Search
15 Oct 2025
Search
15 Oct 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Pat McTigue hands over a cheque for €3400 to the Irish Guide Dog association on behalf of himself and Bailey
A North Leitrim man has raised a remarkable €4,000 for the Irish Guide Dogs charity after completing a 50km walk across the county last month.
Pat McTigue said he was “ecstatic” with the response to the fundraiser: “It has been way above where I thought,” said the Kilargue man who was hoping maybe for €2,000.
READ MORE: Leitrim Ladies' All-Ireland SFC Relegation Final with Donegal fixed for Tubbercurry
Pat undertook the walk with the support of his Samoyed-Husky mix Bailey, covering the distance from Drumkeeran to Dromahair and on to Manorhamilton over the course of a weekend.
Although Bailey needed to take breaks along the way, Pat pushed ahead, often joined by supporters for stretches of the journey.
When Bailey got tired, Pat continued on his own before being joined by supporters along the way. “It was a nice group there to meet me—friends, family, sponsors, and all that,” he said.
"It's something that not many people seem to realise—it costs an awful lot of money to train just one dog, you know what I mean? It's not just a few euro, it's a lot of money,” said the Kilargue man, who was inspired to raise funds after witnessing the incredible work these animals do.
This walk had been in the making for some time, but Pat had to delay it following a health scare a few years ago.
“I suffered a stroke three years ago,” he shared. “So I’ve had my own challenges, but I’m happy it went well. I had a good support team.”
He also paid tribute to those who helped make the fundraiser a success: “The local radio, Ocean FM, were very good to me, as were the businesses in Manorhamilton and Glenfarne, and people I know from all over — they all rallied around me.”
The Irish Guide Dogs charity trains dogs to support people who are blind or vision impaired, as well as families of children with autism. Pat’s contribution will help fund the continued training and care of these vital companions.
READ MORE: Tunes, Tales and Tradition: O’Carolan Harp Festival returns to Leitrim border
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
