CURIOUS HISTORY OF IRISH DOGS (NEW ISLAND BOOKS) (PB)

There are nine breeds of dog that are native to Ireland: four terriers, three gun dogs, and two hounds. Irish Wolfhounds stalked through ancient Celtic mythology, while Kerry Beagles were among the victims of the Land War in the 1880s. The Glen of Imaal Terrier was deliberately bred to have a genetic defect, while the Irish Water Spaniel was reputed to be descended from the dobhar-chú - a Celtic spirit. This book tells the remarkable stories of each of the nine breeds and reveals how they have become inextricably linked to the human beings with whom they share the island.