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23 Oct 2025

Longford charity Cian’s Kennels awarded €18,000 from RTÉ Toy Show appeal

The Charity is also a finalist in National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2024

Longford charity Cian’s Kennels awarded €18,000 from RTÉ Toy Show appeal

Gráinne Hunt, Family Liaison and Admin Manager at Cian’s Kennels with her therapy dog Walter pictured with RTE Director General Kevin Backhurst and other grant recipients at RTE studios this week

Cian’s Kennels were delighted to be awarded a grant of €18,000 by the RTE Toy Show Appeal. 

This grant will fund expansion of the services of the charity which include facilitating visits by therapy dogs to children and their families in hospitals and other care settings.

Evelyn Neary, founder and director, Cian’s Kennels, “We are thrilled to receive this funding from the RTE Toy Show Appeal at this time when we are expanding our reach to provide additional services to more families. What an amazing fund this is providing support to so many children throughout the country. We remember especially today the late Saoirse Ruane who launched this appeal and we hope that her heartbroken family will get some solace from witnessing the wonderful legacy that she has created.” 

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Meanwhile, there was further good news for Cian’s Kennels as it was this week announced as a National Finalist in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2024. 

Cian’s Kennels is a charity that facilitates sick young people who are in hospital for long periods to have access to and maintain their relationship with their family cat or dog.  

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The National Lottery Good Causes Awards recognise and honour the inspiring work and achievements of thousands of projects, clubs and individuals from all over Ireland who, with the help of National Lottery Good Causes funding, have had an extraordinary impact on their local communities. Nearly 30 cent in every €1 spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes all over the country.   

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Each of the 35 National Finalists will now receive €1,000 and proceed to the grand final in which there are seven categories: Arts & Culture, Community, Health & Wellbeing, Heritage, Irish Language, Sport and Youth. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony which takes place on Saturday, October 12 in Killashee House Hotel, Co Kildare, where each of the seven category winners will receive €10,000 and the overall Good Cause of the Year will take home an additional €25,000.

Also read: Stepping back in time! Longford looks forward to return of Ballinamuck Olde Fair Day

  

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