Irish Wolfhound
Introducing Flanagan – The Heart and Hound of Irish Hidden Treasures
I’ve been a huge fan of the Irish Wolfhound all of my life. As a child I piggy backed on one similar to the photo image. What a soft heart and majestic animal. I fell in love at first sight. Unfortunately my parents wouldn’t let me get one, I understood. They’re rare, not because they aren’t loved — but because they’re mighty. They need space, time, and someone who understands they aren’t just dogs… they’re guardians.
🐾 A Breed Steeped in Myth & Majesty
The Irish Wolfhound is one of the oldest and most iconic dog breeds in the world — native to Ireland and once revered by kings, warriors, and poets alike.
- Their Irish name is Cú Faoil (koo-foyle), meaning wolf dog or hound of war
- These giants were used to hunt wolves, protect clans, and were so valued that they were given as royal gifts
- By the 1700s, they were nearly extinct — not for lack of strength, but because they’d done their job too well
They were later revived in the 19th century by breeders who knew Ireland couldn’t lose one of its greatest living treasures.
🐕 Irish Wolfhound Personality
- Calm
- Watchful
- Loyal to a fault
- Silently hilarious
- Never dramatic — but always aware
Basically… your Irish uncle if he was 7 feet tall and covered in shaggy hair.
💚 More Than a Mascot
With so few of his kind in Ireland, Flanagan stands for something precious — not just a rare dog, but a living symbol of Irish heritage, resilience, and humour.
As I was out for a walk a few weeks ago, I met a lovely lady with her Irish wolfhound, I talked to her for ages, learning about her experience with him. He was so placid and friendly and had a deeper wisdom about him. That encounter not only inspired me to do some research on them but also to write this post about our legendary wolf hounds. Learning that there are only 195 registered Irish Wolfhounds in Ireland, I came up with the idea to incorporate them into my passion, Irish words of wisdom and Irish Treasures. So I’ve come up with Flanagan’s laws. Witty, wise and inspirational quotes and saying that I think are probably in the mind of Irish wolfhounds.
Flanagan will be our mascot a presence, a silent force of Irish calm and hopefully we can raise awareness about these magnificent animals and increase their population across the country and indeed the world, lets save them from becoming a dying breed.
Flanagan’s Law #1: Never trust anyone who says “I don’t like tea.”
I would love to help the thousands of Irish and wolfhound lovers and associations showcase and promote these magnificent guardian angels.
📣 Follow #FlanagansLaw for weekly wisdom
And keep your eyes peeled — because soon, Flanagan will be getting his own cartoon version, exclusive designs, and maybe even a podcast (but only if someone else does the talking). Check out the Irish Wolfhound Club of Ireland for more information https://www.iwcofireland.com/about-us/