I'm thinking ahead as one year I would like to do the Irish circuit.  What do you find works best for accommodation, rent a cottage and travel out to each show or is it easier to have a caravan and move show to show. 

I know little or nothing about the Irish shows so fact finding whether its practical for us to do them, whether the whole family and all the dogs do as a holiday or just 2 go with the dog or dogs that we want to show.

Any observations welcomed

I would be interested on any info on this :)

They take place in one of the most beautiful areas in Ireland, if not the world, take the whole family and make a holiday of it!

Where can I get the dates for 2014 - will they be release yet?

I'm going this year as a total novice to the circuit..we have a cottage booked and just need to sort out ferry, registering with IKC and then entering all the shows!!

I think I may have found a potential cottage although will involve a lot of travelling, just need to work out dates

As you show a day miss a day its ideal to go on holiday. You should look at Killorglin, killarney, or beaufort as areas that are accessible.
This comes under co kerry. Good luck hope you enjoy,

I would be very interested in this--we have been over several times and loved it, but never with dogs. I've just had a look on the IKC website but the show calendar doesn't seem to be working. Could anyone point me in the direction of finding out  information about the shows: what time of year we would need to be over for the circuit, where they take place and how we can get hold of entry forms? Thanks in advance :-)

go to http://www.dogshowentry.ie all the shows are on there plus you can enter on line
here for the irish shows 
the month of the irish shows is August .

Thank you brac! Hope we can make it over this year- :-)

We went a few years ago and rented a cottage. Yes it was a fair bit of travelling to the shows but the countryside is lovely and we made a holiday of it. The days off inbetween shows were very relaxing. However all the shows are outside so take a strong gazebo to set up under. It rains a LOT in Ireland and the shelter is great. Try to get one with sides if you can...and expect to have lots of people join you under shelter if it rains...very pally pally !! You will have to show your dog in the open and in the pouring rain if thats what it is doing !!! That is all dogs to from tiny toys to great wolfhounds, coated or not ! We found we had loads of locals comming round to chat, and ask about bying dogs, the show folk are keen to import fresh bloodlines (Certainly in my breed) so be wary but chatty...after all once home you can decide if someone sounded suitable at your lesure! You are pre-judged individually and each dog is given a grading before the class is judged. You will have to be given an excellent grading to go forward for the Green Stars. You still need to win your class but if you win but only had a Good or Very Good grading you cannot compete for a green star.
I think they were glad to see the back of us as in 4 shows we (My frinds and I ) took home 3 B green stars, 3 dog green stars and 4 BOB's....we all graded excellent. As you may imagin we had a great time celebrating ! ;-)
Aileen

There are the 4 circuit shows which are this year Sun 18th Aug, Tues 20th, Thurs 22nd and Sat 24th. There are also 2 other shows to take advantage of while you are there to extend the week in Dublin on Sat 17th then theres also a gundog group show on Sun 25th.

We normally get a cottage somewhere central to all the venues and travel out every other day. This time we are taking 'the blokes' with us so hopefully they can amuse themslves on day trips while we go showing :)

The ciircuit start with the hound show on 17th august, then you move down to clonmel on 18th, killarney on 20th, limerik on 22nd, 24th tralee, the circuit ends. there is a gep 7 and 8 show on the sunday held at thurles the black red and golden cocker club.

Some of the breed clubs of Ireland also have their ch shows in the middle of the circuit run too!!U