On Friday, May 20th, we were delighted to be able to officially open the Cian’s Kennels Visiting Centre, located at Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin.
This was a day we were dreaming about for a long time now and not even the rain could put a dampener on our spirits!
Joe Kenny, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities (Ireland) and Cian’s Kennels Director of Communication and Liaison was our event MC and we were honoured to have Eilísh Hardiman, CEO of Children’s Health Ireland speak about taking a holistic approach to treating cancer in children and young adults and the role Cian’s Kennels will play in that.
Evelyn gave an incredibly moving speech about Cian and the story of Cian’s Kennels thus far and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the place – although many of us blamed the rain!
Doireann Garrihy was our guest, along with her dog Bertie! She and her father, Eugene our Project Manager both spoke before unveiling our gorgeous plaque and declaring the Visiting Centre open!
It was lovely to have so many of our very generous sponsors there with us on the day – without their generous support of materials, products, skills and their time, Cian’s Kennels would not be where it is today. We have spoken in more depth about our phenomenal sponsors on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
It’s still difficult to put into words the feelings regarding our opening day – but Evelyn put it best with the last line of her speech – “And in every smiling face and every wagging tail, Cian will be here – and his story will go on.”
She was proved right only moments later, when a young boy in St. John’s Ward wanted to meet Bertie and the smiles through the window melted everyone’s heart. That young boy’s name? Cian.
Many photos below were taken on the day by Shelley Corcoran Photography.