Eoin Hand in Dolans Limerick for Launch of Guide Dogs for the Blind Fundraiser CD

Football legend and commentator, Eoin Hand was in Dolans this evening for the Limerick launch of his CD "After The Ball" Eoin and Musicians Mickey Mc Connell and Jim Gornall treated the crowd to a few tracks from the CD.


Eoin’s love for music and singing started at young age during a time when his mother owned The Brazen Head in Dublin. Mickey MacConnell, renowned musician and famous for writing ‘Only our rivers run free’ helped to produce the live recording at John B. Keanes pub in Listowel.


Eoin Hand’s CD is a the live recording and features a collection of favourites such as Working Man, Dublin in 1962 and the Voyage as well as some anecdotal commentary. Eoin is most fondly remembered for his role as Manager for the Irish Soccer Team in the early eighties as well as a player-manager with Limerick during which time he lead the team to victory in both the League of Ireland and the FAI Cup. He spent most of his working career with Portsmouth, while also playing for our national team some 20 times.




Explaining how this all came about, Eoin says; ‘This wouldn’t have happened without Mickey MacConnell, renowned musician and famous for writing ‘Only our rivers run free’. My mother had asked through Pauline, my wife, if he could make up a collection featuring me singing some of her favourite songs.



This lead to a very enjoyable live recording in John B. Keanes pub in Listowel and sparked the idea to release it to the public for charity.
It seems a fitting tribute to my mother, Monica, who past away in May of this year.

The CD is available to purchase online - [ Here ] and the proceeds will go to Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Photos from The Launch at the Parkway Shopping Centre for Guide Dogs for the Blind 2010 Calendar in Limerick

The Parkway Shopping Centre was the location for the launch today of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind Calendar 2010. The Calender would make a perfect Christmas Gift

Volunteers for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind will be selling the charity’s stunning 2010 Calendar and Christmas Cards in Limerick’s Parkway, Crescent and Jetland Shopping Centres during November.

The charity invites Limerick residents to support their Christmas fundraising drive. Their 2010 calendar features stylish photographs of their guide and assistance dogs in training while their cards feature some of their puppies and is the perfect Christmas Stocking Filler.

Volunteers will be selling these items on the following dates:
Parkway Shopping Centre :

14 & 28 November, 4 & 5 December.
Crescent Shopping Centre :

12 – 14 November.
Jetland Shopping Centre :

19 & 20 November.

Volunteers wishing to support the charity’s Christmas activities are welcome to contact

Breeda Clancy on 086 819 3165.

Alternatively, to view or purchase the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind Calendar and Christmas Cards, log onto http://www.guidedogs.ie/

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In the Photo are - Roger Beck with Gypsy, Stephen O'Neill with Totti, Little Lauren Tuohy, Breeda Clancy (Back), Tracy Keays With Gav and Josephine Treacy with Vonda

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Some More Information About the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind organisation

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind Was -
• Co- founded in 1976 by the late Mrs Mary Dunlop and current President, Mr Jim Dennehy.
• National Headquarters and Training Centre in Model Farm Road, Cork with offices in Tuam and Dublin.
• Services are provided free of charge across the country and include the following:
1. Guide Dogs Programme (for blind and vision impaired persons)
2. Assistance Dogs Programme (for families of children with autism)
3. Child Mobility Programme
4. Orientation and Mobility Training (long cane training)
5. Independent Living Skills Training (home Skills, gardening, travel and leisure)
• In 2005, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind was the first organisation in Europe to introduce an Assistance Dog programme for families of children with Autism
• The organisation relies almost exclusively on voluntary activity and donations for the bulk of its income
• Today, 15% of its annual income comes from statutory agencies with the remainder from fundraising activities and donation
• Currently, there are 171 working guide dogs in Ireland.
• In 2008, work commenced on the €4,5 million redevelopment of the Headquarters in Model Farm Road and Training Centre aimed at increasing the organisation’s capacity to provide services to an increased number of clients. The project concludes in October 2009.

View the photos above online for download [ Here ]

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