Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind

We were delighted to recently unveil our newly refurbished Independent Living Skills Kitchen at our Training Centre in Cork.

This state-of-the-art training space has been made possible through the generous support of our corporate partners H&MV Engineering, with the expertise of Cash & Carry Kitchens.

The kitchen has been thoughtfully designed with accessible features (e.g. height-adjustable worktops, varying lighting for light sensitivity) and adaptive technologies to help our clients with vision impairment develop practical cooking, household management and everyday living skills.

The facility will play a vital role in building confidence, independence and life skills, empowering our clients to navigate daily tasks with greater autonomy.

Our CEO Tim O'Mahony welcomed PJ Flanagan, CEO of H&MV Engineering, and the staff from both organisations who joined us to mark this important milestone.

Partnerships like this help transform lives by creating environments where our clients can learn, grow and thrive.

We think you will agree that the before and after photos are stunning.

Enjoy this roundtable discussion with Guide Dog owners Sarah McGowan and Lawrence Noonan, and Puppy Raiser Laura Murphy, hosted by Guide Dog owner Óran O'Neill of the Blind Guys Chat podcast.

LISTEN: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/150-disco-nap/id1532111653?i=1000775180974

#150: Disco Nap! Podcast Episode · Blind Guys Chat · 2 July · 48min

"I am a Puppy Raiser"

Puppy Raiser Jo Parsons has captured the journey of puppy raising in a heartfelt poem that perfectly reflects the joy, dedication and bittersweet pride of helping a future Guide or Assistance Dog take its first steps towards changing a life.

Puppy raising is about more than caring for a dog. It's about new adventures, plenty of cuddles, and knowing that every lesson you teach is helping a puppy prepare for an extraordinary future.

If you've ever wondered what it feels like to be a puppy raiser, Jo's words say it better than we ever could.

Read Jo's poem: https://www.guidedogs.ie/50th-anniversary/stories/jo-parsons

Could you write the opening verse in a future Guide or Assistance Dog's story?

We're looking for more volunteer puppy raisers to open their homes, hearts and lives to one of our incredible pups. With full training and support from our team, you can help give a puppy the best possible start—and help change someone's life forever. No experience is necessary, just a love of dogs and a desire to make a difference.

Find out more and register your interest: https://www.guidedogs.ie/how-you-can-help/volunteer-with-our-dogs/puppy-raising