Native Breeds Series: The Irish (Red) Setter

Chestnut red against the green of Ireland — the Irish Red Setter is more than a dog. It’s a memory, a myth, and for many, a marker of home. In this episode, we trace the story of the Irish Red Setter from windswept fields and aristocratic kennels to postal stamps and Bus Éireann buses. Elegant, tireless, and deeply Irish, this breed has long been a symbol of both national pride and quiet perseverance. We’ll explore how a hunting dog born of necessity became an emblem of identity — shaped by landlords and labourers, loved in literature, and nearly lost to fashion. And along the way, we’ll ask what it means to carry a country’s memory in your bones — even if you walk on four legs.