Malachy Wins Top Dog At Westminster, And A Retrospective Of Past Champions

Oak Tree's Irishtocrat

Year Won: 1979 Breed: Spaniel (Irish Water) Owner: Mrs Anne E Snelling Name Helped Because: While the Irish have had a long history of persecution in the United States, the latter half of the 20th century saw increased acceptance of this once marginalized group, particularly after the 1960 Presidential election of John F. Kennedy.  The Westminster Dog Show was a little late in their election of a Gaelic canine candidate, but the dog's punny name, "Irishtocrat," cleverly evokes the elevated status of the Irish within American high society. [Photo via]