ESB sponsors Cork-based charity which provides service dogs to those with disabilities

ESB’s offshore wind team has pledged €2,000 to Cork-based charity My Canine Companion. The charity provides accredited service dogs to people with disabilities, predominantly autism.

ESB is investing in a number of offshore wind farms off the coast of Ireland, including the Celtic Wind Farm to be located 8km south of Ballycotton off the coast of East Cork. 

My Canine Companion is the largest provider of service dogs in Ireland, providing 60% of Ireland’s service/assistance dogs to children with autism. All the charity’s service dogs are fully trained to the highest standard over a two-year training programme. My Canine Companion’s service dogs can provide a transformative level of safety, independence, and companionship to children with autism.

Niall Ruddy of My Canine Companion said: “Corporate funding is extremely important helping us to continue to deliver our services for autistic children and their families. My Canine Companion have been innovators since its foundation in 2011, developing new service dog training approaches resulting in significantly higher success rates compared to traditional approaches. Our ethos is like that of ESB in helping to create a brighter future for the coming generation.”

ESB Offshore Wind Stakeholder Manager Brian Hegarty said: “ESB’s offshore team is proud to sponsor a charity that delivers such an important service to those with disabilities. This sponsorship is part of ESB’s effort to reinvest in Irish communities and aligns with our ethos of diversity and inclusion.”

My Canine Companion was set up in 2011 by Cliona O’Rourke and Niall Ruddy and is currently headquartered in Blackpool, Cork. O’Rourke has 20 years’ experience and is a world leader in the service dog industry. My Canine Companion does not charge any of its clients for the provision of service dog programmes.