The Irish wolfhound has been chosen as a key feature for plans for a new Irish passport redesign.
Plans have been made for the famous dog breed, the Irish wolfhound, to be featured in proposed new Irish passport designs.
An image of the renowned breed will be featured on new passport books after it emerged as the nation’s favourite animal, thanks to the results of a public consultation.
The Irish wolfhound – a famous breed of Irish dog
Irish wolfhounds are a famous ancient Irish dog breed and one of the world’s largest breeds of dogs.
The modern breed of Irish wolfhounds we have was developed in the late 19th century by G.A. Graham, who aimed to accurately recreate Ireland’s then-extinct ancient Irish wolfhounds.
Irish wolfhounds have long played an important role in Irish history and culture. Today, they are an important part of Irish symbolism. Tánaiste Micheál Martin gave his approval on the initial designs and also meat Boánn, the dog that inspired the new illustrations.
“As well as seeing the initial designs, I was delighted to meet Boánn, the majestic wolfhound, who has inspired some of the intricate artwork that will feature in our next-generation passport.
“The Irish wolfhound was the most popular animal chosen by the public in our recent public consultation. [It] will feature prominently in our new passport,” Martin said of the symbolic importance of the Irish wolfhound.
Irish passport – an often sought-after item
The Irish passport is regarded as very powerful, as it is currently ranked third on the Passport Index. At the minute, it provides visa-free access to over 190 countries.
After seeing a preview of the new passport’s designs, Martin stressed the importance of an Irish passport for the people of Ireland.
Martin said, “The Irish passport is a vital document of the Irish State that provides citizens with visa-free access to 192 countries. This redesign is fundamental to maintaining the integrity and reputation of the Irish passport worldwide.
“It was important to see first-hand how the design team is transforming the public’s input into a coherent passport design”.
The Irish Kennel Club – educating Ireland’s dog owners
The Irish Kennel Club aims to promote the responsible ownership and breeding of dogs throughout the country. They suggested that interest in the Irish wolfhound experienced a revival thanks to growing Irish nationalism in the late 1800s.
They also explain that the original Irish wolfhound was established in Ireland as early as the first century AD.
In the 15th century, every county in Ireland was required by law to keep 24 wolfdogs to protect farmers’ flocks from the threat of wolf attacks. The gradual disappearance of the wolf in Ireland caused the overall decline in the original Irish wolfhound.
