Irish Guide Dogs Clare Branch

15/04/2026

Volunteers from the branch will be running the cafe at the pop up shop in Miltown Malbay Community Hall on 25th April ~ 10-4. Pop in and see us and sample some of our delicious home made bakes

29/03/2026

Our CEO Tim O'Mahony recently presented our amazing volunteer Emma Stewart-Liberty, with a special honour at our Training Centre in Cork, recognising her extraordinary commitment and lifelong dedication to the charity 💚

Driven by a deep love of dogs and a belief in their power to change lives, Emma began raising puppies in 2000 and has since opened her heart and home to more than 140 puppies, helping them take their very first steps on a journey that would go on to transform lives 🐾

As Emma says, she truly “relishes” the role, finding immense joy and purpose in knowing that each puppy she supports may one day bring independence and confidence to someone in need.

Her commitment extends far beyond volunteering; Emma and her husband have chosen to include Irish Guide Dogs in their will, believing it “makes a lot of sense” to support a cause that has given them so much in return.

Tim presented Emma with a piece of crystal to mark the momentous occasion of the final litter she supported entering the first stages of their training journey to become life-changing guide, assistance or community dogs.

It was an emotional day for everyone involved, and we cannot thank Emma and her husband enough for their unwavering generosity, dedication and support 💚

03/03/2026

A great evenings entertainment in store at the Bellbridge House Hotel , Spanish Point, Co Clare. 21st March 8 pm. With some great trad musicians to kick off the evening followed by the very talented Gail Fean

28/02/2026

We would love to welcome some new volunteers to our very successful, happy branch. We have lots of fun and friendship and all the while fundraising for our fantastic charity

02/02/2026

30/01/2026

12/01/2026

One of our volunteees is doing this.
Fair play to her. None of the others, including me , were brave enough so if anyone can help with the funding it will be much appreciated. She is a great girl - a lot of fun and so committed to the guide dogs. Go Clare Go

Fundraising page of Clare Maguire

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Your support is really appreciated. If you can help me to promote this page I would greatly appreciate it. You can share my page on any social media using the social sharing sections. Thanks again!

10/01/2026

One of our volunteers has said yes straight away to doing this.

10/01/2026

We are delighted to announce that applications to join the waiting list for our Assistance Dog Programme will open in the first quarter of 2026!

We are proud to be Ireland's leading organisation providing professionally trained Assistance Dogs to families of children with autism. Since launching Europe’s first dedicated Assistance Dog Programme for children with autism in 2005, we have continued to set the benchmark for excellence in training, welfare, and family support.

As a result, places on our programme remain in very high demand.

Keep an eye on our social media channels and website for further updates.

29/12/2025

An increasing number of people are giving up their dogs because they can't cope. However, this seems to be because they do not have an idea of what "normal" is and have a rather fantasy idea of what a dog should be.

Dogs are not people, however much we love them and it is important that this is realised.

The following things are all normal and any new dog owner needs to understand this:-
Puppies do not come ready trained and it is down to the new owner to work hard for a couple of years to do that training.
Puppies (all breeds) "bite" - it hurts.
Puppies chew stuff up. If you leave it lying around it will get eaten.
Puppies take a while to get house trained. The owner has to stand shivering in the garden at bedtime until the results happen. This can last for months.
Puppies - and indeed dogs - need to sleep a lot and should be left alone whilst doing so. They are not toys to be constantly carried around and petted.
Brain training toys do not make up for positive interaction and training with their owner.
Dogs rarely need clothes and wearing them indoors (except for very old dogs or single coated dogs in the cold weather) will make skin problems more likely.
Dogs don't necessarily like other dogs. They squabble can growl at each other and even fight. This is normal.
Bi***es come in season and can have phantom pregnancies. These are normal body functions and should not cause anxiety.
Dogs and bi***es hump each other and objects. Not socially acceptable to humans but perfectly normal.
Dogs do not do spiteful or dominance or deliberate naughty or lots of other emotions people put on them They live for the day and can't differentiate between your new shoes and their toys.
If you spend your money in soft beds they will explode. The dog does not care how much it cost.
If a dog is bored or anxious it will chew stuff - this includes your sofa if you are daft enough to leave him unattended with it.

Dogs need exercise, love and attention and lots of training. They don't always get it right. If you can't accept all these normal things about a dog, please don't get one as the numbers being given up for normal behaviour is heartbreaking.

29/12/2025