marilynbraychak@irwsa.com

Hi everyone my name is Marilyn Braychak, I have been a Charter Member of the Association since the beginning (1997) and Treasurer since 1998 with a year off. I was voted back on the Board in 2006.
A little about myself, I’ve had dogs in my life growing up, and when Bob and I were married we purchased our first dog, a German Sheppard “Goldie”, she was treated as a child in the household. When the children arrived she was the protector of the group and did a great job ( she had everyone trained ), as the boys got older they wanted to hunt with their dad, so we purchased an Irish Red Setter “Patrick”. Bob trained and hunted him, and he was a great bird dog that harvested many pheasants while hunting with boys. Before Patrick died from Lyme disease he had the job of training a Golden Retriever “Maddi” on protecting the house and it’s owners. After Patrick crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, Bob begin searching for another dog and saw an article in Gun Dog Magazine on the Irish Red and White Setter, and found a breeder in Mason, New Hamsphire, Lee Robinson, “Robi Lee Irish Red & White Setters”. He called Lee, made an appointment for us to go to meet the dogs, and hopefully pick up his dog, that Sunday as the story go’s. Robi Lee’s Fire Ring aka “Ringo”. After a couple of stops for clean-up, a couple of Roast Beef sandwiches and some fries we made it home, to Milford, Conn. and from then on we were hooked on this breed. Ringo and Bob were the greatest hunting partners, at the Hunt club all the guys wanted to hunt with Ringo. After many years of hunting Ringo, retired to the couch with his best friend “Maddi”. In 2003 sadly Ringo crossed over the Rainbow Bridge. Maddi was at a lost and needed a new partner for the couch, so after anticipating a puppy from Dalriach Alchemy and Autumnwood Great Lady to our disappointment the breeding did not take so we called the Devlin’s at O’Dobhailien’s Kennels and purchased a son of Alchemy, O’Dobhailien Regan “Re” arrived at the Braychak’s household in July of 2005.
As a member of the past and present boards of this Association, the goal from the beginning was to get this beautiful breed accepted into the AKC, and to be able to show our dogs at Westminster. We’ve had many curves in the road, but we stayed on track, and achieved our goal. The breed was accepted into AKC January 1, 2009.