Anne-Marie McCausland has been involved with dogs on both a personal and professional level throughout her life, with the past 25 years devoted to Great Danes under the Madra Magic kennel name. She is a founding member and current President of the Great Dane Association of Ireland (GDAI).
Although perhaps best known for Harlequins and Mantles, Anne-Marie's journey began with a Blue Great Dane purchased simply as a companion. From there grew a lifelong passion for Great Danes of all colours, together with a determination to learn as much as possible about the breed from those willing to share their knowledge and experience.
Over the years, Anne-Marie has successfully shown and bred Great Danes, making up Champions as well as breeding home-bred Champions under the Madra Magic name. She is particularly proud that her lines continue today, with their descendants still represented in pedigrees, breeding programmes and the show ring.
Anne-Marie has always believed that breeding carries a responsibility far beyond success in the ring. Health, temperament and longevity are central to her philosophy, and she campaigned for the introduction and wider adoption of health testing in Ireland, which she is delighted to see is now standard practice. Early in her involvement with the breed, she also spoke out against the culling of healthy puppies solely because of colour in Harlequin litters, at a time when attitudes towards non-standard colours were very different — some of which are now accepted within the breed and seen in the show ring today. The evolution in how these dogs are regarded is something she particularly welcomes.
After 25 years, Anne-Marie remains as passionate about Great Danes as ever and is proud to say that she still considers herself a student of the breed. Her years in Great Danes have brought not only knowledge and experience, but also many wonderful lifelong friendships.
She considers it both an honour and a responsibility to be invited to judge the breed to which she has devoted such a significant part of her life and looks forward to judging the Great Danes presented to her on the day.
