Cork Cat Club
History
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Cork Cat club was formed in 1970 by
a Cobh lady, Mrs. Cecillia Baker, in response to a request by the Show
Manager of the Dublin-based Siamese Cat Club of Ireland (now the Siamese
and All Breeds Cat Club of Ireland), which at the time was the only cat
club in the Republic. Mrs. Baker and her daughter were the first pedigree
cat owners from Cork to exhibit at the Dublin show in 1969. It was
suggested that she should start another club to spread the cat fancy to a
wider area. Mrs. Baker placed an advertisement in the "Cork Examiner" inviting interested cat lovers to a meeting, which was held in a city restaurant. Those who responded became an instant committee. Besides Mrs. Baker and Margaret Baker, they were Mrs. Mary Quinlan and Jane Quinlan, Mr. David and Mrs. Breda Coleman, Mrs. Eileen Green, and the restaurant owner Mrs. G. V. Gay. Other friends and families subsequently joined them. The objects of the Club were, briefly, to promote the welfare of all cats and to spread the knowledge of pedigree breeds by holding shows. The new club became affiliated to the ruling body, the Governing Council of the Cat fancy of Ireland, and held their introductory Exemption Show at the now-demolished St. Fransis Hall in Sheares Street, Cork. A Sanction Show was held at the following year at the same venue, and such was its success that the next show was granted full Championship status - the shortest possible space of the time for a club to achieve this progression. Since its early years the Club has held many annual shows various hotels and sports clubs in and around Cork City. It has also held exhibitions displaying many breeds of cats to the public, notably at the Munster Agricultural Society Summer Show. The Shows have attracted exhibits, both pedigree and non-pedigree, from all over Ireland and lately from U.K. The Club giver support to animal welfare organisations through Charity classes at the shows and by hosting public lectures. Most of timer the Club meets on the second Monday of each month, excepting January.
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