My name is Lisa Finnegan. I am an American who married and moved here from New York City in 2004 years ago to live with my husband James, and my blue merle collie named Conner. I have always loved collies. I was addicted to Lassie come Home and the Albert Payson Terhune collie books. When I was twelve I told my mother that when I grew up I wanted to be a dog breeder. She said that wasn't a real job. So I put that aside and did other things.

My first collie Skipper was a gift when I was fourteen. He was a sable and white and he was very sweet. Unfortunately he died young. I didn’t get another dog until I was grown then my next collie Lucky (Clarion Pied Piper of Brumfis) was a blue merle which introduced me to my favourite colour variation. When he passed away at eleven years old it broke my heart. I went four years between dogs since I lived in New York City but finally I couldn't bear to be without a collie anymore and since I really liked the Clarion line I bought Conner (Clarion Conner's Stormy Sky) a pet quality pup who came into my life as an 8 week bundle of gray fluff. He was my best friend and had the sweetest disposition and most loving nature. I met my husband James when visiting Northern Ireland as a tourist, He came over to meet the family including Conner who loved him and three years later Conner and I were crossing the Atlantic for love.

Once we settled to our new home in we bought Wanda (Kynan She's a Diva at Oakmoon) from Maureen and Dermot Timmins at Kynan Collies as a friend for Conner. Wanda really didn’t like showing but she is a great dog as a pet so she and Conner were the best of friends.

Having made the plunge into more than one dog at a time James and I decided that I should make my childhood dream come true and started Oakmoon Collies. Talk about diving off the deep end! We also became accredited breeders as I thought that would help keep us right
So we asked Maureen’s advice and bred Wanda to Karen O’Neill’s wonderful dog, Bailey (Irish Ch. Lynmead Lust after me at Caronlea) Wanda had six pups in June 2008. Unfortunately the same week we had the new pups we lost Conner to cancer. He was only eight and it was a very hard thing to lose him. We kept two from the litter, Merlin (Oakmoon Mister Moonlight) as a pet and Nell (Oakmoon Lady Madonna) as a show dog.

Oakmoon Lady Madonna (Nell) and Oakmoon Mister Moonlight (Merlin)

Nell has enjoyed her first year in the show ring placing in most classes and getting much positive feedback as we both learn the ropes of showing, I am very grateful to Maureen Timmins and Karen O’Neill who have given me tips and helped me throughout the past year. Nell will be taking a break from showing in the spring of 2010 as we have just bred her to Ch Jopium Cool Touch and hope for puppies in April 2010.

Oakmoon Lady Madonna [Nell]

Lisa and James Finnegan
15 Moss Green, Richhill N. Ireland BT619JX
028 38872217 Phone
07841167888 Mobile
email:LFinnlnf1964@aol.com