Longford charity founder wins 'Hero of the Year' award

Longford woman Evelyn Neary, the founder of Cian's Kennels, was 'delighted' and emotional to be honoured as ‘Hero of the Year’ at the National Lottery Good Causes Awards.

Evelyn won the special award category which recognises the outstanding work done by an individual within an organisation at the ceremony in county Kildare last weekend.

Cian's Kennels is a charity set up in memory of 15-year-old Cian Neary who was diagnosed with hepatosplenic T cell lymphoma and sadly lost his battle for life on September 23, 2019.

In the face of deep personal loss, Evelyn has turned her grief into a powerful force for good.

She was comended at the awards for bringing comfort and joy to families during some of their most challenging times.

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

Evelyn described the accolade on Saturday at the Killashee House Hotel as being 'bittersweet' for her and husband Enda as they were overcome by emotion.

"We were delighted to win and it was lovely to get the recognition and also a great boost for the team at Cian's Kennels," she said. "It's bittersweet, there is the joy of the award and the excitement and recognition that brings but also it's full circle and you go back to why are we here, why did we do it."

When Cian was ill his parents asked him if there was anything they could get him to make him feel better and he asked for a dog.

Evelyn stated the idea for the service was forged when Cian ended up having long stays at the Children's Health Ireland (CHI) Hospital in Crumlin.

The charity founder said their teenage son loved animals, loved dogs and in particular adored his Golden Labrador Cooper, which they got for him following his diagnoses.

"We set up Cian's Kennels in his memory to replicate what what we did for Cian in bringing his dog to Dublin to be near to him and maybe making that a little bit easier for other families than it was for us when a service like this was not around." Evelyn added.

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Evelyn said Cian missed Cooper so much during his treatment that that they brought him to Dublin and placed him in kennels near the hospital so their son and dog could spend time together.

"We used to bring him up and down to see Cian, tie Cooper to a fence at the back of Cian's ward and that is actually the spot where we put the visiting unit in three years later," she said. "That is where the idea came from, Cian came up with it, he asked why aren't more people doing this and why aren't there more dogs coming into hospital."

Evelyn explained Cooper was very much part of the journey with Cian and Cian's Kennels and it was abundantly clear how much happiness he got from spending time with his beloved pet.

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She insisted they wanted to bring some of that joy and relief to children who have had to endure extended hospital stays.
Evelyn set up the visiting kennels at CHI Crumlin hospital which were opened in May 2022 and one year later the facility was upgraded thanks to National Lottery Good Causes funding.

Cian's Kennels now arranges for the family pets of sick children to be brought from their home to DSPCA kennels in Dublin, who they have a partnership with.

Evelyn stated they shuttle the pet to their visiting kennels at CHI Crumlin by appointment and after the clearance of the medical staff for visits with the sick child and their family.

"The child and the family come out and spend time with the dog and when that is done we either bring the dog back home if they are a local family or back to DSPCA and round and round it goes," she said. "They have it all to themselves for the allocated time and there's an indoor area and an outdoor area, it's actually the first of it's kind in the world so it's very unique."

Cian's Kennels are now planning for a unit at the new Children’s Hospital which will incorporate the main three children’s hospitals in Dublin.

"We set up Cian's Kennels in his memory to replicate what what we did for Cian in bringing his dog to Dublin to be near to him and maybe making that a little bit easier for other families than it was for us when a service like this was not around." Evelyn said. "We cover the cost of kenneling and DSPCA, we cover veterinary checks as that is a requirement for the hospital and we do transport and everything that is needed to get that dog there healthy and well."

Evelyn stated Cian's Kennels has about 22 volunteers, most of whom are drivers, in two panels based in Longford and Dublin.
"Our board of directors and fundraising committee are voluntary as well and there are a lot of amazing people giving their time and skillset to the cause," she added.

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Evelyn stated seeing the impact that Cian's Kennels has made has been amazing.

"That is what keeps myself and Enda going because it has been a gamechanger for families," she said.

"I think Cian (would be delighted), he would probably be throwing his eyes up to heaven saying 'Jesus, I can't believe they did it', but in his own way he'd be smirking at us."

The organisers of the 2024 National Lottery Hero of the Year praised Evelyn as being "imaginative, resilient and determined” and stated these are just a few words that encapsulate her remarkable spirit.

"It's such a lovely event and I am thankful to everyone at the National Lottery good causes, it's just a magical night and one we won't forget for a long time," Evelyn said. "Everyone in the room is there because they have set up something similar and there is a lot of emotion and a feel-good factor.”

Evelyn said she is thankful for the support of 'Happy and Healthy' veterinary director Emma Plant, public relations director Lyndsay Considine and Dublin-based volunteer Daryl McDonald who also attended.