Garryowen champions collar. UPDATE: THIS MADE 6,600 AT HAMMER
Garryowen was far from your average red setter. The champions collar of an animal who was mentioned in James Joyces’ Ulysses, accorded an obituary in the Chicago Tribune and whose portrait is in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland, comes up at the eclectic collector sale at Whyte’s on Molesworth St. in Dublin on May 6. Suspended with engraved medals representing each of his 37 firsts the collar is estimated at 800-1,200.
Owned by James Giltrap, Joyce’s uncle, Garryowen began winning shows in the 1880’s. When he won the Grand Prix de Honeur at the Belgian Kennel Club and Limerick tobacco manufacturers the Spillanes named a new tobacco product Garryowen as a “Setter of quality”. Wearing his champions collar Garryowen appeared on enamel signs throughout the country. Three versions of the sign are in the sale with estimate of 150-400.