernan, by Ballykelly Inchicore ex Niamh of St. Doulaghs; Boroughbury Wendy, bred by Mrs. James, by Dinjo of Boroughbury ex Ballykelly Bouncer; and Pride of Allington, bred by Miss K. Treacy, by Dunleary Ardre ex Wistful Noreen.
Ch. Ballykelly Dalkey, owned by Miss E.C. Murphy, won his title, and Ch. Ballykelly Molly Mulligan was awarded the Best Irish Wolfhound Trophy for 1970. In America, Ch. Ballykelly Powerscourt Tomas was Best in Show at the Irish Wolfhound Club of America Specialty Show. Also Ballykelly Mousie gained her American Championship.
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| Ch. Ballykelly Dalkey Won Reserve Best in Show, Sporting Breeds Show 1972 |
Ch. Ballykelly Powerscourt Tomas winning Best in
Show at the IWCA Specialty, 1971 |
In 1972 Ch. Holmehill Torridan died. He was the sire of Ch. Ballykelly Powerscourt Tomas (above) and Ballykelly Reamonn who won the Green Star, Best of Breed, and Best in Show at the Sporting Breeds championship show, Dublin, and a week later won the Green Star, Best of Breed, and Reserve Best in Show at the Irish Breeds championship show at only 21 months. Reamonn's dam was Ch. Ballykelly Molly Mulligan. Molly Mulligan won the Green Star and Best of Breed at Dundalk. Ballykelly Maggie Murphy also did a lot of winning. Maggie Murphy was by Ballykelly Cavin ex Boroughbury Adeelagh of Ballykelly, wh. November 28th, 1969. In the USA Miss Weising's Ballykelly Meggine gained her championship. Ballykelly Mariagh, owned by Elizabeth Murphy, won a Green Star, Best of Breed, and Reserve Green Star during the year.
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| Ballykelly Reamonn at the Irish Breeds Championship Show, 1972 |
Ballykelly Maggie Murphy |
In 1972 only one litter was registered; wh. December 23rd, by Ballykelly Inchicore ex Avonmare. Avonmare was bred by D.T. Morgan, by Holmehill Torridan ex Ballykelly Agradh and wh. August 21st, 1967. Carrokeel Duffy, wh. September 16th, by Bernard of Roscrea ex Boroughbury Thornwick Aran, and bred by Miss E. Murphy came into the kennel, as did Moyra of Knockanafrrin, wh. February 3rd, 1972, by Ballykelly Clogga ex Blasket, bred by Mr. Cantwell.
In 1973 Sheelagh Seale moved to Ballyknockan House, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow. There were no registrations or transfers made at the English Kennel Club but there were seven litters registered with the IKC, and at some time Trafosky Breanaid (or Brennan), by Boroughbury Justice ex Kingsholme Kerrygold and bred by F. Placzek, was transferred to Sheelagh Seale and was listed at stud along with Ch. Ballykelly Reamonn and Ballykelly Errislannan Liam. Elpyk Balbriggan and Elpyk Kilquiggan, by Carrokeel Kelt ex Ballykelly Bantry, wh. June 15th, and bred by Mrs. E. Pyke were then registered in the partnership of Mrs. Pyke and Sheelagh Seale.
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| Ballyknockan House |
Ballykelly Reamonn won the Green Star at Dundalk, and at Galway and Kilkenny, at both of which shows he also went Best of Breed. Ch. Ballykelly Molly Mulligan won the Green Star and Best of Breed at Bray and Dundalk; and Ballykelly Mariagh won the Green Star at Dublin. In the USA Miss Wissing's Ballykelly Mageen became an American Champion. At the Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland Championship Show Ballykelly Reamonn won Limit Dog and Ch. Ballykelly Molly Mulligan and Ballykelly Reamonn won the Brace Class.
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| Ballykelly Reamonn and Ch. Ballykelly Molly
Mulligan winners of the Brace Class, handled by Mr. W. Thompson |
At the Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland Championship Show in 1974 Ch. Ballykelly Molly Mulligan won Best Veteran. She also won the Green Star at the Irish Kennel Club Show. Ballykelly Errislannan Liam won the Green Star and Best of Breed at the Combined Canine Club Show; and Ch. Ballykelly Reamonn won the Green Star and Best of Breed at Galway & District Show.
Three litters were registered in 1974; one in April by Pride of Allington ex Ballykelly Tolkagh; one in September by Ballykelly Errislannan Liam ex Ch. Ballykelly Molly Mulligan; and one in December by Ballykelly Reamonn ex Moyra of Knockanaffrin. Keady Ardmarcha was transferred to Sheelagh Seale. She was by Ballykelly Trog of Tullygirvan ex Ballykelly Florianna, wh. September 10th, 1973 and bred by Rev. R.G.L. McAlister.
In 1975 at the Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland's Championship Show Ballykelly Errislannan Liam won Limit Dog and the Height Cup. He also won the Green Star and Best of Breed at the Poodle Association Show, Monkstown Show, Galway Show and the Irish Breeds Show.
There were two litters registered in 1975; both by Ballykelly Reamonn and one in June out of Alenna of Kildimo and the other in August out of Avonmare. Alenna of Kildimo was bred by Mrs. Sheehy, by Ballyseedy Boy out of Ahaisgih of Sherua, wh. April 22nd, 1971.
There were three litters registered in 1976, all by Elpyk Balbriggan. One litter was out of Ballykelly Tolkagh; one out of Ballykelly Blarney; and the third out of Gulliagh Falcarragh. Gulliagh Falcarragh was bred by T.N. Finney, by Ardgour of Nendrum ex Ballykelly Mary, wh. January 25th, 1973.
In 1976 at the Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland's Championship Show Sheelagh Seale's Ballykelly Errislannon Liam won the O'Meara Cup for the tallest Irish Wolfhound; Boroughbury Thornwick Aran won Best Veteran and the Boroimhe Brood Bitch Trophy; and Ballykelly Banshee won Novice B and the Corcoran Memorial for best Novice. Liam was the only Champion made up in this year.
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| Ch. Ballykelly Errislannon Liam | |
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| Judge Zena Andrews with Sheelagh Seale and Ballykelly Banshee, Best Novice Dog or Bitch |
Sheelagh Seale with Boroughbury Thornwick Aran, Judge
Zena Andrews, and two of Aran's progeny Chs. Boroughbury Jolly and Justice |
In 1977 at the St. Patrick's Day Show Sheelagh Seale's Gulliagh Falcarragh won Reserve Bitch. Ch. Ballykelly Errislannon Liam won the Green Star and Best of Breed at the Dublin Dog Show.
There were two litters in 1977, both by Elpyk Balbriggan; one out of Ballykelly Bunbeg and one out of Gulliagh Falcarragh.
In 1978 Nord. Ch. Ballykelly Rogan, owned by Mr. I. Ehrlund, Finland won Best in Show at the Irish Wolfhound Club of Finland show, and at The Irish Wolfhound Club of Sweden's Championship Show, Judge Gen. A.W. DeQuoy. Rogan was by Bernard of Cordogan ex Ir. Ch. Molly Mulligan.
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| The Irish Wolfhound Club of Sweden's Championship
Show, 1978 l to r: Int. & Nord. Ch. Silly-Sallie, Judge: Gen. DeQouy, Best in Show Nord. Ch. Ballykelly Rogan |
It was in 1978 that Ir. Ch. Molly Mulligan died, as did Ch. & Norwegian Ch. Ballykelly Reamonn. Ballykelly Alice won the Green Star at the I.K.C. Show. A Ballykelly advertisement in this year showed Ch. Ballykelly Errislannan Liam and U.S.A. Ch. Ballykelly Banshee.
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| Liam was by Ir. & Nord. Ch. Ballykelly Reamonn ex Ballinteer Cara, wh. June 22nd, 1973, br. Miss S. Brooks |
Banshee was by Ballykelly Errislannan Liam ex Ballykelly Molly Mulligan, wh. September 10th, 1974 and owned by Sue and Dick Merzon |
It was about 1978 that the ownership of the Ballykelly hounds changed to Sheelagh Seale together with John Hughes, a gundog breeder, and there were no litters registered either in Ireland or England in that year. In 1979 there were two litters registered in Ireland - one by Carrokeel Coolbregh MacEoin ex Deirdre of Knockanaffrin, and the other by Carrokeel Coillte Merlin ex Gulliagh Falcarragh. In 1980 there were three litters registered in Ireland; a repeat of the Carrokeel Coolbregh MacEoin/Gulliagh Falcarragh; one by Moonvoy Rory Oh Aodha ex Ballykelly Fiaghta-Finnola; and one by Nutstown King ex Dunleary Eilean Og. In 1981 there were five litters.
There were no Ballykelly registrations or transfers made with the English Kennel Club in 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, and no CCs nor any of the Irish Wolfhound Club Trophies were won by Ballykelly hounds during this period. In the period 1982 to 1984 there were two registrations; one in September, 1983 for Ballykelly Deargeragh, wh. May 15th, 1982, by Nutstown King ex Dunleary Eilean Og, and one in May, 1984 for Ballykelly Carragan, wh. May 19th, 1981, by Nutstown King ex Gulliagh Falcarragh.
In 1982 Sheelagh Seale judged the Irish Breeds Championship Show. There were no Ballykelly Green Star winners in this year. There was just one litter registered with the IKC. In 1983 there were two litters registered with the IKC, one being another repeat of the Nutstown King/Dunleary Eilean Og breeding.
In 1983 Mr. George Pritchard's Ballykelly Sadi was winner of the Junior Tankard for Best Junior Dog or Bitch; Miss S. Seale & Mr. J. Hughes' Ballykelly To Agori Mou won the Corcoran Memorial Cup for the Best Novice Dog or Bitch; and their Ballykelly Kelly won the Bournstream No. 1 Cup for Best of Opposiste Sex to winner of the Memorial Cup, and was Best Novice Bitch and winner of Graduate Bitch. There were no Ballykelly Green Star winners in this year.
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| Ballykelly Sadi | Ballykelly To Agori Mou |
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Ballykelly Kelly |
In 1984 at the Golden Jubilee Championship Show, Ballykelly Kelly, owned by Miss Seale and Mr. J. Hughes, was the winner of a new Trophy for Best of Opposite Sex to the winner of Tullygirvan Trophy, Tara Memorial Trophy for the tallest and most sound bitch at the show, the Moonvoy Memorial Cup for any dog or bitch present at the show which has never won a Green Star or C.C., and Reserve Green Star Bitch. Mr. G. Pritchard's Ballykelly Doolagh was the winner of the O'Meara Perpetual Challenge Cup for the tallest I.W. at the show. No Gold Stars or CCs were won this year, but Miss Seale's and Mr. Hughes' Ballykelly To Agori Mou won Post Graduate Dog at Belfast Championship Show. In 1987 Ballykelly To Agori Mou - then owned by Mrs. K. Kelly - won the Green Star and BoB at the Combined Canine Club.
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| Ballykelly Kelly | Ballykelly Doolagh |
There were two litters registered with the IKC in 1984, and one of the Nutstown King/Gulliagh Falcarragh litter from 1981 was registered with the English KC. Two litters were registered with the IKC in 1985, one in 1986, one in 1987, two in 1988 and one in 1989, which was the last. One from this litter - Count of Ballykelly, by Chieftain of Nutstown ex Ballykelly Dhu - became a New Zealand Champion.
In 1986 Sheelagh Seale was made the first Patron of the Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland.
The Ballykelly hounds had a marked influence on the breed worldwide, producing many champions in many different countries. For example, Ballykelly Colin sired 26 champions in the United States. Ballykelly Dalkey sired 10 champions, Ballykelly Galway and Ballykelly Powerscourt Tomas each sired 6; Ballykelly Brackenford Raider and Ballykelly Cavin each sired 5, and another twenty-four Ballykelly hounds sired between 1 and 4 champions. Ballykelly Biddy Flanagan and Ballykelly Rosie O'Grady were each the dam of 7 champions and another twenty-seven bitches were the dams of between 1 and 5 champions. Ballykelly hounds formed the foundation stock of many of the influential kennels around the world today.
Sheelagh died February 9th, 1992, having been back in England for a few months, living with Elizabeth Pyke of the Elpyk Irish Wolfhounds. She was buried in Ireland next to her mother, Ida Mary Seale, and her friends collected money for a tombstone, which was then put up over the grave, with Sheelagh's last surviving wolfhound in attendance.
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| In Memory of Ida Mary Seale and her daughter Sheelagh Seale |
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October 27th, 2015