Championship titles › Ireland
Championship title guide · Cairn Terrier · for exhibitors from any country
Ireland
Irish Kennel Club (IKC) / Cumann Cróchon na hÉireann · Irish Kennel Club · ikc.ie
Irish Champion
Seven Green Stars under seven different judges at Irish Kennel Club Championship Shows. The IKC confirmed to us that there is no time limit, that one Green Star must be won after 15 months, and that a dog registered with The Kennel Club (UK) must first be registered with the IKC to show.
Certificates
7 Green Stars
How they must be split
- 7at any IKC Championship Show
- The rule of 2 under IKC judges is for Irish native breeds only.
Judges
7
different judges (Rule 194)
Official rulesTime gap
None
no minimum and no time limit
Confirmed by kennel clubMinimum age
15 mo
for at least 1 Green Star
Confirmed by kennel clubMust also
IKC registration
- No DNA or health test for the title (IKC email).
- A UK-registered dog must be registered with the IKC before it can show (EUR 33, original form by post).
Already a champion elsewhere?
Not for UK dogs
The Rule 192 route for foreign champions does not accept a UK title, as the Royal Kennel Club is not in the FCI. A UK dog needs all 7 Green Stars.
Confirmed by kennel clubHow we label each factConfirmed by kennel clubthe kennel club confirmed it to us by emailOfficial rulesfrom the published rulesGovernment travel rulefrom government pet travel pagesTo be confirmedwe are still checking
Requirements for the dog
- Age
- At least 1 Green Star won after 15 months (Rule 198). No other age rule. Confirmed by kennel club
- Registration
- Must be registered with the IKC to show under IKC rules. For a dog registered with The Kennel Club (UK): fill in IKC form 0S1, pay EUR 33.00 and send a copy of the UK registration certificate showing you as owner. The original must be posted, not emailed. Confirmed by kennel club
- Identification
- No microchip, vaccination or passport rule for the title itself. Travel rules still apply (see below). Confirmed by kennel club
- Dogs from abroad
- Allowed once registered with the IKC. Rule 112 also allows registrations from other FCI kennel clubs. Confirmed by kennel club
- Where to win
- Green Stars at IKC Championship Shows. The rule of 2 under IKC judges is for Irish native breeds only, not the Cairn. A CACIB does not count towards the title: Green Stars are separate. Official rules
- Foreign champion
- Rule 192: a champion from another FCI country with a reciprocal arrangement becomes Irish Champion on winning a Green Star at an International Show. The IKC did not say which countries count, or whether a UK champion title counts. To be confirmed
- DNA or health
- None for the title. Confirmed by kennel club
- Working or terrier rule
- None for the Cairn. Official rules
- Reserve certificates
- To be confirmed. Not found in the rules we read. To be confirmed
- Owner residence
- To be confirmed. Not found in the rules we read. To be confirmed
How to claim the title
- Register with the IKCBefore showing: form 0S1, EUR 33.00, a copy of the UK registration certificate, original by post.
- Win the Green Stars7 Green Stars under 7 different judges, at least 1 after 15 months.
- Receive the diplomaThere is no application. The IKC sends an A4 championship diploma once the Green Stars are complete.
FormNone for the title (0S1 to register)FeeNot stated (EUR 33.00 to register)ConfirmedIKC emails, 3 Nov 2026
Confirmed by kennel club Registration and the diploma were confirmed by the IKC.
Good to know
- The IKC confirmed there is no deadline between Green Stars.
- Seven different judges are needed, so plan for many shows.
- Register with the IKC early: the form has to go by post.
Ready to show? · official places to enter
Where to enter a show in Ireland
- IKC show datesAccount: No · English: YesIrish Kennel Club show dates.
- DogShowEntry.ieAccount: Yes, register as a new user · English: YesOnline entries for Irish shows.
Next stepPick a show from the calendar, then enter on DogShowEntry.ie.
Travel and entry requirements
These are European Union pet travel rules, not kennel club rules. What applies depends on the country the dog travels from. For every group: up to 5 dogs per trip. More are allowed only for a show, competition or sporting event, with written proof that the dogs are entered, and all dogs over 6 months old. Ireland follows the European Union pet travel rules. Source: European Commission and national government pages, accessed 3 Nov 2026. Rules change, so check again before every trip.
Arriving from an EU countryGovernment travel rule
Any other EU country, for example Germany, France or Italy.
- Microchip
- Microchip, fitted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination (otherwise the dog must be vaccinated again). A clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is also accepted.
- Rabies
- Valid rabies vaccination, given at 12 weeks or older and not before the microchip. The first vaccination is valid after 21 days. A booster given before the last one runs out keeps cover with no wait.
- Titre test
- Not required.
- Document
- EU pet passport, filled in by an authorised vet, showing the microchip number, the rabies vaccination and any tapeworm treatment.
- Tapeworm
- Required for dogs. A vet treats the dog with praziquantel (or a product proven to work as well) 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival in Ireland, and records it in the passport. Not needed if you come straight from Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway.
- Entry point
- No travellers' point of entry is needed. Those checks are only for dogs coming from outside the EU.
- Pre-notice
- Not stated.
Arriving from Great BritainGovernment travel rule
England, Scotland and Wales. The EU treats Great Britain as a listed non-EU country. Northern Ireland follows EU rules.
- Microchip
- Microchip, fitted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination (otherwise the dog must be vaccinated again). A clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is also accepted.
- Rabies
- Valid rabies vaccination, given at 12 weeks or older and not before the microchip. The first vaccination is valid after 21 days. A booster given before the last one runs out keeps cover with no wait.
- Titre test
- Not required. Great Britain is on the EU list of non-EU countries that need no titre test.
- Document
- EU animal health certificate, issued by an official vet (or an authorised vet, endorsed by the authorities) in the country you leave, plus your signed declaration that the trip is not commercial (no sale or change of owner). It is valid for 10 days from issue until the check at the first EU point of entry (longer by the length of a sea crossing), then for up to 6 months for travel between EU countries, or until the rabies vaccination runs out if that is sooner. A dog living in Great Britain cannot use a pet passport, even one issued in the EU. The same certificate covers the onward drive, so it still works if you enter the EU in, for example, France or Italy and then travel on to Ireland. You need a new certificate for each trip.
- Tapeworm
- Required for dogs. A vet treats the dog with praziquantel (or a product proven to work as well) 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival in Ireland, and records it in the certificate.
- Entry point
- Your first stop in the EU must be a travellers' point of entry, where you tell the officials you have a dog so they can check it and the papers. If you come straight to Ireland, use one of the places on Ireland's list.
- Ports
- From Great Britain, dogs may only enter Ireland at Cork Airport, Dublin Airport, Dublin Port, Shannon Airport, the Port of Cork at Ringaskiddy or Rosslare Europort.
- Pre-notice
- Required. Give advance notice and book a compliance check on arrival. There is no charge for checks on pets from Great Britain.
- Going home
- Back to Great Britain: tapeworm treatment by a vet 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before you arrive, unless you come straight from Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland. Treat again within 28 days of getting home.
Arriving from a listed non-EU countryGovernment travel rule
Countries on the EU list (Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2026/636), for example Australia, Canada, Japan, Serbia or the USA. Check your country on the European Commission list.
- Microchip
- Microchip, fitted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination (otherwise the dog must be vaccinated again). A clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is also accepted.
- Rabies
- Valid rabies vaccination, given at 12 weeks or older and not before the microchip. The first vaccination is valid after 21 days. A booster given before the last one runs out keeps cover with no wait.
- Titre test
- Not required.
- Document
- EU animal health certificate, issued by an official vet (or an authorised vet, endorsed by the authorities) in the country you leave, plus your signed declaration that the trip is not commercial (no sale or change of owner). It is valid for 10 days from issue until the check at the first EU point of entry (longer by the length of a sea crossing), then for up to 6 months for travel between EU countries, or until the rabies vaccination runs out if that is sooner.
- Tapeworm
- Required for dogs. A vet treats the dog with praziquantel (or a product proven to work as well) 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival in Ireland, and records it in the certificate.
- Entry point
- Your first stop in the EU must be a travellers' point of entry, where you tell the officials you have a dog so they can check it and the papers. If you come straight to Ireland, use one of the places on Ireland's list.
- Pre-notice
- Not stated.
- Exceptions
- Dogs from Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland or Vatican City (Annex I) can travel on a pet passport from that country and do not need a travellers' point of entry.
Arriving from an unlisted non-EU countryGovernment travel rule
Any other country outside the EU that is not on either EU list.
- Microchip
- Microchip, fitted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination (otherwise the dog must be vaccinated again). A clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is also accepted.
- Rabies
- Valid rabies vaccination, given at 12 weeks or older and not before the microchip. The first vaccination is valid after 21 days. A booster given before the last one runs out keeps cover with no wait.
- Titre test
- Required. A vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least 90 days before the health certificate is issued. A laboratory approved by the EU must find at least 0.5 IU/ml, and a copy of its report goes with the certificate. Not needed again if every booster is given before the last one runs out.
- Document
- EU animal health certificate, issued by an official vet (or an authorised vet, endorsed by the authorities) in the country you leave, plus your signed declaration that the trip is not commercial (no sale or change of owner). It is valid for 10 days from issue until the check at the first EU point of entry (longer by the length of a sea crossing), then for up to 6 months for travel between EU countries, or until the rabies vaccination runs out if that is sooner. The titre test result is recorded on the certificate.
- Tapeworm
- Required for dogs. A vet treats the dog with praziquantel (or a product proven to work as well) 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival in Ireland, and records it in the certificate.
- Entry point
- Your first stop in the EU must be a travellers' point of entry, where you tell the officials you have a dog so they can check it and the papers. If you come straight to Ireland, use one of the places on Ireland's list.
- Pre-notice
- Not stated.
Shows in Ireland in 2026 where the Green Star (national certificate) can be won
Every show in 2026 in our show database where the Green Star towards the Ireland title can be won: international (CACIB) shows, which also award the Green Star. Shows on two or three days in a row at the same place are one row. 11 of 16 events in 2026 have a Cairn count. Every CACIB show day also awards the Green Star, so there are 19 chances in 2026: 12 CACIB days plus 7 national-only days.
2026 onlyAll figures and shows below are for this year. Earlier years are not included.
19
chances to win the Green Star in 2026: 12 CACIB show days (each also awards the Green Star) plus 7 national-only days
11 of 16
events in 2026 with a Cairn count
26
Cairns in total, counting each event once at its highest show
2
average Cairns per event, using its highest show (11 events)
0 to 4
smallest and largest event, using its highest show
Counts come from our show database (published results and catalogues). Every show in an event that awards the Green Star is one chance to win it. For an event with several shows, the bar and the figures above use the highest Cairn entry of any show in that event. The CACIB (international certificate) appears only as a label on each row. We have not yet checked the national show calendar of Irish Kennel Club, so national or club shows that award the Green Star may be missing. National and club shows are included only where official results or catalogues show the certificate on offer to or won by Cairns; other national shows may be missing. Fewer entries can mean less competition, but numbers are only one part of the picture.
Members area coming soon. Everything on this page is open to read for now. Later, the claim steps and travel checks will move into a free members area.
Show planner · coming soon
Plan my route to the title
Tell us your dog, your dates and how far you will travel. The planner will suggest which shows to enter, how many Cairns usually compete there, and the travel paperwork for each leg.
"Which Irish Championship Shows have Cairn Green Stars, and under which judges?"Coming soon
My titles · coming soon
My title map
Track the certificates your dog has won and see every country where it holds a title, on one map.
Map preview
Sources
- IKC Show and General Rules (14 Dec 2018), confirmed current by IKC email, ikc.ie
- IKC, becoming a champion, ikc.ie (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
- Emails from the IKC, 3 Nov 2026
- FCI member page, fci.be (30 Oct 2026)
- European Commission, pet travel within the EU, food.ec.europa.eu (accessed 3 Nov 2026)
- European Commission, bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country, food.ec.europa.eu (accessed 3 Nov 2026)
- European Commission, list of non-EU countries and territories, food.ec.europa.eu (accessed 3 Nov 2026)
- European Commission, travellers' points of entry, food.ec.europa.eu (accessed 3 Nov 2026)
- GOV.UK, taking your pet dog abroad, animal health certificate and tapeworm pages, gov.uk (accessed 3 Nov 2026)
- Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, pet travel from Great Britain, pettravel.gov.ie (accessed 3 Nov 2026)
Information is a guide only. Always check the kennel club rules and government travel pages before you travel.