New Members Always Welcome
Contact Details:
Secretary - Tom O`Regan / 087-2400276
Chairman - John Barron / 087-4102925
Email:Irishfancycanarysociety@gmail
History of the Irish Fancy Canary Society
This is the story of the Irish Fancy Canary Society on how it was formed and where it is today. In the beginning the Irish Fancy Canary was known as the Roller Canary and at the time was very competitive. The roller classes provided then were smaller; consequently, the numbers in each class were quite large. At that time judges performed the task of placing awards according to what pleased them, since there was no recognized standard of excellence laid down due to the non existence of a specialist society. The formation of the I.F.C.S in 1975 introduced and adopted a standard of excellence and the Irish fancy canary came into existence. It was difficult in the beginning as show cages came in all shapes and sizes. The introduction of a standard show cage was met with a lot of opposition from members and were slow to conform with the new specifications laid down. A two-year transition was allowed for the change over and it was eventually accepted.
The influx of new members to the society is still increasing yearly. In the early years The Aviculture Society of Ireland was a committee of delegates of the cage bird societies in Ireland who held meetings and staged the National show for many years. This Committee appointed 5 judges to set a standard for the Irish Fancy Canary in 1974 at a meeting held in Dublin. Those present on that day were Eddie Darcy founder member of the society who still to this day is a very active member of the club, he has helped promote the society both at home and abroad and is a well known judge north and south of Ireland. Other former members present that day were Bill Garnet, Jimmy Hogan, Lily Claffey,and a team of Irish Fancy Canaries from all over Ireland, the bird with the best standard type to the Irish Fancy Canary was a yellow cock belonging to J. Jones.
On that day in 1974 the Irish fancy was born.
The Irish Fancy canary as the name suggests is peculiar to Ireland and to southern Ireland in particular, and has now gained similar popularity in Northern Ireland due to the excellent promotion of the Irish Fancy Canary by Paul O’Kane and the late Robert Swann. The original Irish fancy canary was in fact a Roller Canary, and indeed was known as the Irish Roller for many years. Nowadays, however they should not be confused in any way with the roller canary which is of course strictly a bird of song. The Irish Fancy were first shown as type birds a long the east coast of Ireland, particularly in the town and county of Wexford and one of the early devotees of the bird as a type bird was J.Jones of Wexford town. As time passed however the popularity of the Irish fancy spread all over the country. Initially there was no standard of judging, normally judges looked for the neatest and perhaps the most colorful bird as first prize winner. However, as time passed a type bird started to emerge and fanciers and judges began to agree on the type of the bird they were looking for as an exhibition Irish Fancy Canary.
In February 1975 several of the more devoted fanciers got together and formed The Irish Fancy Canary Society whose aim it was to promote the Irish Fancy Canary as a show bird of type and the show cage was fully accepted countrywide and in those days the odd non standard would still end up at shows.
The society has contributed in no small way to the development of the Irish Fancy Canary and the dream of the first president Ned Meagher has now been realized to see the Irish fancy canary at the National Exhibition of Cage&Aviary Birds but now it has gone further afield, in 2008 at Hasselt Belgium the Irish Fancy canary was accepted at the world show, through excellent work by Eddie Darcy & Maurice O Connor whom I must say has put a lot of time and energy into promoting the Irish Fancy Canary in both Great Britain and on the world stage i.e. the world show. Since then the Irish Fancy Canary has spread its wings worldwide, to the following countries Italy Germany, Belgium, Holland Spain & France, they are also in America thanks to the great work of Brian Byrne & Paul Cruise who imported the first shipment of Irish fancies to America with the help of Maurice O`Connor.
The Irish Fancy Canary is available in all the usual colors and no colour feeding is permitted or necessary and given a good moult these birds can show themselves to their best advantage in a standard show cage. The Irish Fancy canary must be close rung with society rings which is strictly enforced under club rules. At present 750 birds are being exhibited at our Annual show which is held in conjunction with the Arklow Bird Keepers Society each November.
Since those days back in the 70’s a lot of changes have taken place with the society, the show cage has got a complete overhaul with bosses added to the perches and a carrying hole added to the cage as well and a change of colour. The standard of The Irish Fancy has been improved as well with regard to type, colour and feather quality and these improvements have been helped immensely by such people as Tim Watson (Rip), Noel Perryman (Rip), Johnny Southern (Rip) Eddie Darcy, John Dowling, Bernard O Brien, John Kealy, Garvan McGee & Chairman John Barron along with our long time Secretary Tom O`Regan who makes sure everything runs smoothly whilst not forgetting our counterparts in Northern Ireland & England especially Paul O`Kane who does outstanding work promoting the bird in Northern Ireland.
The Society is going from strength to strength. Over the years many people have put a lot of their time into the promotion and development of The Irish Fancy canary. Some of these people have gone to the great aviary in the sky, others have retired from the hobby for one reason or another, but when you meet those fanciers that have retired, they will always ask how is the fancy keeping.
The society’s 50th anniversary has being held in conjunction with the Arklow&District Bird keepers Society on the 15th & 16th November 2025 and is been judged by Paul O’Kane, John Barron & John Vaughan, the first 50 exhibitors entered will receive a commemorative medallion from the club to mark the occasion.
Anybody requiring more information about our lovely little bird why not contact Tom O’Regan
P.R.O. I.F.C.S.
0872400276
Mrs. Carmel Bolger
At the inaugural A.G.M. held in 1976 Mrs. C. Bolger was appointed Secretary and was secretary until her untimely passing in 2013, her husband Matt was treasurer for many years. As secretary to the club she did immense work for the society. Not only did she take membership for the society, she also supplied rings to exhibitors and did all paperwork for society shows and also helped in presenting prizes at shows, she was truly a remarkable woman for all the work she did for the society. Mrs. Bolger attended the English national on many occasions promoting the society.
Irish Fancy Canary Standard
IFCS Colour Classifications
Allocation Of Points Below
HEAD = 25 points: Small narrow and neat, rising slightly from a small beak with good, clear eye.
BODY = 15 points: Width across the shoulders 1 1/4 inches (33mm). Length 1 / 5 inches (127mm). The body is tapered in proportion. Wings closely folded, showing neck.
PLUMAGE = 15 points: Close firm, giving a clear cut appearance of good natural colour.
MOVEMENT = 15 points: Alert with quick and lively movements. Position on perch, 65 degrees to 75 degrees.
TAIL = 10 points: Closely folded and well carried.
LEGS/FEET = 5 points: Medium length, showing thigh.
GENERAL CONDITION = 15 points: Health and cleanliness.
SHOW CAGE STANDARDS
Show Cage Dimensions / Front Elevation
Show Cage Dimensions / End Elevation
Standard Show Cage Image
IFCS National Roll Of Honour
2024 John Kealy
2023 J&F Quinn
2022 Kevin Oates
2021 Covid (No Show)
2020 Covid (No Show)
2019 Paul Brogan
2018 Tim Watson
2017 John Barron
2016 Eugene Healy
2015 Paul Brogan
2014 Paul Brogan
2013 Eugene Healy
2012 Gavin Craven
2011 Tim Watson
2010 Kevin Farrell
2009 Vinny Brennan
2008 John Byrne
2007 Bernard O'Brien
2006 John Tutty
2005
2004 Tim Watson
2003 Tim Watson
2002
2001 John Kealy
2000 John Quinn
1999
1998 John Kealy
1997 J&C Southern
1996
1995 J&C Southern
1994
1993
1992 T&D Watson
1991
1990 J&C Southern
1989 J&C Southern
1988 G. Mortell
1987 Jerry O`Callaghan
1986 Mick White
1985
1984 Gary Kelly
1983
1982
1981
1980
1979
1978
1977
1976
1975
IFCS Exhibitor Of The Year List
Another great iniative that is proving very popular since introduced back in 2018.
YEAR CHAMPION NOVICE
2024 John Kealy Darren Kearns
2023 J&F Quinn Victor Sullivan
2022 John Dowling Kevin Oates
2021 Covid (No Show) Covid (No Show)
2020 Covid (No Show) Covid (No Show)
2019 Paul Brogan Bernard Watt
2018 Tim Watson Bernard Watt
Show Season Events & Preparation Tips
PRESIDENTS TRIP TO THE STATES
Judging In America
In early 2024 I was asked by Niall Hyde and Brian Byrne of the Irish Fancy Canary Club of America if I would be interested in judging at the American 76th National Show as the Irish Fancy Canary was due to be granted its own division (section). It was to be the first new division to be added in twenty years! I of course was honoured to do so, especially as I had judged the inaugural show for the Irish Fancy at the English National in the NEC thirty years previous. In the middle of November 2024 myself and my wife Vera headed off to Knoxville, Tennessee.
We arrived a few days early which helped us to settle in. Unlike shows at this side of the world, judging was on the Friday and open on Saturday. On the Thursday we bumped into Border Judge John Furley and his wife Marie in our Hotel and the amazing thing was that even though John and myself had been showing and judging around Ireland for over 40 years we had never met. That night there was a reception for the judges and officials and it was a chance to meet fellow judges from far and wide. I met Jim Heffernan (Parrots) who I hadn’t seen since he left Ireland 30 years previously and another man I hadn’t seen for a few years since he lived in Cork was Darren Gill ( Glosters). I also had the pleasure of meeting Adam Raine ( Fifes)and a man I have admired from afar for many years Kieth Ferry ( Type Canaries). I also enjoyed a pleasant conversation with Linda Hogan (Stafford).We met the hardworking and friendly board members of the American National Committee headed up by President Frank Horan.
We were up early the next morning and all the judges met up for a breakfast meeting in our hotel, where we were given our instructions and momento’s and then headed off to the hall in the World Exhibition Centre nearby. After a short opening ceremony and a fine rendition of the American National Anthem by a gentleman with a powerful voice, the Judges were introduced to their stewards who accompanied them to their judging benches.At this stage I was wondering had they forgotten me as I was the only one left. But I shouldn’t have worried (or maybe I should!). As I already mentioned it was the first time for the Irish Fancy Division so they wanted to make it a bit special and they did. A lone Piper swung into action and I soon found myself marching behind her accompanied by Brain Byrne and Frank Horan ,down through the hall, to the strains of “Irish Eyes are Smiling”, to the decorated judging staging where I cut a big green ribbon to get things started. After all that excitement I had to settle down and judge the 100 plus birds on the benches with the help of my chief steward Niall Hyde. The standard of birds was better then I had expected and I enjoyed going through the classes and picking out my final top ten birds. I gave my Best Bird to a very smart flighted Clear Buff Hen owned by Brain Byrne.
It was the first time that I judged birds under the bench lights system and while it is not perfect it was consistent ,the type was easy to get right but sometimes it was hard to get the colour right (yellow or buff ). But having said that it is a lot better than some of the conditions I have judged in the past. Another small thing was they had rubber mats under the judging bench, it may have been for health and safety reasons ( ie. Electricity on a metal bench) but it made the hours of standing a lot easier. One of main things I noticed was that birds were on tables rather than the traditional three row staging that we are used to, which makes it more difficult to check out one’s bird after the judging. Only the winners were displayed on the judges benches but I guess for an organisation that is spread out over so many States and a show not necessarily been on at the same venue every year it would be difficult to have that much staging hanging around.
That evening back at our hotel there was a banquet for all involved in the show along with family and friends that resulted in a very pleasant evening. Next day it was back to the show hall and the Judges gathered again to pick the Best in Show, we all had to give a small talk on our bird and then we voted. The Gloster was deemed to be the winner much to the delight Darren Gill. There was an area for bird sales that sold members birds for a small fee and there was a great variety of birds available. In another area there was something I hadn’t seen before, a silent auction, where birds are placed on a stage alongside a sheet of paper. You place your name and your bid on the page and the highest bid at 12 pm got the bird, I’d say a few bargains where had! There was also a lot of bird products available to buy but everything was more or less the same as we have over here. The Show came to an end with a public AGM of the American National Show which was interesting and a short closing ceremony.
That night we had a get together of old and new friends we made and said our goodbyes as we were leaving early the next morning. On Sunday morning as our plane left the airport and flew back over Knoxville I was able to look down on the Exhibition Centre and I couldn’t help thinking how did that fourteen year old boy who 56 years ago walked into his first show, end up here.
Yours Truly
IFCS President Mr. John Dowling.