Guidelines 2015
The Magazine of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind 2015.
Recommended donation: €2
Front Cover Description
Our 2015 issue front cover features a photograph of Guide Dog owner Cara Gibbons with her Guide Dog Uri and a quote from Cara saying “Now I have my Guide Dog Uri life is so much better.”
Inside Page Advertisement
A gift in your will can help change the future for someone just like Lean.
In photograph: Guide Dog owner Lean Kennedy with Guide Dog Roy.
“With the support of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind you can truly get on with your life, get your confidence and independence back. I’m back in control of my life now.” – Lean
Kennedy and Guide Dog Roy.
A gift in your will has the power to make a big difference and improve the lives of people who are blind or vision impaired and families of children with autism.
For further information or to receive a legacy brochure please contact Padraig Mallon Irish
Guide Dogs CEO on 1850 506 300 or email legacy@guidedogs.ie.
Page 3 - Welcome
Contents
Page 3 - Welcome
Page 4 - Top 10 achievements in 2014
Page 6 - News round-up
Page 8 – Client stories
Page 11 – Services news
Page 12 – Fundraising updates

Page 14 – Thank you
Page 15 – How you can help
Editor: Paula McGovern
Designer: Michelle Gregan
Printed by: Woodland Print
Welcome from CEO
In photograph: Padraig Mallon, CEO
I hope we find you all well, I am pleased to have an opportunity to thank you for your support. We are grateful to the many donors and volunteers who help us week in week out to raise the funds we need and who help care for and train our puppies and dogs with such love and dedication. Thank you for placing your trust in us.
This year we have trained more than 200 people across all of our services, some of their stories are featured on page 8. In their own words they tell you how we have been able to help them change their lives for the better. While many people associate us solely with our dog programmes - Guide or Assistance – we also have many rehabilitation programmes:
Independent Living Skills, Orientation and Mobility; Child Mobility. We were delighted this year to reopen our Gardening Programme. All of our programmes aim to help people to live their lives with greater independence and mobility and all are provided free of charge.
That’s important because it guarantees access regardless of circumstance.
We can only do this great work thanks to you. I am happy to say thank you to our staff, volunteers and all of you who donate so generously of your precious time and money.
Thank you to the HSE and the Department of Education who contribute approximately 20% of our running costs. The impact of our work merits a higher level of support yet we remain grateful for what we are getting now. All of you are enabling us to help people who are vision impaired and children with autism and make a real contribution to the lives of so many people today, tomorrow and into the future.
Message from Chairperson
In photograph: Eddie Murphy, Chairperson
Welcome to Guidelines! 2014 was my first full year to serve as Chairperson of Irish Guide
Dogs for the Blind, having taken over the role in 2013. It has been an exciting and challenging year for myself and the board. Looking back at the work done in 2014 it gives me great optimism to see the amount of people’s lives we have helped through our services in such challenging times.

Reading the testimonies from people like Paraic Barnes on page 9 about how his life has changed for the better through the services of Irish Guide Dogs really makes all the hard work required so worthwhile. I sincerely thank you for your support in ensuring we can do what we do.
At Irish Guide Dogs we are truly blessed with a great staff team and thousands of volunteers and donors across the country. I would like to express a sincere thank you for your support and I look forward to continuing our great work in partnership in 2015.
Is mise le meas,
Eddie Murphy
In photograph: Pictured at a Cork Chamber event at Irish Guide Dogs HQ are (L-R): Paula
McGovern, Editor; Koco, Dog-in-Training; Padraig Mallon, CEO; and Eddie Murphy,
Chairperson.
Page 4 & 5 – Highlights
Top 10 achievements from 2014
It has been a successful and eventful year here at Irish Guide Dogs. Please find a selection of highlights from the year.
1- We trained more than 200 people across all of our services including our Guide Dog and
Assistance Dog programmes as well as our Independent Living Skills (photo of an ILS class above), Orientation and Mobility - Next Step and Child Mobility programmes. All of our services are provided free of charge.
2 - As part of our annual SHADES campaign we raised more than €120,000 in 2014. Today
FM’s Ray D’Arcy Show broadcast live from Irish Guide Dogs HQ to launch the fundraising week. Ray had an exclusive interview with our patron Roy Keane on the morning. Thanks to all who supported us in any way.
In photograph: Ray Darcy interviews Roy Keane.
3 - Research carried out by the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at UCC and published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that our Assistance Dogs increase the safety, security and positive public reception of children with ASD. The research found that the presence of an Assistance Dog can make parents and guardians feel more competent in managing their child.
In photograph: Rachel Neglia with her son Eoin and Assistance Dog Hector with Padraig
Mallon, CEO Irish Guide Dogs, and Prof Ivan Perry, UCC.

4 - To mark International Guide Dog Day on 30 th April Access and Education Officer Lean
Kennedy visited vision-impaired students from Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin in Clondalkin in
Dublin. Lean and her Guide Dog Roy are one of 180 Guide Dog partnerships in Ireland. Lean gave a talk to students about the benefit of Guide Dogs and to demonstrate how they can help increase independence and mobility for people who are vision-impaired.
5 - Our Assistance Dog programme was reopened in January 2014. Unfortunately due to a huge demand, we were forced to close the waiting list again in March 2014 and we highlighted this disappointing situation on World Autism Day on 2nd April. We are working hard to ensure we can reopen the list once more in 2015. In 2014 we also reopened our gardening skills class in Autumn and we will run further gardening classes in 2015. Call 1850
506 300 for more information.
6 - Christmas at Guide Dogs is a very important time for us. It is one of our main ways to earn all essential funds that ensures we can provide our services to people who need them.
We open up our HQ for two weekends each December for Santa’s Grotto and to allow people to tour our centre. This year we also created a very pawsitive calendar for 2015 indeed combining lovely photos of our dogs and pups with some inspirational quotes! Find out more at www.guidedogs.ie.
7 - In April 2014 we ran a successful #Delfie marketing campaign on social media. We asked people to share pictures of their ‘dog selfies’ or delfies, nominate friends to do the same and text WOOF to donate to us. We got a huge response and raised more than €6,000. If you would like to see more images check out the #delfie hashtag on www.twitter.com/irishguidedogs.
8 - As always many tireless volunteers, branch members and staff held events for us throughout the country raising much-needed income. From golf classics to coffee mornings; cycles to fashion shows, it all makes a big difference to us. Thank you most sincerely.
In photograph: Our Mizen to Malin fundraising and cycling crew in Inishowen, Donegal.
9 - For the second year in a row we held Dine in the Dark events to mark World Sight Day on Thursday 9th October. The Clarion in Cork and the Gibson Hotel in Dublin signed up to a dining date with a difference. Diners wore blindfolds to eat a delicious three-course meal.
There was a great attendance at both events and we plan to hold the event again in more locations in 2015.
In photograph: Staff from Mardyke Arena experience Dine in the Dark.
10 - Our corporate supporters continue to help us change lives for the better. In 2014 we were selected as Munster Rugby’s Charity of the Year. We were also picked as Charity of

the Year by the following companies: Henkel Ireland; PWC; Energia; Largo Foods; and
Johnson and Johnson. Ford Ireland donated fleet vehicles and a brand new Ford Focus to raffle. ECCO donated footwear to our kennels team for the tenth year in a row. Thank you all.
In photograph: Donnacha O’Callaghan with our dogs.
Page 6 & 7 - News round-up
In brief:
Galway-Maynooth cycle in aid of Guide Dogs!
We are delighted to be chosen as the beneficiary charity for the Maynooth Students for
Charity annual cycle 2015. Since 1987, the Maynooth Students for Charity have organised an annual cycle from Maynooth to Galway. The Galway Cycle has grown into a major fundraising event in the university’s calendar. In excess of one million Euro has been raised for numerous charities to date.
2015’s cycle event in aid of Irish Guide Dogs will take place from March 27th to March 29th.
It costs €400 per participant (if you’re not a Maynooth student). Register on www.galwaycycle.ie
Hill’s Pet Nutrition
In 2014 Hill’s Pet Nutrition became the official dog food partner for Irish Guide Dogs. This partnership will run from 2014-2016 providing high-quality pet foods to our pups and working dogs. Hills also committed to sponsor various events and equipment throughout the year including ‘Go Walkies’ annually. We are delighted with this support and are committed to ensuring our dogs receive the highest quality food and dietary care.
Royal Canin
Irish Guide Dogs received €20,000 from Royal Canin this summer, the result of a year-long fundraising and marketing campaign. Royal Canin sponsored puppy Harper, whose name was picked by a customer competition. The retailer encouraged its customers to get involved by donating up to €1 with the purchase of Royal Canin dog food. Customers received a free commemorative Harper Soft Toy with every purchase and were encouraged to upload photos of their dog online and get involved with Puppy Harper’s training blog. We are delighted with this support.
Christmas doodle
To support our Christmas fundraising we have created a short Christmas animation. In the animation Kim Burke describes how Assistance Dog Gus has helped her son Aaron and her

whole family. You can watch on our Irish Guide Dogs YouTube channel at this link: www.youtube
.com/guidedogs01.
Irish Guide Dogs open for tours
In photograph: Frank O’Meara, Volunteer Tour Guide for Irish Guide Dogs
Did you know that each week Irish Guide Dogs runs tours of our training centre and dog care and welfare unit on the Model Farm Road, Cork? Students, active age clubs and companies are just a few of the groups who come to witness the ‘magic of Guide Dogs’ as tour leader Frank O’Meara describes it.
Frank has been volunteering for Irish Guide Dogs since 2003. Following his retirement as a bank manager, Frank applied to become a puppy walker with Irish Guide Dogs. In the past
11 years, Frank and his wife Ger have puppy walked four puppies. They both help with fundraising activities and HQ administration.
Frank leads the regularly scheduled tours of the facilities so that the public can see firsthand the work we do. When tour groups arrive, Frank and his trusty Fundraising Dog Jilly, welcome the group. “I tell the group Guide Dogs is a place where magic happens. As the tour unfolds they realise what I mean. The magic is giving people a better quality of life: and improving their confidence and independence.
“By volunteering for Guide Dogs, in my own small way I am making the world a better place. I love being able to share what happens here with tour groups.”
Tour groups run every Tuesday and Thursday at 2pm and need to be booked in in advance.
To book a tour email info@guidedogs.ie or Locall 1850 506 300.
Guide Dog Owner Geraldine Looney our running ambassador for 2014
In photograph: Geraldine with Guide Dog Irv and running guide Kieran Reilly
Guide Dog Owner Geraldine Looney was the Irish Guide Dogs’ running ambassador for
2014. Geraldine completed her first mini-marathon in September 2014 after training for months in advance. Geraldine was delighted to have the opportunity to increase her fitness and independence through taking part in the race.
Throughout her training Geraldine posted regular updates on the Irish Guide Dogs’ website and Facebook page. Geraldine trained with sighted guide Kieran Reilly. On walks and runs they kept pace with one another by each holding an end of a hairband. Geraldine could feel the movement in the hairband or get verbal feedback from Kieran on which direction to move.

Geraldine became vision-impaired at the age of 16 following an accident. Initially she trained with Irish Guide Dogs in 1994 learning to use the long cane. When a shoulder injury began affecting her long-cane use, she was matched with her Guide Dog Irv, a Labrador X
Golden Retriever. “Irv has made it much easier to get around,” Geraldine explains. “I get much further with him and he’s also lovely company.
“I’ve always been quite sporty and running has become such a big thing now, you have great camaraderie with the people you run with. It’s always easier to train when you have a goal to aim for.” To get involved in running or activity events in 2015 go to
www.guidedogs.ie or call 1850506300.
Assistance Dog programme waiting list closed for second time
Irish Guide Dogs was forced to close its waiting list for its Autism Assistance Dog
Programme for a second time in March 2014 due to a massive over-demand for its service.
There were 30 new applications within the first hour of the waiting list being reopened in
January 2014. Our Assistance Dog Programme supports children who have Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The primary function of an Assistance Dog is to help a child by acting as a safety aid and promoting calmness.
Research at University College Cork which was published in the BMJ has shown that our
Assistance Dog programme increases the safety, security and positive public reception of children with ASD.
We were the first organisation to bring the Assistance Dog Programme to Europe in 2005.
We are now working on ensuring everyone who is on our waiting list gets their Assistance
Dog as soon as possible. Currently we do not have the financial or human resources to grow the programme to meet the over-demand for the service. We receive 80% of our income from fundraising initiatives and voluntary donations. State funding amounts to 20% - with statutory funding for the Assistance Dog Programme having been cut significantly in the past few years.
Yvonne drives away a brand new car thanks to Irish Guide Dogs!
In early 2014 Yvonne Roche was delighted to drive away with a brand new Ford car, courtesy of Irish Guide Dogs and Ford Ireland. Yvonne is pictured receiving the keys of her new car from Eddie Murphy, Chairman of Ford Ireland.
Since 2011 and now in its fourth year Ford Ireland has provided us with key vehicles for fundraising and training purposes. Each year Ford Ireland donate three fleet vehicles to the organisation and a car specifically to raffle. The fundraising partnership has raised more than €400,000 since it began in 2012.
Yvonne has a very personal connection with Irish Guide Dogs and sees every day the benefit of what we do. “My sister’s son has autism and he has an Assistance Dog from Irish Guide

Dogs. The difference the Assistance Dog has made in his life and all of the family has been absolutely amazing. They are able to do things as a family again, which they couldn’t before. It is such a worthwhile charity. I’m so delighted to have won the car and my sister is very happy to have sold the winning ticket to me!”
The 2014 car raffle campaign kicked off in March 2014 and a winner will be announced in
December 2014 with the lucky winner getting their brand new car in early 2015!
Famous faces help us out in 2014
While Roy Keane is our main ambassador, 2014 was an exciting year for us and we had the privilege of working with some famous faces to help raise funds and awareness of our work.
• RTE presenter and comedian Kevin McGahern helped launch our Puppy Love Valentine’s campaign.
• Mundy was pictured with Assistance Dog Mundy to highlight our Assistance Dog services on World Autism Day.
• Both Lisa Cannon and Jennifer Maguire got their walking shoes on for Go Walkies with
Guide Dogs!
• Sonia O’Sullivan fronted a volunteering campaign for us and also attended and walked our
Kinsale10.
• Today FM’s Mairead Farrell helped launch our Christmas range and 2015 calendar.
• Bill Cullen, Jackie Lavin, Brian Purcell and Aidan Power attended Dine in the Dark Dublin.
Page 8 -10 - Cover story
Our dogs allow people live their lives as independently as possible. We captured some beautiful shots of the bond between our clients and dogs in landmark locations in Ireland.
Words: Lean Kennedy
Photos: Conor McCabe
Cara Gibbons and Uri
In photograph: Cara Gibbons and Uri on Shop Street, Galway
An allergic reaction to cough medicine at the age of 9 left Cara Gibbons fighting for her life and dealing with blindness. She had a sudden onset of a rare condition called Stevens-
Johnsons Syndrome, causing her mucus membranes to burn from the inside out. Her entire

skin was burned from head to toe and left her with scar tissue in her left eye. She spent months recovering in hospital and at home in order to heal her skin and rebuild her immune system.
Her sight continued to deteriorate and, at the age of 17, she discovered she had developed glaucoma as well. After an unsuccessful operation, she learned she would be blind within a year. Her vision gradually became foggier until one morning she looked up to the bright colours on her wall she used as a guide and realised her sight had finally gone.
Cara struggled with her vision loss and never became accustomed to using her long cane.
She trained with her Guide Dog Uri – a Golden Doodle – in 2013 and, for the first time in years, has been able to go out by herself. Living in Galway, Cara has just completed a
Master’s degree in Health Psychology and has taken on new challenges such as tandem cycling. “I always knew I would get a Guide Dog. Now I finally have, life is so much better.”
Joe Bollard and York
In photograph: Joe Bollard and York at Glendalough, Co Wicklow
Joe Bollard has been blind for the last 77 years and, for most of his life, always relied on others to help him get around. Despite being a talented piano player and touring around
Ireland and America, until 1975, he had never been out by himself. His first Guide Dog,
Adam, changed everything.
“Before I got a Guide Dog, life was ok. I was totally dependent on others. Now life is incredible. I enjoy nothing more than leaving the house first thing every day and strolling down to Bray harbour.” Joe now works with his fifth Guide Dog, York, and still appreciates the freedom a Guide Dog provides. “With York as my guide, I take in the sea air, listen to the seagulls and fetch my morning coffee.”
Olive Cummins and Eve
In photograph: Olive Cummins and Eve at the Rock of Cashel, Tipperary
Olive Cummins, from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, began losing her vision six years ago due to
Age-Related Macular Degeneration. After spending years as an active volunteer in the nonprofit sector, it was difficult adapting to life with significant vision loss.
She decided to get a Guide Dog after her family spotted a young gentleman weaving through the crowded streets of Dublin with the help of his guide dog. Olive trained with Eve
- a Golden Retriever x Labrador - in 2012. “Before Eve, I did not have a life. I was completely reliant on family and friends to get out and about. I nickname Eve the Ferrari as now I am speedily getting around town with her help. Eva has given me my life back.”
Adam and Assistance Dog Nikita

In photograph: Brian Galvin, son Adam and Assistance Dog Nikita at Croagh Patrick, Mayo
Brian and Caroline Galvin were assured their son Adam was just a late developer but at the age of two and a half, he was formally assessed and was found to have severe autism.
Eventually, through a method known as Rapid Prompting, Adam learned to communicate, although he remains non-verbal.
This was not the end of the worries for the Galvin family however. Adam was prone to wandering off as soon as he got the chance and was even found by the Gardai on one occasion. With a young baby in the house, it was impossible to watch him every second.
“I was in tears every day”, Caroline admits. “I simply didn’t know how I would cope.”
They day they welcomed Assistance Dog Nikita to their busy home in July 2012, everything changed. Adam and Nikita’s bond was instant and they spend a lot of their time together outside playing fetch. Best of all, Adam has not wandered away since her arrival and
Nikita stays by his side at all times.
“Nikita has brought us peace of mind,” Brian explains. “She’s Adam’s friend and constant companion and when she’s off-duty she’s a pet to the whole family too.”
Paraic Barnes and Ozzy
In photograph: Paraic Barnes and Ozzy at the Burren, Clare
One morning in January 2011, Paraic Barnes woke up with a big ink blot obscuring his vision, he walked his daughter to school as normal. “I tried to burn the image into my mind,
I knew it could be the last time I saw her face.”
The Clare father of two suspected a retinal detachment in his left eye, having suffered the same condition in his right eye 12 years before. A trip to the eye doctor confirmed his suspicion and he spent the next six months undergoing extensive eye surgery. In June 2011 he was left with total sight loss. His family dealt with the situation with humour, regularly playing pranks like swapping his potatoes with lemons for dinner.
Paraic’s positive attitude was an enormous help in dealing with his vision loss but he credits his Guide Dog Ozzy – a beautiful Golden Retriever x Labrador – with the biggest leap forward in independence. “Moving from a long cane to a Guide Dog was like changing from a scooter to a motorbike”, he explains. With his busy job as a school inspector, Paraic continues to travel all around the country. “My future is so bright I need to wear shades!” he jokes.
Darragh and Assistance Dog Ulla
In photograph: Darragh and Assistance Dog Ulla at St John’s Castle, Limerick

When Darragh was formally assessed for autism at the age of two mother Stephanie was pragmatic and quickly learned about what options were available to her to help her son.
She found help for his speech and developmental issues but his bolting behaviour continued to put him in grave danger.
Stephanie applied for an Assistance Dog and in 2013 Darragh was matched with Ulla. Now their family life is completely different. Through Ulla Darragh has learned about road safety and has stopped bolting. As he gets older, Darragh is learning more life skills by helping to take care of Ulla by brushing and feeding him. Ulla has made an enormous positive impact to Darragh’s social skills. “Social situations caused him anxiety but now he gets involved in conversations and is very proud to show off his dog,” says Stephanie.
Aaron and Assistance Dog Mundy
In photograph: Aaron and Assistance Dog Mundy at Luffany Heritage Centre, Bog of Allen,
Co. Kildare.
Days after Aaron Maher’s third birthday he was diagnosed with autism. Aaron could not bear to be in noisy public places such as shopping centre food malls. He is unable to filter out the background humming of people talking, rattling shopping trolleys and slamming drawers of cash registers. The noise is overwhelming for him and Aaron would always have a meltdown. When the Mahers had to go on an outing, they would always put Aaron in a buggy. It was the only way to ensure his safety. “Before we got Mundy our lives were full of stress. We avoided going out as much as possible,” says Aaron’s mother Sorcha.
The Mahers applied for an Assistance Dog for Aaron. In 2013, they welcomed Assistance
Dog Mundy in to their home. Mundy has transformed their lives. “Mundy calms Aaron and in doing so he restored peace in our daily lives,” says Sorcha. The Mahers really noticed the benefit last Christmas when they spent the day shopping in a vast shopping centre. This would not have been possible without Mundy. When Aaron was getting overwhelmed by the surrounding noise, the Mahers would bring Aaron and Mundy to a quiet corner where
Aaron could stroke Mundy to alleviate his anxiety.
Jamie and Daisy
In photograph: Christine and Jamie McGrath and Daisy at Phoenix Park
Christine McGrath from Swords, Co Dublin had become accustomed to missing out on normal family activities. The challenges that her son Jamie’s autism presented affected the whole family. After hearing about success stories from other families with an Assistance
Dog the McGraths applied for one in 2011. In May 2013 Jamie was introduced to Daisy and the family has never been the same. The difference Daisy has made has been astounding.

“Our lives have completely changed. Only four weeks after Daisy arrived we said we’d chance going to a pub for lunch. The difference was immediate; there were no tantrums or drama, we could sit down and enjoy our meal as a family,” Christine says. “Now I don’t even have to think about going out anymore. Jamie is so happy with his pal Daisy and so much more confident, we can go anywhere.”
Page 11 – Services
Puppy power!
We bred 113 puppies in 2014 and took on eight additional brood bitches into our breeding programme. Here are some photos of our Pups in Training during the year.
1: Breda O’Hara, Eileen McGloin, Rebecca Murray, Rachel Murray and Lauren Butler with
Pups in Training Bono and Bambi.
2: Pup in Training Jasper with Tara Dunne (9) from Blessington.
3: Elmo, Flame and Emery arrive in Dublin.
4: New Pup Supervisor Graham Maher with Pup in Training Nash.
5: C Litter snoozing.
6: A Pup in Training reunion.
7: Marvel and Mitch
Access and education round-up
In order to support our clients we work with external agencies to enhance their policies and services. We work with relevant agencies to create better awareness of the rights and needs of our clients.
Renewing public policies
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued renewed guidelines regarding the exemption of Guide Dogs, Pups in Training and Assistance Dogs for children. Until now only
Guide Dogs and Pups in Training were formally exempt from the food hygiene regulations as outlined in circular 15/2000, however this has now been extended to Assistance Dogs.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland updated its website and sent information to all of its members to keep them informed.
Poster for Dublin Bus
Lean Kennedy, Irish Guide Dogs Access and Education Officer, recently worked with Dublin
Bus to develop a poster to show Dublin Bus drivers the various breeds we use in working jackets and harnesses. It is a common assumption that we only use Golden Retrievers or
Labradors so clients with shepherd or doodle breeds can sometimes experience difficulties in getting access to public services.

Laws and our dogs
In November 2014 Lean Kennedy travelled the country to attend the Dog Warden regional meetings. She spoke to the local authorities and the dog wardens about how loose and stray dogs affect our working and training dogs and discussed potential solutions.
Numbers training
In 2014 we had 239 graduates from our different services:
Guide Dog - 28
Assistance Dog - 28
Orientation & Mobility (Long Cane) - 45
Independent Living Skills - 57
Next step - 7
Gardening - 12
Child Mobility clients - 62
Total - 239
Reopening of Gardening Programme
We reopened our Gardening Programme in 2014. Green-fingered staff members Lorraine
Lynch and Liam Hurley helped our Mobility Instructors Kim Wulff and Aoife Josh in assisting people who are vision impaired improve their well-being in their own home and garden.
We are currently inviting applications for spring and autumn classes in 2015.
Contact 1850506300 or email info@guidedogs.ie for more information.
Class photo: Pictured is our June Long Cane class (L-R): Kim Wulff, Mobility Instructor;
Richard O Brien; Eileen Battersbey-Hattie; Joan Anne Brosnan; Colm McGarry; and Michael
Lorigan.
All class graduation photos can be found on our website: www.guidedogs.ie.
Pages 12 & 13 - Fundraising round-up
Funding our life-changing services!
Fundraising is the lifeblood of Irish Guide Dogs – more than 80% of our income is raised through the efforts of our staff, volunteers and corporate supporters. Here are a few highlights from our fundraising calendar for the year. Unfortunately we cannot include all events and photos but please know that all of your work is important to us and we really appreciate it. We can only deliver our life-changing services with your help.

SHADES
SHADES is our biggest national campaign and raised more than €120,000 in 2014. We would like to thank all who volunteered or supported us in any way. The TodayFM Ray D’Arcy show broadcast live from HQ. Ray interviewed our patron Roy Keane and our clients Guide
Dog Owner Shauna Humphries and Sheila MacNally and Colm MacIompaire who have an
Assistance Dog Cassie for their son Daragh. We held a national Tesco collection day and
Hairybaby.ie designed and sold SHADES T-shirts.
In photographs:
1: Roy Keane pictured with students from Colaiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Cork, at the launch of SHADES.
2: Guide Dog Instructor Simon Osburne gives Ray D’Arcy a blindfolded Guide Dog walk experience.
3: Billy Gallagher from Athlone Branch pictured fundraising with Fundraising Dog Ben and students from Garbally College Diarmuid Claffey, Lonan Broderick, Gene Donohue and Eoin
Gavin.
4: Pictured fundraising at Tesco Balbriggan were: Breege O’Neill and Guide Dog Unice;
Mayor of Drogheda Richie Culhane; Maura Ellis; and Tom O’Neill and Guide Dog Gatsby.
5: Roy Keane is pictured with Sheila MacNally and Colm Mac Con Iompaire with their sons
Oisin (age 9) and Daragh (age 10) and Assistance Dog Cassie.
6: Pup in Training Vella enjoys an ear rub while fundraising for Irish Guide Dogs
Go Walkies for Guide Dogs!
We changed the format of our national walk campaign this year to Go Walkies for Guide
Dogs! We focused our efforts on five key walks and other smaller walks nationwide including a flagship walk in Phoenix Park. Go Walkies for Guide Dogs was sponsored by Hills
Science. We had a great response to the campaign and hundreds of people walked their dogs in their communities in aid of us. Thanks to Lisa Cannon and Jennifer Maguire for their help in promoting the walks.
In photographs:
1: Guide Dog staff members Olive O’Sullivan, Catherine Gallagher and Stephen Kelly with
Louisa Kelly at the Phoenix Park walk.
2: RTE’s Jennifer Maguire with Guide Dog owners Dominique Farrell, Sarah Campbell and
Catherine Leacy with Guide Dogs Poppy and Ivan.
3: Former Munster Rugby player Marcus Horan and his family lead the Limerick Go Walkies.
4: Cabinteely Park organiser Bernard Johnson and Guide Dog Wiz with Cllr. Deirdre
Donnelly.
5: Gill O’Connor Lynch with Conor and Assistance Dog Toby at the Phoenix Park walk

Guess Who is Coming to Tea with Age Action
For the first year we joined with another charity Age Action to co-ordinate an all- Ireland event Guess Who is Coming to Tea. We encouraged people to organise a tea party in their home, workplace, school, community centre or coffee shop and have the chance of a celebrity popping in to join them!
In photographs:
1: Joe Duffy and Sil Fox with Bernard Johnson, Cathy Murray with Guide Dog Wiz and
Assistance Dogs Zeta and Gandon at the Cherrytree, Walkinstown.
2: Kathryn McGilligan with Gerald Kean in Ashford House Nursing Home.
3: TV3’s Martin King with students who hosted a tea party at St Kevin’s Community College,
Dunlavin, Co. Wicklow.
4: Olympic gold medallist Ronnie Delaney meets one of his fans during his visit to the New
Park Care Centre, The Ward, Dublin.
5: Betty Anderson serves tea to some of the attendees at the tea party and threshing day at their home in Reaghstown, Ardee
Blarney in Bloom
Blarney in Bloom is fast becoming the gardening event of the South. Diarmaid Gavin got on board with Blarney in Bloom this year and was one of the many prolific gardeners to give demonstrations and presentations on the day. We raised more than €17,000. Make sure to note the 2015 date in your diary – Saturday 11th July!
In photographs:
1: Diarmuid Gavin is pictured with working Assistance Dog Zeta to launch Blarney in Bloom.
2: Padraig Mallon CEO picks up cheque for €17,046 from Sir Charles Colthurst.
Community fundraising round-up
We are so grateful to have a large network of volunteers and branches who fundraise on our behalf each year. Here is a small selection of photos from different events organised through the year. There are too many events for us to name and photograph but please know that we appreciate all of your hard work and efforts sincerely.
In photographs:
1: The Irish Kennel Club (IKC) raised €6,000 for our Assistance Dog Programme. Pictured are
(L-R): Sean Delmar, President of IKC; Cathy Delmar, Colm and Cliona Beattie; and Joan
Walsh

2: The annual UCC RFC Old Boys Game took place on Friday 17th October in the Mardyke,
Cork in aid of Irish Guide Dogs
3: Kathleen Greene, committee member of Deise Active Retirement Group, presenting a cheque to Aine O’Brien Farrell, Breeding Stock Holder and Waika. Also pictured are Kitty
Hayes, treasurer, Ann Kenneally and Yedda and Carmel Nairn and Banjo
4: West Cork People Before Profit Alliance organised a pub quiz in Ballydehob in March, splitting proceeds between the party and Irish Guide Dogs. Mona Ellers presents the cheque to Ed Harper and Guide Dog Izzy
5: The Tory Island 10k walk raised €1,700. Organiser Bernie Mc Nulty now plans to make it an annual event
6: The ISRS Midlands Referee Branch hosted a family fun day in Athlone over the summer, raising €1,216 for Irish Guide Dogs
Page 14 – Thank You
Thank you to all our corporate supporters!
Irish Guide Dogs would like to thank our corporate partners for their continued support. We are delighted to see so many supporters from 2013 join us again in 2014. For those new to
Irish Guide Dogs, thank you in choosing our clients as your priority for 2014. Your support is truly life-changing.
The following corporate supporters helped us throughout the year:
Charity of the Year: Henkel Group, PWC Ireland, Energia, Largo Foods, Johnson and
Johnson (Ireland) Ltd, Cognex
Sponsorship: Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Ford Ireland, PepsiCo, ECCO, 4X4 Exporter, Dinos, Dell
Ireland, Novartis Ireland Ltd, Mardyke Arena
Cause-Related Marketing: Royal Canin, Glenilen Farm
Employee Fundraising: APCOA Parking, Salesforce, EMC, Doyle Solicitors, State Street
Corporation, Amazon, Abtran, Irish Dental Association
Corporate Donation: Domarex LTD, Grant Thornton, Lloyd’s of London
Gifts in Kind: Maxi Zoo Ireland, Liffey Distributors
In photographs:
Mary and Denis Cregan from Dino’s Restaurants who sponsored puppy Dino
Gearoid Costelloe, Partner Grant Thornton, and Ray Egan, Director Grant Thornton, present a cheque for €3,000 to Padraig Mallon CEO Irish Guide Dogs. Also pictured

are Rose Phelan, Corporate Fundraising Manager Irish Guide Dogs, Ann McDonogh of
Grant Thornton and Brandy the Fundraising Dog
PWC hosted a St Valentine’s Day event in their Dublin office and chose Irish Guide
Dogs as its charity of the year 2014. They are pictured selling our range of Puppy Love materials
Pictured at the Corporate and Public Lawyers’ Association (CPLA) annual luncheon in aid of Irish Guide Dogs are: Terence O’Keeffe, President of the CPLA, Kerie Doyle with
Guide Dog Cyril and Rose Phelan, Corporate Fundraising Manager with Irish Guide
Dogs
Susanne O Reilly from Novartis experiences a blindfold walk during a corporate tour at Irish Guide Dogs HQ
Staff at Dell Cork held a birthday party for puppy Dell to celebrate his first birthday
Sinead O Keeffe, Commercial Manager with Irish Guide Dogs and Ambassador Sonya
O Sullivan pictured at the Irish Guide Dogs PepsiCo and ECCO Kinsale10 which took place in August 2014
Benjamin Cardi from Royal Canin presents Rose Phelan from Irish Guide Dogs with a cheque for €20,000 as part of the puppy Harper sponsorship campaign
Salesforce staff volunteering at Irish Guide Dogs HQ sensory garden. Salesforce has committed to raise €38,000 to sponsor a Guide Dog
Page 15 – Information
What we do
Irish Guide Dogs is a trusted charity that supports more than 400 working Guide and
Assistance Dog Partnerships nationwide.
We provide the following services:
Guide Dog Programme
Assistance Dog Programme
Independent Living Skills Training
Child Mobility Programme
Next Step Programme
Long Cane Training
Gardening Programme

Volunteer support
We need your help!
We continue to provide our services for free to ensure no one is excluded due to lack of income.
It costs more than €4.5 million to run the organisation each year.
One Guide or Assistance Dog costs €38,000.
Some 80% of our income comes from you!
How you can help!
Manage a collection box in your area (over a year this can be worth €200).
Sell one book of car raffle tickets (worth €50).
Introduce us to your local schools and organisations – we rely on the work of volunteers for our national campaigns.
Get involved with your local branch – the locations are listed below.
Sponsor a puppy for as little as €1.50 a week.
Volunteer your time with us at our HQ or as a puppy walker. Contact info@guidedogs.ie for more information.
Make a donation through our website or shop some of our pawsome products
www.guidedogs.ie.
Sign up to our newsletter, like our page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep up to date.
Branches
We have branches all over Ireland.
Athea
Clonmel
Dungarvan
Kenmare
Kilkenny
Killarney
Killorglin
North Kerry
Nenagh
Thurles
Aran Islands
Athlone
Ballina
Ballinrobe
Birr
Carrickmacross
Castlebar

Cavan
Clare
Limerick
Devlin
Donegal
Galway
Leitrim
Longford
Loughrea
Portlaoise
Roscommon
Sligo
Tuam
Tullamore
Westport
Ardee/Dundalk
Arklow
Ashbourne
Newbridge
Edenderry
Mullingar
Monaghan
Bray
Carlow
Waterford
Drogheda
Enniscorthy
Gorey
Kells
Naas
Blessington
Navan
Wexford
Wicklow
Dublin
A&A branch
Balbriggan
Dublin North East
Dublin South West
Dublin West
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
Sutton, Howth, Clontarf
Swords
Cork
Ballincollig

Bandon
Bantry
Carrigaline
Cobh
Coolagown
Cork City North
Crookstown
Glanmire
Poulanargid Harriers
Rochestown
Douglas
Youghal
Killeagh
Midleton
Contact details
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind
Model Farm Road, Cork
T: 1850 506300
e: info@guidedogs.ie w: www.guidedogs.ie
CEO
Padraig Mallon padraig@guidedogs.ie
Commercial Manager
Sinead O’Keeffe sokeeffe@guidedogs.ie
Corporate Fundraising Manager
Rose Phelan rphelan@guidedogs.ie
Fundraising Team fundraising@guidedogs.ie
Communications Manager
Paula McGovern pmcgovern@guidedogs.ie
Temporary Operations Manager
Caoilfhionn Lee

clee@guidedogs.ie
Back Page Advertisement
Join our team to change people’s lives!
In photograph: The Irish Guide Dogs’ team at our 2014 Open Day.
Help us provide life-changing services to people who are vision impaired and families of children with autism.
We raise more than 80% of our income from voluntary donations and events. We need YOU to make sure we can continue to meet the demand for our services.
Get involved today by managing a collection box, organising an event or joining a local branch.
Sign up to help us today:
Contact fundraising@guidedogs.ie
LoCall 1850 506300
Web: www.guidedogs.ie
Every small event makes a big difference to us.