Willie Delaney's first dog was a Soft Coated Wheaten sired by "Mullinahone Boy" dam "Lady Fair". Willie would describe these two Wheatens as outstanding and they can be found in the pedigrees of most of the greatest Wheatens in Trial History. His next dog was a Wire Fox Terrier "Summer Boy" and he would qualify at the Teastas Mor trials in the sounder class in 1955. A Bob Watt bred Stafford called "Swing Clear" was his first Stafford and he was a show winner and he would qualify at the Teastas Mor Trials in 1958 with "Brindle Devil" "Battling Beauty" and "Arrogant Resistance" his litter sister. "Bonny Wee Lass" would come along a grand daughter of "Red Pete" a son of "Gentleman Jim" and Willie would demonstrate his great knowledge of breeding by using "Macgreggor of Fauld" who was a double bred grand son of "Red Pete". From that litter Lady Grace would get her first Stafford "Bonnie Macgreggor" and he would become the first champion bred by Willie. At a later date he would use the best of Ch "Quiz of Wyndcroft" to produce the most inbred Quiz blood in these island, and in "Brindle Devil" Willie had the best sired by Ch "Pal of Aveth" a son of Quiz.

Willie would buy "Brindle Devil" at two years old already a championship show winner in England going on to win Green Stars and he would qualify in style as a true game dog in 1958 at the Teastas Mor Trials. This outstanding dog would demonstrate his greatest virtue as a stud dog and in the two years he lived in Ireland his offspring went on to become trial dogs and show champions. Without a doubt the greatest dog in the Dublin line and all the more remarkable from the few bitches that were bred to him before a bull killed him.

Willie Delaney was one of the most genuine men a person could meet and from the 1960's, 70's and right up to weeks before his death, he provided this home with photos, pedigrees and certificates. I asked Willie if he would do us the honour of becoming an Honorary Life President of our newly formed club and he accepted. Here was a man who had done so much for the breed willing to become part of our history making club, but what I didn't know, nor did anyone outside his immediate family, Willie had an incurable disease and time was not on his side. Despite that Willie was only too willing to help in any way he could. He was delighted to get a marked catalogue of out first show. Unfortunately, he passed away some weeks later.

Willie Delaney had a great eye for a dog and was a student of pedigrees which he would demonstrate in his breeding. He expected his dogs to work at the trials and none of them ever let him down, he never tolerated fools and when he felt he was correct he could be quite blunt. Just after taking a photo of Paddy Tougher with "Bankhead Bull Fighter" and Willie holding Brockstock "Nelson" I saw him take Harry Latham to task over Harry's opinion of Brockstock "Nelson". Willie owned or bred some of the great dogs like Ch "Bonny Macgreggor" Ch "Miss Mindy" Ch "Fawn and Fancy" "The Great Roger" "Satans son" "Brindle Pal of Aveth" "Battling Fury" "Swing Clear" "Stephen's Perfection" "Brindle Wee Lass" "Brindle and Bonny" and the great "Brindle Devil".

Alan Mitchell of Hoplite fame had intended to breed a bitch to "Brindle Devil", but "Brindle Devil's premature death prevented that. Alan Mitchell has stated the he never saw a better dog than "Brindle Devil".

Willie Delaney was a gentleman of whom I cannot speak highly enough. When you talk about the great Dublin dogs, think about Willie as he carved his name forever in the great Staffords of Dublin and Ireland.

Our deepest sympathies go to Angela and her sons and daughters.

Seamus McNutt