Irish Guide Dogs Seeks 50 Sponsors for Landmark ‘City of Tails’ Art Event

PRESS RELEASE

Irish Guide Dogs is calling on businesses, organisations, schools and community groups to sponsor and decorate dog sculptures which will feature in a vibrant public art event this August in Cork. The event is part of the charity’s 50th anniversary celebrations. 

A City of Tails, in partnership with MTU, will feature 50 life-size dog sculptures, each sponsored and individually designed and painted by local schools, clients, businesses, and professional artists. Participating sponsors will have the opportunity to personalise and decorate their own sculpture, creating a unique artwork that reflects their organisation, creativity and commitment to supporting Irish Guide Dogs.

One of the sculptures carries the signatures of many well-known public figures, including the charity’s ambassadors Roy Keane, Jack Crowley and Shane Casey, along with Cork Lord Mayor Fergal Dennehy, Sonia O’Sullivan, Jimmy Barry Murphy, John Spillane and Cork Camogie’s Amy O’Connor.

Installed across key locations throughout Cork city from August 22nd to 28th, the sculptures will form an interactive art trail, inviting residents and visitors alike to explore the city while discovering the creativity and generosity behind each sponsored dog.

A City of Tails aims not only to celebrate five decades of impact by Irish Guide Dogs but also to encourage organisations and communities to play an active role in supporting the charity’s future. By sponsoring and decorating a dog, participants directly contribute to the training and care of Guide and Assistance Dogs, helping provide independence and confidence to people living with sight loss and families of children with autism.

“This event is both a celebration and an invitation,” said Tim O’Mahony, CEO of Irish Guide Dogs. “For 50 years, our work has been made possible by the support of our community. A City of Tails gives businesses, schools and supporters a creative and meaningful way to get involved — by sponsoring and decorating a dog while helping us continue changing lives into the future.”

Following the exhibition, the sculptures may be auctioned or repurposed to further support the organisation’s programmes, extending the impact of the project beyond the event itself.

Organisations interested in sponsoring and decorating a dog sculpture are encouraged to contact Irish Guide Dogs to learn more about participation opportunities.