When Aaron Burke’s dog Gus was being treated for cancer at the local veterinary clinic, the nine-year-old missed him so much he would sit in the dog’s empty basket after school.

The Crann Centre Ltd, a registered Irish charity, with a state-of-the-art centre in Ovens, Ballincollig Cork has appointed Padraig Mallon as chief executive.

A baseball game which took place in Cork last night recreated a famous one held exactly 100 years ago by the US Navy who had arrived in the region as the vanguard for their country’s entry into the First World War.

Researchers are developing sensors to track how guide dogs react to potentially stressful situations, writes Helen O’Callaghan.

President Michael D Higgins and wife Sabina yesterday visited the headquarters and training centre of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind in Cork to mark the organisation’s 40th anniversary year.

Golden retriever Zane is one of a kind: he works as a trained guide dog but he’s also able to alert his diabetes-suffering owner when her blood-sugar levels are low.

Lena Gourley said: "It was like having my sight taken away."

The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind are celebrating 40 years and to mark the occasion, they've put on a show.

After four decades of outstanding service to the visually impaired community and over a decade working with families of children with autism Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is set to launch their most important fundraising campaign since they first began in 1976.

The Leeside opera singer will be joined for a charity concert in her hometown by the singer-songwriter son of the famous tenor, says Jo Kerrigan

In a bid to break his second world record, Cork fireman Alex O’Shea is gearing up to run the length of Ireland in less than four days.

A blind man is set to swim across a stretch of Cork Harbour to raise funds for a national charity which helped transform his life.

This year’s Blarney in Bloom Summer Garden Fair promises to be bigger and better than ever. 

They say never to work with children or animals but I think the impeccably behaved dogs at the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind National Headquarters and Training Centre are certainly the exception to that rule. 

Going blind suddenly is not as uncommon as we think. But how do people cope, asks Rita de Brún.

The singing Cork barman, who became an overnight viral sensation, has professionally recorded a song for charity - and it is wonderful.

On a stormy night, from deep underneath his quilt, The Menu will always spare a thought for any poor souls caught out on the high seas with an especially heartfelt addendum added for those impossibly brave crew-members of the lifeboats.

Charities which provide dogs to help people cope with disabilities say there are 1,000 people on their books they can’t help because they don’t get proper funding from the Government.

Children with autism can benefit from having a specially-trained dog — and the Government should ensure that more resources go into providing them, according to the author of a new medical study.

Weighed down with all his gear, Alex O’Shea blazed a trail into the book of Guinness World Records, shaving a massive 58 minutes off the record for running a marathon in full firefighting apparel.

With today being World Autism Awareness Day, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind have started a #deflie or dog selfie campaign.

An employment appeals application by seven staff at Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind may not go ahead after an Employment Appeals Tribunal heard yesterday that the application may not have been served on management in time.

A fireman is set to feel the heat as he sets out to break a world record for running a marathon in full firefighting gear.

IT was Nov 17, 1982, when my Mum, Maureen Fox, stood at the end of Academy Street to begin her blindfolded walk with guide dog, Goldie. This week, I stood in the same spot, and wondered whether Mum had been as nervous as I was.

Hundreds of autistic children are being denied the companionship of a life- transforming assistance dog due to a lack of funds.

MANY perennial plants, herbaceous and evergreen, can benefit from some attention now.

The hallowed halls of University College Cork will enjoy an ‘oh so Graham Norton’ day next week when the broadcaster joins other well- known faces to be honoured by his alma mater.

In what’s being billed as a Cain and Abel-style clash of the titans, two Cork brothers go head-to-head in the boxing ring before nearly 1,000 spectators.

Assistance dogs are a calming, safe presence and encourage sociability, says Colette Sheridan

Gardaí have praised UCC students for their behaviour during Rag Week as the focus swings back to fundraising for charity.

WHEN the garden flowers slowly begin to dissolve, evergreen plants gain the significance they lack during the days of plenty.

An Irish student has won the overall award at the European Student Innovation finals being held in Reims, France.

A Cork student who created a device that allows visually impaired people to ‘see’ obstacles in their path is to showcase his work in Europe.

THE Cork Wine Fair hosted by O’Donovans off-licences last week provided some new discoveries and interesting new themes for the attentive wine fan.

THE Government has been asked not to impose budget cuts which will further impact on the blind, as it emerged there could be a 20% increase in the number of people suffering from a vision impairment by 2020.

DONATIONS from the public to one of the country’s best-known charities, Irish Guide Dogs For The Blind (IGDB) dropped by €1 million or 32% last year, figures show.

A SPECIAL fund has been established in honour of the late Examiner journalist Maureen Fox to help train a newborn guide dog.

EVERYONE needs a break at Christmas and hard working guide dogs and puppies in training are no different.

DOZENS of autistic children will not get specialist trained assistance dogs next year because of Government cutbacks.