Mizen2Malin riders and supporters standing in a garage forecourt during the 2024 event
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind Logo
Green decorative blob

Welcome to Paw Prints!

April 2025 Edition

You've changed lives!

Your support has helped us to change the lives of our new Guide Dog and Assistance Dog owners who graduated recently, along with Community Dog Percy. Sincere thanks also to the Brood Stockholders, Puppy Raisers and Temporary Boarders who made these partnerships possible.

  • Mark Gibbons (Mayo) with Guide Dog Nelson

    Mark Gibbons (Mayo) with Guide Dog Nelson

    Guide Dog

  • Guide Dog owner Elizabeth Kavanagh (Wexford) with Guide Dog Kourtney

    Guide Dog owner Elizabeth Kavanagh (Wexford) with Guide Dog Kourtney

    Guide Dog

  • Caroline Brett (Galway) with Guide Dog Sammy

    Caroline Brett (Galway) with Guide Dog Sammy

    Guide Dog

  • Adam Forde (Meath) with Guide Dog Slinky

    Adam Forde (Meath) with Guide Dog Slinky

    Guide Dog

  • Patrick Gallagher (Donegal) with Guide Dog Otter

    Guide Dog

  • Community Dog Percy has joined Ellie Carley Ryals and colleagues in St Andrew's National School, Lucan, Co. Dublin

    Community Dog Percy has joined Ellie Carley Ryals and colleagues in St Andrew's National School, Lucan, Co. Dublin

    Community Dog

New Arrivals to the Centre!

  • Aero - Thank you to Puppy Raisers Dermot O'Neill & Nadine Jeffers

    In Training!

    Aero - Thank you to Puppy Raisers Dermot O'Neill & Nadine Jeffers

  • Luna - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Loretto Fahy

    In Training!

    Luna - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Loretto Fahy

  • Stella - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Dave O'Leary

    In Training!

    Stella - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Dave O'Leary

  • Taz - Thanks to Puppy Raiser Catherine Mallin

    In Training!

    Taz - Thanks to Puppy Raiser Catherine Mallin

  • [object Object]

    In Training!

    Terry - Thank you to Puppy Raisers Jacqueline Hall & Shereen Pearson

  • Tess - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Áine O'Dea, and Temporary Boarder Yvonne Murphy

    In Training!

    Tess - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Áine O'Dea, and Temporary Boarder Yvonne Murphy

  • Tovi - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Kieran Ahern

    In Training!

    Tovi - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Kieran Ahern

  • [object Object]

    In Training!

    Ulani - Thank you to Puppy Raisers Dermot O'Neill & Aoife Nugent

  • [object Object]

    In Training!

    Ulmer - Thank you to Puppy Raisers Tricia Olden & Rosaleen McKeown

  • Ulric - Thank you to Puppy Raisers Diann Buckley & Caitriona O'Leary, and Temporary Boarder Jean Murphy

    In Training!

    Ulric - Thank you to Puppy Raisers Diann Buckley & Caitriona O'Leary, and Temporary Boarder Jean Murphy

  • Ulysses - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Samantha Scriven

    In Training!

    Ulysses - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Samantha Scriven

  • Velvet - Thank you to Puppy Raisers Gillian & Pat O'Donoghue, and Edel Foley

    In Training!

    Velvet - Thank you to Puppy Raisers Gillian & Pat O'Donoghue, and Edel Foley

  • Vico - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Megan O'Sullivan

    In Training!

    Vico - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Megan O'Sullivan

  • Vonny - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Pirge Murray

    In Training!

    Vonny - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Pirge Murray

  • Walter - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Margaret Lucey

    In Training!

    Walter - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Margaret Lucey

  • Wilson - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Alison Byrne

    In Training!

    Wilson - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Alison Byrne

  • Winston - Thanks to Puppy Raisers Ber & Mike Barrett

    In Training!

    Winston - Thanks to Puppy Raisers Ber & Mike Barrett

  • Wolf - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Róisín O'Donnell

    In Training!

    Wolf - Thank you to Puppy Raiser Róisín O'Donnell

Breeding Programme Additions!

  • Tara was puppy raised by Tara Walshe, and her Breeding Dog Volunteer is Sinead Hand

    New Brood

    Tara was puppy raised by Tara Walshe, and her Breeding Dog Volunteer is Sinead Hand

  • [object Object]

    New Brood

    Tandi was puppy raised by Ruth Frost, who is now also her Brood stockholder

  • [object Object]

    New Brood

    Walnut was puppy raised by Judi Pheysey, who is now also her Brood stockholder

  • [object Object]

    New Brood

    Yasmin was puppy raised by Dana Lunakova, who is now also her Brood stockholder

Donate to help change lives

Life-changing journeys start here

As you will read below, we have been blessed with the recent arrival of five litters. There is a long, exciting road ahead for these pups who will soon start their training to become Guide or Assistance Dogs. Your support will help them along the way.

New Litters!

The L litter, born the 15th of November 2024, are Leo, Layne, Leco, Lulu and Lucas. Mum is Cleo and Dad is Tatum. Many thanks to Loreli Watson and Lisa Wall who helped support this beautiful litter.

L Litter

The L litter, born the 15th of November 2024, are Leo, Layne, Leco, Lulu and Lucas. Mum is Cleo and Dad is Tatum. Many thanks to Loreli Watson and Lisa Wall who helped support this beautiful litter.

The M Litter, born on the 17th of December, are Mattie, Murphy, Miller, Messi, Miso, Mitch, Milo, Moose, Marcus, Margo and Moana. 

Mum is Tanvi and Dad is Iddo. 

Many thanks to Breeding Dog Volunteer Jane Murphy.

M LItter

The M Litter, born on the 17th of December, are Mattie, Murphy, Miller, Messi, Miso, Mitch, Milo, Moose, Marcus, Margo and Moana. Mum is Tanvi and Dad is Iddo. Many thanks to Breeding Dog Volunteer Jane Murphy.

The N Litter, born on the 20th of December 2024, are Nutella, Nacho, Nectar, Nova, Navy, Nugget and Nibbles. Mum is Ivory and Dad is Verdell.

N Litter

The N Litter, born on the 20th of December 2024, are Nutella, Nacho, Nectar, Nova, Navy, Nugget and Nibbles. Mum is Ivory and Dad is Verdell.

The New Year saw the arrival of the O Litter who were born on 16th of January. They are Opal, Ophelia, Orla, Oti, Ojo, Obair, Odell, Otto, Oslo, Otis and Orlando. Mum is Vitara and Dad is Iddo. Many thanks to Breeding Dog Volunteer Sarah Hathaway.

O Litter

The New Year saw the arrival of the O Litter who were born on 16th of January. They are Opal, Ophelia, Orla, Oti, Ojo, Obair, Odell, Otto, Oslo, Otis and Orlando. Mum is Vitara and Dad is Iddo. Many thanks to Breeding Dog Volunteer Sarah Hathaway.

[object Object]

P Litter

Camille gave birth to the P Litter on 17th February. Her beautiful pups are Pixie, Parker, Puca, Polly, Paw-Dí and Peil. Dad is Warner. Many thanks to Sam Healy who has helped to support Camille and her pups.

WHEN JACK MET CROWLEY

Our Brand Ambassador Jack Crowley took some time out of camp recently to catch up with Puppy in Training Crowley and to appeal for more volunteers to join our incredible team of Puppy Raisers.

Jack's family puppy raised for many years with all the Crowleys getting involved in socialising pups, teaching obedience training, going on buses, trains, and of course, attending many rugby games.

Jack Crowley sitting on the steps of a bandstand with Pup Crowley sitting beside him

Puppy Raising is suitable for all walks of life whether you work full-time, part-time, are retired, have children etc... the basic criteria is to have a love of dogs and a desire to make a difference to others.

Click the video below to find out how Deirdre Fahy incorporates puppy raising into her working life as a university lecturer.

Puppy Raiser Rosaleen McKeown sitting beside water with Puppy in Training sitting in front wearing Puppy in Training jacket

Help our Puppy Raising Appeal

You can help with our puppy raising appeal by downloading the poster below and asking family, friends and colleagues to share on social media, in WhatsApp groups, or by displaying in local shops or in their workplace.

Download here

How you can support the journey of a Guide or Assistance Dog

Announcements

CAR RAFFLE WINNER GETS IN THE DRIVING SEAT

CAR RAFFLE WINNER GETS IN THE DRIVING SEAT

Many congratulations to Henry Maguire from Meath who was the winner of our car raffle. Ambassador Dog Jaco and Assistance Dog Rory were delighted to hand over the keys to Henry's new 2025 Citroën C4 Plus Hybrid at Pat Duffy Motors in Newbridge. Huge thanks to everyone who supported the raffle.

GAELIC PLAYERS ASSOCIATION PAWSOME SIGN UPS

GAELIC PLAYERS ASSOCIATION PAWSOME SIGN UPS

The Gaelic Players Association has teamed up with us as their Official Charity Partner for 2025 which includes sponsoring two of our pups, Paw-Dí and Peil, who will undergo training to become Guide Dogs or Assistance Dogs. The pups were named by inter-county players and partnership ambassadors who are all passionate about our work.

PUPPY CASEY MEETS A YOUNG OFFENDER

PUPPY CASEY MEETS A YOUNG OFFENDER

Actor and playwright Shane Casey has joined us as an Ambassador. Shane joins a formidable ambassador team including Roy Keane and Jack Crowley. Shane, who was recently awarded Cork Person of the Year, has been supporting us for a number of years including attending fundraising events, presenting at our online Transition Year Programme and lending his name to Puppy Casey who is well on his way to becoming a Guide Dog or Assistance Dog. Shane said, “It's an honour to be involved in any capacity with such a fantastic organisation.”

PARK FOR PUPS AT DUBLIN AIRPORT

PARK FOR PUPS AT DUBLIN AIRPORT

Park2Travel is donating €1 from each booking throughout April and May from their newly opened 6,000+ space car park, located just six minutes from Dublin Airport with a 24/7 shuttle service. Park2Travel has provided accessibility training for all its Dublin-based staff, while shuttle bus drivers have undertaken specialist training to ensure they can provide the best possible assistance to Guide and Assistance Dog owners when they’re travelling to and from the terminals. Find out more at www.Park2Travel.ie.

ROCHESTOWN PARK HOTEL OPENS DOORS TO PUPS

ROCHESTOWN PARK HOTEL OPENS DOORS TO PUPS

Cork’s Rochestown Park Hotel appointed us as their charity partner in February with key areas of focus being awareness, training and accessibility. The hotel and its surroundings will become familiar environments for our pups in training as they learn to navigate stairs, escalators, and the hustle and bustle of the restaurant and bar.

PAWTASTIC MOBILE APP

PAWTASTIC MOBILE APP

We’re excited to announce a new partnership with J.P. Morgan Chase's, Force for Good project to develop a mobile app that will allow our brood stockholders, puppy raisers, trainers and supporters to follow the journey of our dogs—from training through every stage of their lives. Our goal is to launch this innovative tool by the end of the year. Stay tuned!

Little girl in green kneeling down with her arm resting on two dogs beside her

Date for your diary - Open Day 2025

Our PAWtastic annual Open Day takes place on Saturday, 30 August in our Training Centre here in Cork. Join us for what is always a great day of family fun, with dog training demonstrations, entertainment and of course, some of our four-legged dogs!

View Events

Our clients giving back

We are always blown away and filled with gratitude when any of our clients decide to fundraise to support those coming after them. Here are just a sample of the recent and upcoming events and challenges taking place....

[object Object]

Mizen2Malin Cycle

We have many brave volunteers taking on tough challenges to support our work. The annual Mizen2Malin Cycle takes to the saddle from Saturday 17 May with Eamonn Linnane and his band of cyclists taking on this epic challenge including Geraldine Looney, Jennifer Doherty and Karen Healy, with Cathal Joyce providing us with daily updates. Do keep an eye on our social media. You can donate to the challenge here.

[object Object]

Anne Kelliher Bike Ride Challenge

Guide Dog Owner Anne Kelliher will be 77 years old this year and to celebrate she set herself a challenge to do 7 tandem bike rides, over 7 months raising €7,000. Anne (and her sighted cycling partners) will be taking on her challenges in Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Limerick, Tipperary, and Westmeath, all to raise money for us, Fighting Blindness, Vision Sport Ireland, and Cycling For All Cork & Kerry. Help Anne on her journey by supporting, donating, and cheering her on here.

[object Object]

Community Dog Ulreeka's Wagathon

Catherine Joyce from Dunboyne College of Further Education in Meath organised the second annual Ulreeka’s Wagathon on April 5th to celebrate the huge impact Community Dog Ulreeka has had on the students.

[object Object]

Paul Doyle & family

Paul Doyle from Kildare organised a coffee morning last month as part of his personal development with his day service Resilience. Paul was supported for many years by Assistance Dog Sally, RIP. Paul's mum Adrienne has puppy raised ten pups and is currently raising Galaxie.

Guide Dog owner Vinny Stack and his friend Lisa Kelly organised a Darts Extravaganza in Tallaght, Dublin on March 1st, where they had former pro darts players Andy the Hammer Hamilton and Tony Silver Back O’Shea playing against the brave members of the public. Vinny also played against the pro’s who tried out hitting the dart board blindfolded to make it a more fairer competition.
They definitely scored a bullseye raising €4,770!

Guide Dog owner Vinny Stack

Guide Dog owner Vinny Stack and his friend Lisa Kelly organised a Darts Extravaganza in Tallaght, Dublin on March 1st, where they had former pro darts players Andy the Hammer Hamilton and Tony Silver Back O’Shea playing against the brave members of the public. Vinny also played against the pro’s who tried out hitting the dart board blindfolded to make it a more fairer competition. They definitely scored a bullseye raising €4,770!

[object Object]

Marathons

On 1 June Alanna Henry will take on the Dublin Women's Mini Marathon. In the Dublin Marathon we will have Puppy Raisers Jenna and Morgan Pierce, also Joe Gorman who is running in memory of his family's Assistance Dog Abbie, and Tony McNally who witnessed the positive impact of Assistance Dog Beech on his brother. Puppy Raiser Anthony Church is doing the London Marathon.

Around the Country

[object Object]

West Region Thank You

Our Thank You event in the West was a lovely, relaxed get together on March 23rd giving us an opportunity to show our appreciation for the support of our clients and volunteers in the region. There was a huge canine representative with Guide Dogs, Assistance Dogs, Broods and retired working dogs. Over a buffet lunch everyone had the chance to mingle and meet familiar and new faces and we gathered some great feedback and ideas. We're looking forward to developing those suggestions in the coming months.

Volunteers and Ambassador Dogs Charlie, Comet and Marina from our Clare Branch were delighted to accept a cheque for €2,153 from the Cliffs of Moher Experience.

Cliffs of Moher Experience

Volunteers and Ambassador Dogs Charlie, Comet and Marina from our Clare Branch were delighted to accept a cheque for €2,153 from the Cliffs of Moher Experience.

[object Object]

Wren 2024 Westport

Huge thanks to Ava Bourke, Lucy Bourke, Elsie Higgins, Elaine Wilson-Gill, Ruth McNally and Sarah McNally who raised €70 from Wren Day 2024 in Westport in Mayo.

[object Object]

Val Quinn: Creating her best life

Global mentor and life coach, Val Quinn, has curated a powerful collection of real-life stories from inspirational people around the world who have transformed their lives with courage, determination and resilience. Entitled Create Your Best Life, the book dives into the authentic and compelling life stories of individuals such as Dragon’s Den star Norah Casey, former Irish international rugby player Jamie Heaslip and many more. Val is determined that all net proceeds will be donated to fund the breeding, training and care of one Guide or Assistance Dog i.e. €53,000. Incredibly, Val has already raised over €24,000! Visit our online shop here to get your copy.

[object Object]

Wild Waterways

Author Robert O'Leary has just published a stunning collection of photos showcasing the rich diversity of Dublin's River Dodder. With foreword by biologist Éanna Ní Lamhna, the books includes over 50 colour photos of birds, mammals and insects. All royalties from the sale of this book go directly to Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. As a former Puppy Raiser Robert says; "I know that every cent raised from this book will pay rich dividends for years to come. I know because I have seen it first hand." You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Employment Support for blind & vision impaired

If you are blind or vision impaired and seeking to find meaningful employment please contact us about our Employment Project. Our nationwide service provides person-centred services such as career guidance, CV and cover letter techniques, assistive technology assessments and training etc.

Funding has been awarded from the European Union and is directed by the Irish governmental incentive of WorkAbility, Inclusive Pathways to Employment.

If you are interested in finding out more about our Employment Project please visit our website or contact:

  • Mary Cawley, Project Manager, email or phone 087 791 0129

  • Mary Crossin, Employment Project Administrator, email or phone 085 804 2234

Government of Ireland, EU and Pobal logos with the words This project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland, through the Department of Social Protection, and the European Union.

Subscribe to our Paw Prints newsletter to read about new litters, broods and pups!

Subscribe me