Irish Wolfhound Association of the Carolinas
North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia
* IWRMS also provides rescue currently in Georgia and Florida
Events: Meet the Breed
As responsible owners, we believe in educating ourselves and the public about the Irish Wolfhound. Every time an owner is in public with their dogs, they are approached by people who want to know more and meet the hounds. Below are examples of previous events we've participated in to help educate the public on the breed. Upcoming events where you can meet hounds and talk to owners can be found here and by joining our Facebook group. "Irish Wolfhound Association of the Mid South (IWAC)". You may also email us from the "Contact" button at the top far right. We have ongoing events throughout the year. Plans and events change from year to year so check back for new opportunities to meet the hounds.
St. Patrick's Day Parades and Irish Festivals
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Every March the entire southeast comes out for the "Wearin' o' the Green." Our Irish Wolfhounds are no different, and are an integral part of many of the community celebrations. Club members with their hounds have led the Raleigh Saint Patrick's Day Parade for over 15 years. In recent years we've begun participating in the Charlotte, NC, Charleston and Greenville, SC and Norfolk, VA and Savannah, GA parades as well. St. Patrick's Day Parades in region draw tens of thousands of people into their downtown areas. Irish Wolfhounds traditionally lead the parades and would guard the pipers from ambush or attack. We also participate in Celtic heritage festivals during the year in Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia, Greenville and Camden, South Carolina and Wake Forest, Raleigh and Asheville, North Carolina. Where we can we set up an educational meet-the-breed tent where hundreds of people stop by to meet and greet the hounds, ask questions, and pick up various literature on the breed.
AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day
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Held in the Holhouser Building at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, IWAC members and friends have a table at this educational event for the day where the public and meet and greet the breed in person, ask questions, and pick up literature on irish wolfhounds. Each year the Responsible Dog Ownership Day is held on the first or second Saturday in September. For a schedule of events, go to: http://www.akc.org/events/responsible-dog-ownership-days/raleigh-flagship-event/
Irish Cultural Events
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On July 18, 2015 IWAC members and friends participated in the inaugural opening ceremonies for the first Virginia Coastal Cup for Hurling and Camogie in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Event organizers wanted irish cultural touches for the teams who were participating. We had an educational tent and 16 hounds and owners participating. Photo at left courtesy of Erin Morrissey.
IWAC members and friends
also were invited to attend the
Winston-Salem Wolfhounds
Gaelic Football Cup on July 25,
2015 for the first time also In
between matches, we met
the teams and their families
and answered questions
with the hounds, followed
by a team picture. After,
all retired to the Foothills
Tasting Room where we met
more of the public, answered
questions about the breed,
and posed for pictures. Photo
at left courtesy of Rebecca
O'Donovan.
Celtic Festivals
Members and their wolfhounds attend numerous Irish and Celtic Festivals throughout our region. We are proud of our reputation as ambassadors of the breed, and truly enjoy getting to meet and interact with the public while sharing the magic of the Irish Wolfhound. Some of the events we attend annually include the Asheville Celtic Festival, in Asheville, NC, Irish Fest Camden, in Camden, SC, Richmond Highland Games in Richmond, VA, and Montpelier Celtic Festival in Montpelier, VA.
Specialty Show
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In September, 2023, IWAC held our inaugural Irish Wolfhound Specialty in Raleigh, NC. A Specialty is a conformation show limited to one specific breed. This first show was held in conjunction with the Labor Day Cluster in September, and we were graciously hosted by the Durham Kennel Club. Our next Specialty show (pending AKC approval) will be a standalone, and will be held at the Fayetteville Kennel Club in Fayetteville, NC, on Saturday and Sunday April 19 and 20, 2025. A specialty is a fantastic opportunity for you to see lots of Irish Wolfhounds, plus meet and mingle with owners and responsible breeders. Our show is open to the public and we love to see spectators out in support of the breed.