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Many writers claim that Irish Terriers have been around since the end of the eighteenth century, but until the mid-1880's the breed was virtually unknown in England. Even Idstone's book on dogs published in 1872 fails to mention the breed. Three years later, a group of fanciers in Ireland organized a show in Dublin for Irish Terriers, attracting around fifty entries for the event. According to Rawdon Lee, the early volumes of The Kennel Club Stud Book did not contain special classes for Irish Terriers as they were grouped with Wire-haired Fox Terriers.

However, the 1870's saw the breed become more popular, principally due to Mr. George R. Krehl, who presented several Irish Terriers to Queen Victoria.