Tipperary Foxhounds Puppy Show. Image by Dickie Power.
Since 1909 the IMFHA have held an annual hound show, which until 1985 was held in Clonmel, Co Tipperary. For a number of years it was then held at Clonshire, Co. Limerick, but since 2000 it takes places at Stradbally Hall, Co. Laois. Many valuable cups are eagerly competed for by packs from all over Ireland. Over the years Irish packs have shown their best hounds at the world-renowned Peterborough Royal Foxhound Show in the UK and have successfully won coveted prizes beating hounds from the top British packs.
Foxhounds are registered in the Foxhound Kennel Stud Book, which began in 1800 to trace the pedigrees of hounds. Irish hounds are well regarded abroad and Irish stallion hounds are routinely used by packs across the Irish Sea. Masters of Foxhounds from Ireland are regularly invited to judge at British hound shows, giving them the opportunity to compare and contrast the various bloodlines.