GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: Approx. 63-69cm (22”-27”)
Colour: Irish setter- Rich pure chestnut, white star on forehead, chin, chest or toes acceptable. Red and white - Base colour white, with red
patches. Flecking permitted on extremities. 
Coat: Irish - flat silky and free from curl. Feathered.
Red and white - Flat, silky and slight wave O.K.
Gait: Free flowing and co-ordinated.These clean cut members of the gundog group are full of quality. The varieties are similar in construction, the main difference being in the head. The Irish has a long lean oval skull with a prominent occiput and a slight stop whereas the Red and White has a head broad in proportion to the body, a good stop, domed skull and no prominence of the occiput. In both varieties,
eyes are placed midway in the head, and the ears hang to the side. The arched neck runs into a strong body with a deep chest. Fore and hind quarters are well angulated. The tapering tail is carried out in a lively manner.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
Being among the tallest members of the gundog group, these setters convey an appearance of strength and suppleness with exuberant personalities.
They require sensitive training and being very affectionate, rarely become vicious - if treated harshly, they are more likely to become withdrawn than aggressive. They are not good guard dogs, need space to be exeicised and are ideal companions for a walk. Ears should be regularly checked and kept clean and periodical brushing is necessary to remove shedding hair.
HISTORY
Due to an ancestry involving the English Setter, the early Irish Setters were all red and white. Later, through an infusion of black/tan Gordon Setter and the desire to individualize the breed in the mid 1800s, certain breeders succeeded in breeding out nearly all the white. However, those interested in working dogs, cared little-about this and so the Red and White variety remained. Although less popular than the solid red Irish Setters, numbers and quality built up until this variety gained Kennel Club recognition.